Psalms 138

Thanksgiving and Praise

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, LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth.

⁵Yes, they will sing of the ways of the LORD, for the LORD’s glory is great!

⁶For though the LORD is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but he knows the proud from afar.

⁷Though I walk in the middle of trouble, you will revive me. You will stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies. Your right hand will save me.

⁸The LORD will fulfill that which concerns me. Your loving kindness, LORD, endures forever. Don’t forsake the works of your own hands.

Previous Psalms 137

Next Psalms 139

Psalm 138 is a thanksgiving psalm where David expresses wholehearted gratitude to God for answered prayer and divine faithfulness. The psalmist declares his praise before the gods and anticipates that all earthly kings will join in worship when they witness God's glory and hear His words. Despite God's exalted position, He cares for the humble while remaining distant from the proud, promising to complete His work in the psalmist's life through His enduring love.

Context

This psalm continues the themes of divine faithfulness and protection found throughout the Davidic psalms, emphasizing both personal gratitude and universal recognition of God's sovereignty.

Key Themes

Outline

1-3
Wholehearted Thanksgiving David commits to praise God with his entire being for His loving kindness, truth, and answered prayers.
4-5
Universal Recognition All kings of the earth will praise the LORD when they hear His words and witness His great glory.
6-8
God's Faithful Care Though exalted, God cares for the lowly, protects through trouble, and will complete His purposes with enduring love.

Thanksgiving and Praise

138:1–138:8

poetry song joyful

A thanksgiving psalm praising God for answering prayer and expressing confidence in divine protection and faithfulness. The psalmist anticipates that all earthly kings will praise the Lord.

theme_rarity

David's declaration that God has "exalted your Name and your Word above all" (v.2) uniquely pairs divine glory with personal gratitude, a combination appearing in only three biblical passages.

Insight Rare Theme

David's declaration that God has "exalted your Name and your Word above all" (v.2) uniquely pairs divine glory with personal gratitude, a combination appearing in only three biblical passages.