Psalm 138

This “Psalm of the Word” builds on yesterday’s Psalm in seeing God’s Word and words as cause for praise. 

David is clearly filled with praise.  In v1 he says he will praise God before the gods.  What gods does he refer to?  The word is elohim and means mighty ones. Some believe it refers to angels, as in Job 1:6, Psalm 8:7 and other places..  The context seems to be speaking of the mighty ones of earth (v4) who might consider themselves to be gods.  David is saying he will not be intimidated by anyone; he will sing praise to his God for all to hear.

The two references to God’s word are in vs. 2 and 4.  The singular word (v2) perhaps has in mind the totality of all God has said.  It is His truth.  The plural words (v4) may refer to the specifics of God’s truth.  Every command, promise, warning, and instruction is a cause for praise as we trust and obey in our day to day lives.

What is meant in v2 that You have magnified Your word above all Your name?  Some take it to mean that the greatest manifestation of God is His word revealed to us.  God has a greater reward for His word than for His works.  Heaven and earth may pass away but my words will by no means pass away (Matt. 24:35).  Some even see the Lord Jesus Himself in this passage, for He is the Word Who was God, was with God, made all things, and became flesh (John 1:1-14).  He truly is the most complete and magnificent revelation of God (Heb. 1:1-4).

What words of God in Psalm 138 are worthy of praise?  Perhaps …

o v2: the wonderful relationship of God’s grace and truth.  Jesus Christ is full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

o v3: the way God strengthens not just our bodies but, more importantly, our very souls.

o v6: the principle found throughout Scripture that God resists and humbles the proud while exalting and giving grace to the humble.

o v7: the testimony of God’s care when we walk in the midst of trouble.  Truly He is the God of all comfort!

o v8: the confidence that He will perfect that which concerns us.  He completes the work He begins in us (Phil 1:6).  All things work together to bring us into conformity to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:28-30).

Let us praise God for His Word and His words

This Psalm provides a wonderful illustration of the principle that all Scripture points to Christ.  It is a Psalm of David and is not one of the classic Messianic Psalms (e.g. 22,45,110, etc).  And yet you see the Messiah all throughout the short Hymn and highlighting a different major truth in each stanza.

·         138:1-3: David is full of whole-hearted praise to God.  It is focused on the temple, the place of the Ark of the Covenant and the mercy seat, the one place on earth where God said He would dwell with men.  It is focused on the great twin attributes of God: lovingkindness and truth (Heb. checed and emeth).  What did God do?  He magnified His word; He was faithful to His word.  And in what way did God do that?  He answered David’s prayer for inner strength in the face of adversity.  God had told David He would give him success and God was true to His word.  Note that David vows to sing praise before the gods.  This is a Psalm that involves the nations; perhaps David means he will exalt the LORD God of Israel before the gods of those nations.  Or the term, elohim, can refer to mighty men such as those in the next stanza.  So our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, will reign in glory from Zion, just as His Father promised.  That day will reveal God’s faithfulness like no other day!

·         138:4-6: David is so overtaken by God’s wonderful words that he is sure, that when he exalts the LORD before the kings of the nations, they too will want to sing God’s praises.  When the Spirit enables a person to know God’s word it will always produce awe and wonder.  As Moses told Israel, what nation has such a God as Israel? What nation received such a wonderful law as Israel received from the LORD (Deut. 4:6-7)?  Perhaps David experienced this to some degree as some kings around him acknowledged the blessing of God on him.  But it only anticipates the praise that will be received by the King of kings and Lord of lords when He is revealed from heaven.

·         138:7-8: Whatever the profound answer to prayer David had received, it did not deliver him from all his troubles.  Like us, even a great king like David can say, I walk in the midst of trouble.  Yet he walked in confidence of God’s deliverance because his God is the God of lovingkindness and truth.  His God keeps His promises.  God would continue to keep His word to prosper David against all future enemies.  And what great words: The LORD will perfect (complete) that which concerns me.  David was promised a throne forever, and even after he was gone from earth God would keep His word.  We have the same confidence that what God has begun in our lives He will complete (Phil. 1:6).  And for David, and us, the ultimate issue here is the Lord Jesus Christ.  David’s throne forever is found in Christ.  Our completeness will come when we see Christ and become like Him (Phil. 1:21; 1 John 3:2).