Psa 138 | MHM | STEP | Praise for the LORD’s Faithful Love In this psalm, David expresses his deep thankfulness to God. He promises to praise God with all his heart, no matter who is watching. David remembers how God answered his prayers and gave him strength. He hopes that his own praise will encourage others, even kings, to honor God too. David shows us that worship belongs to God alone, and that God’s love and truth are worthy of praise in every situation. v. 1 : David says he will praise God with his whole heart. He means to do this with true feeling, not just words. He wants to praise God openly, even in front of rulers and important people. David is not ashamed to show his faith, whether he is with friends or strangers (Psalm 111:1 ). Some believe “before the gods” may also mean in the presence of angels, like when people gather to worship (1 Corinthians 11:10 ).

‏ Psalms 138

Praise for the LORD’s Faithful Love

In this psalm, David expresses his deep thankfulness to God. He promises to praise God with all his heart, no matter who is watching. David remembers how God answered his prayers and gave him strength. He hopes that his own praise will encourage others, even kings, to honor God too. David shows us that worship belongs to God alone, and that God’s love and truth are worthy of praise in every situation.

v. 1: David says he will praise God with his whole heart. He means to do this with true feeling, not just words. He wants to praise God openly, even in front of rulers and important people. David is not ashamed to show his faith, whether he is with friends or strangers (Psalm 111:1 ^a). Some believe “before the gods” may also mean in the presence of angels, like when people gather to worship (1 Corinthians 11:10 ^b).

v. 2: David promises to worship facing God’s holy temple. This temple was the place where God was especially present. Even if people could not go inside, they would pray facing it. Today, we look to Jesus as our temple, because He is our way to God (John 2:19-21 ^c). David praises God for His lovingkindness and truth. He says, “You have magnified Your word above all Your name” . God’s promises and His word are greater and clearer than all the other ways He has shown Himself. Some people see this as pointing to Christ, the living Word, who is greater than all earlier ways God revealed Himself.

v. 3: David remembers a time when he was in trouble. He prayed, and God answered him right away. God did not just give him good words; He gave him inner strength. David says, “In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul” . When we pray, God often gives us what we need on the inside to face our problems (Isaiah 65:24 ^d). This strength helps us keep our faith, stay calm, and wait patiently for God’s help.

v. 4-5: David hopes that other rulers will hear about God and praise Him too. He knows that if kings become believers, their countries will be better. In the future, David believes that all kings will hear God’s words and give Him glory (Psalm 72:11 ^e). He says, “All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord, when they hear the words of Your mouth. Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord” (Psalm 138:4-5 ^f). David believes that when people walk in God’s ways, they will be full of joy, because God’s ways are good and pleasant.

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God’s Care of His People

In these verses, David reminds himself of God’s special attention to humble people, His help for those in trouble, and His promise to finish the good work He begins in His people. David finds comfort in knowing that God’s love and mercy never fail. He encourages us to trust God’s care, especially when we face difficulties or feel weak.

v. 6: David says that even though the Lord is very great and high, He still looks kindly on the humble. God is pleased with those who are lowly, while He keeps His distance from the proud (Isaiah 57:15 ^g). God honors the humble, but rejects those who think too highly of themselves. Jesus also taught that God accepts the humble, like the tax collector, but not the proud, like the Pharisee (Luke 18:9-14 ^h).

v. 7: David knows that even though he is a king, he will still face trouble. He trusts that God will comfort him when he feels weak or ready to give up. David believes God will revive him and protect him from his enemies’ anger. He says, “You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me” . God may not always remove our problems, but He promises to keep us safe and give us inner strength. Jesus, the right hand of God, saves everyone who trusts Him.

v. 8: David is sure that God will finish the good work He has started in his life. He says, “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me” (Psalm 138:8 ⁱ). God knows what we truly need, even better than we do (Matthew 6:32 ^j). If we care most about doing God’s will and finding happiness in Him, we can trust Him to complete His work in us (Philippians 1:6 ^k). David’s confidence is based on God’s never-ending mercy. He turns his hope into a prayer: “Do not forsake the work of Your hands”. God began the good work in us, and He will not abandon it. His love endures forever, and He will finish what He started in those who love Him (Deuteronomy 7:9 ^l).