Psalm 138

This is a Thanksgiving Psalm amd a Praise Psalm as the first verse indicates. Indeed “praise” can also mean “sing praise.” This means worship of God, the living God with whom we have a relationship! Note we worship with our WHOLE heart, not half-hearted.

V 2 – I will bow down – actually the form of the Hebrew verb is an intensive form that means more than a slight boy – it means falling down before, prostrating oneself as in the pictures we often see of Moslems at prayer. The Author says he will bow TOWARD THE TEMPLE, as though it were the residence of God. Mosl                                            ems bow toward Mecca, Jews toward Jerusalem. As Christians we are more into bowing from the heart toward the Lord Himself. The idea is humility, subservience. In worship we remind ourselves and reflect toward God that we are finite, and He is infinite, almighty, the Creator and Redeemer!

To give thanks to his Name is to give thanks to Him.

Mercy and truth – Mercy is a special word. The Hebrew word behind it is a covenant word. Some Bibles translate it “steadfast love.” I prefer “covenant love.” It is the special loyalty God displays toward His people, Israel in the OT, the church in the New. Truth connotes firmness, reliability, and sureness. We can reliably turn to God, certain of His fidelity toward us, enabling us to trust Him.

Magnify your Name, grow its reputation and renown. Magnify your word is to make important His teaching, His instruction, His law. Remember that a major theme, perhaps THE major theme running through the Psalms is God's Word or Law. It's the continuing challenge of Ps 1 to choose the right Way and walk in it!

V 3 – Call and Response – His testimony is that he called out to God, and God answered. That answer was to embolden him, to strengthen him, perhaps to encourage him. This strengthening was deep – in his soul or spirit.

V 4 – From the beginning the Lord was establishing a universal kingdom, not merely one for Israel. Remember in Genesis 12 the Lord calls Abraham and promises that through him all the nations of the world would find blessing. Here the psalmist claims “all the kings of the earth” will praise Him. Note also that the reason given is “they have heard the words of your mouth.” That might mean they have observed the success of Israel in the world, or it could mean they have heard the actual Torah of God. If so, remember it's a future promise that all the kings of the earth will praise the Lord. A missionary passage in Psalms! But how will the kings know to praise and thank without someone to tell them of God's mighty acts?

V 6 – The Lord is exalted! Even so He decided to created us and stay involved with that humanity. I love Philippians 2:5ff where Paul teaches that Christ being with God was willing to “empty Himself” to become a finite man, Jesus. I thought that this incarnation was itself a kind of death, reverse from what we think of it, dying to heaven to be born on earth! One of the things that can separate us from God is a haughty spirit. Why? Because such a person feels no need of God, is indeed his own Lord.

V 7 – Walking in trouble. Many of our friends on Facebook are going through trouble of one sort or another. Some even express loneliness. But the Psalmist says the Lord walks with him through trouble. Further, God strengthens His followers who trust him. And God does more. He becomes a warrior God facing the fury of Israel's (and the Christian's) enemies, and He will save us from that hour of trouble.

V 8 – The writer affirms his faith that God will, in fact, answer his prayer for help and deliverance. That same Lord will endure with His covenant love and mercy for His people. He concludes with a prayer that the Lord may indeed continue to work in their lives!

The takeaway? No matter how chaotic life may get, continue to rest that life in His hands, knowing He brought you this far, and will continue to walk with you.