Psalm 138

Psalm Category: Individual Thanksgiving

Central Thought: God’s promise in Jesus is the basis for all our thanksgivings and petitions

Key words: confess, thanks, sing, lovingkindness

David’s Finale

Psalms 138–145 are the final section of psalms particularly connected to David, which together make up more than half of the book. These include the familiar themes of God’s great promises, His great faithfulness, and His great deliverances.

As is often in the Bible, the beginning and the end focus on the middle. Here, David’s thanksgiving (vv. 1–3) and confident petition (vv. 7–8) both flow from the vision of the Lord’s glory fully manifested in the salvation of His people (vv. 4–7), which was promised to David by means of a descendant who would sit on an eternal and universal throne (see 2 Sam. 7; Luke 1:32f; Eph. 1:18–23).

Thanksgiving for Former Help (vv. 1–3)

Thanksgiving is the theme (vv. 1–2; see 4), which involves confessing the good that the Lord has done for David (see Heb. 13:15, NASB margin). This good is His faithfulness to His covenant promises by which He made His name great in performing His word (v. 2, lovingkindness and truth). This is not mere lip service but involves the whole person (v. 1, all my heart) in singing, which, rightly done, requires the full participation of mind, heart, body, and strength (v. 1; see Mark 12:30). Thanksgiving is also substantial and includes a thank offering (see Jer. 33:11). This completes the meaningful pair of words of thanks completed with works of thanks. Though an individual thanksgiving, this is done in public both in connection with corporate worship (v. 2, temple) and witnessed by all the powers and authorities in heaven and on earth (v. 1, gods; see Job 1:6; 1 Cor. 8:5; Col. 1:16). God’s faithfulness to David is timely and empowering, giving David courage to act and pray (v. 3, bold, strength; see 1 Sam. 16:13; 2 Sam. 7:27–29).

Thanksgiving for Final Help (vv. 4–6)

This section envisions a time when all the kings of the earth will join David in thanking the Lord with all their heart in singing (vv. 4–5; see v. 1; Dan. 2:44). This will be because they will hear the words of God, including especially His promise to David of a son sitting on an eternal and universal throne (v. 4) the fulfillment of which they will also see (v. 5, ways). It is in all this that the great glory of the Lord will be manifest to all nations (vv. 5–6; see Acts 2:32–36). Ironically, it is not by exalting oneself that the favor of the Lord is obtained but by humbling oneself in submission to Him (v. 6, lowly, haughty; see 1 Peter 5:5).

Thanksgiving for Future Help (vv. 7–8)

In the supreme confidence of this vision of ultimate things (vv. 4–6), as anticipated in the past faithfulness of God (vv. 1–3), David expresses his bold confidence (see v. 3) and makes his closing petition (v. 8). He is confident that, though the Lord will not spare him from all trouble, He will sustain him through it (v. 7; Ps. 23:4). He will save him by destroying his enemies (v. 7; see 135:9; 136:15; 1 John 3:8). In the context of the whole psalm, the reference to Your right hand brings Jesus very much to mind (v. 7; Acts 2:33; Eph. 1:20). The Lord having begun to fulfill His promises to him, David has no doubt that He will continue until they are all completely fulfilled (v. 8; Phil. 1:6). This is because God’s covenant faithfulness has neither limit nor end (v. 8, lovingkindness; see v. 2; Ps. 136:1). On the basis of all of this—covenant promise, ultimate vision, and past experience—David has boldness to pray that the Lord will not leave him short of the goal of eternal life in His presence (v. 8; see 23:6; Deut. 31:6; Heb. 13:5).

Thanksgiving for Familiar Help

With David, through faith in Christ, we also have the same vision of Christ’s glory (vv. 4–6), the same experience of God’s faithfulness (vv. 1–3), the same assurance of His sustaining grace (vv. 7–8) and the same boldness to act in obedience and pray with confident expectation (vv. 3, 8). Therefore, give thanks with singing and offerings and be bold in obedience and prayer, because Christ is exalted to the right hand of God and rules over all things for the sake of His church, which includes you!

Kit Swartz | Comments welcome at oswegorpc@hotmail.com. Sermon audio files and PDF outlines on these Psalms are available at reformedvoice.com.