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Psalms 138
1I will give you thanks with my whole heart. Before the gods, I will sing praises to you.
2I will bow down toward your holy temple, and give thanks to your Name for your loving kindness and for your truth; for you have exalted your Name and your Word above all.
3In the day that I called, you answered me. You encouraged me with strength in my soul.
4All the kings of the earth will give you thanks, Yahweh, for they have heard the words of your mouth.
5Yes, they will sing of the ways of Yahweh; for great is Yahweh's glory.
6For though Yahweh is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but the proud, he knows from afar.
7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you will revive me. You will stretch forth your hand against the wrath of my enemies. Your right hand will save me.
8Yahweh will fulfill that which concerns me; your loving kindness, Yahweh, endures forever. Don't forsake the works of your own hands. For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
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Afflictions and Adversities: Consolation In Psalm 138:3, 7, 8
On the day I called, You answered me; You emboldened me and strengthened my soul. / If I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve me from the anger of my foes; You extend Your hand, and Your right hand saves me. / The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me. O LORD, Your loving devotion endures forever—do not abandon the works of Your hands.
Answers To Prayer: God Gives Psalm 138:3
On the day I called, You answered me; You emboldened me and strengthened my soul.
Blessing: Spiritual, from God Psalm 138:3, 8
On the day I called, You answered me; You emboldened me and strengthened my soul. / The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me. O LORD, Your loving devotion endures forever—do not abandon the works of Your hands.
Church: Holy Temple Psalm 138:2
I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness; You have exalted Your name and Your word above all else.
Church: Prophecies Concerning Prosperity of Psalm 138:4, 5
All the kings of the earth will give You thanks, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth. / They will sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.
David: King of Israel: At This Time, Probably, David Writes Psalm 138:1
Of David. I give You thanks with all my heart; before the gods I sing Your praises.
Destiny Psalm 138:8
The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me. O LORD, Your loving devotion endures forever—do not abandon the works of Your hands.
Faith: Exemplified Psalm 138:7, 8
If I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve me from the anger of my foes; You extend Your hand, and Your right hand saves me. / The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me. O LORD, Your loving devotion endures forever—do not abandon the works of Your hands.
Glory of God: Described As Great Psalm 138:5
They will sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.
God Protects Psalm 138:7
If I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve me from the anger of my foes; You extend Your hand, and Your right hand saves me.
God: Faithfulness of Psalm 138:2
I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness; You have exalted Your name and Your word above all else.
God: Mercy of Psalm 138:2
I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness; You have exalted Your name and Your word above all else.
God: Truth Psalm 138:2
I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness; You have exalted Your name and Your word above all else.
God's Protection Psalm 138:7
If I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve me from the anger of my foes; You extend Your hand, and Your right hand saves me.
God's Purpose Psalm 138:8
The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me. O LORD, Your loving devotion endures forever—do not abandon the works of Your hands.
Grace of God: General Scriptures Concerning Psalm 138:3
On the day I called, You answered me; You emboldened me and strengthened my soul.
Humility: General Scriptures Concerning Psalm 138:6
Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.
Humility: The Who Have: Regarded by God Psalm 138:6
Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.
Jesus, the Christ: Prophecies Concerning Universality of the Kingdom of Psalm 138:4, 5
All the kings of the earth will give You thanks, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth. / They will sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.
Joy: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Psalm 138:5
They will sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.
Man: Created Psalm 138:8
The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me. O LORD, Your loving devotion endures forever—do not abandon the works of Your hands.
Overcome Psalm 138:6–8
Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar. / If I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve me from the anger of my foes; You extend Your hand, and Your right hand saves me. / The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me. O LORD, Your loving devotion endures forever—do not abandon the works of Your hands.
Perfection is of God Psalm 138:8
The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me. O LORD, Your loving devotion endures forever—do not abandon the works of Your hands.
Perseverance: General Scriptures Concerning Psalm 138:8
The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me. O LORD, Your loving devotion endures forever—do not abandon the works of Your hands.
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
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Psalms 138:1-8 David thanks God for His benefits, and anticipating a wider
extension of God's glory by His means, assures himself of His continued presence and faithfulness.
Psalms 138:1 Verse 1
I will praise thee with my whole heart--(Compare Ps 9:1). before the gods--whether angels (Ps 8:5); or princes (Ex 21:6; Ps 82:6); or idols (Ps 97:7); denotes a readiness to worship the true God alone, and a contempt of all other objects of worship.
Psalms 138:2 Verse 2
(Compare Ps 5:7). thy word above all thy name--that is, God's promise (2Sa 7:12-16), sustained by His mercy and truth, exceeded all other manifestations of Himself as subject of praise. 3-5. That promise, as an answer to his prayers in distress, revived and strengthened his faith; and, as the basis of other revelations of the Messiah, it will be the occasion of praise by all who hear and receive it (Ps 68:29, 31; Isa 4:3).
Psalms 138:5 Verse 5
for great is the glory--or, "when the glory shall be great," in God's fulfilling His purposes of redemption.
Psalms 138:6-7 Verses 6-7
On this general principle of God's government (Isa 2:11; 57:15; 66:2), he relies for God's favor in saving him, and overthrowing his enemies. knoweth afar off--their ways and deserts (Ps 1:6).
Psalms 138:8 Verse 8
God will fulfil His promise. PSALM 139
Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
Pastoral and devotional reflections focused on spiritual formation and application.
Psalms 138:1-5 Verses 1-5
When we can praise God with our whole heart, we need not be unwilling for the whole world to witness our gratitude and joy in him. Those who rely on his loving-kindness and truth through Jesus Christ, will ever find him faithful to his word. If he spared not his own Son, how shall he not with him freely give us all things? If God gives us strength in our souls, to bear the burdens, resist the temptations, and to do the duties of an afflicted state, if he strengthens us to keep hold of himself by faith, and to wait with patience for the event, we are bound to be thankful.
Psalms 138:6-8 Verses 6-8
Though the Lord is high, yet he has respect to every lowly, humbled sinner; but the proud and unbelieving will be banished far from his blissful presence. Divine consolations have enough in them to revive us, even when we walk in the midst of troubles. And God will save his own people that they may be revived by the Holy Spirit, the Giver of life and holiness. If we give to God the glory of his mercy, we may take to ourselves the comfort. This confidence will not do away, but quicken prayer. Whatever good there is in us, it is God works in us both to will and to do. The Lord will perfect the salvation of every true believer, and he will never forsake those whom he has created anew in Christ Jesus unto good works.