Psalm 138

Psalm 138

This is a psalm of the King. A psalm that reveals to us the king’s gratitude to God expressed in the exultation of God and the king’s confidence in God. Verses 1-3, David expresses his gratitude to God in worship because God answered his prayer for strength of soul. In verses 4-6, David further exults God among the kings of the earth declaring that God’s glory is greatly displayed in His words and in his ways. In verses 7-8, David expresses his confidence in God: He is confident that God will preserve him in the midst of trouble; God will protect him from all his enemies; God will fulfill all of his purposes for him and will not forsake the works of his hands.

This Psalm will help us answer the question: Who is King. And I hope that it will help us rest in Yahweh as our God and our king with confidence like that of David.

David was God’s chosen king. The writing of this Psalm would most probably be toward the end of David’s reign. Since the days of the Exodus when Israel was redeemed from Egypt, the people of God were involved in wars without end. In a sense the Old Testament can be viewed as a narrative that previews for us the battles of the gods. On one hand There is only one true God with a people for himself and on the other hand, there are many false gods who are counterfeit, they are a master mind of the great serpent who is the enemy of God. Remember David’s first battle with Goliath? Goliath did not defy the people of Israel; he had defied God. The battle was not of Israel, it was of God. As David put it, “for the battle is the LORD’s and he will give you into our hand.” This would remain to be the hope of Israel, that Yahweh their God would triumph over all other gods. And that’s exactly what we see throughout David’s reign: He is God’s king who fights and conquers. He is God’s king who knew the help of God throughout the years. He had fought enough wars not to be so ignorant of the fact that he fought not with mere men but with gods! And he was equally aware that only the true God Yahweh, could strengthen him for the battles. Here then friends we see God’s steadfast love and faithfulness toward the king. Each battle won spoke of God’s covenant love toward the king and his people. These were his covenant people being led by God’s chosen king. Turn with me to 1 Chronicles 18:1-13; 20:1-8.

Friends, the battle is not yet done! Like God’s people of old we are on an ongoing battle! It is the battle of the gods! It is a battle between Yahweh the true God and the Great enemy of God, the Serpent of old who has long since been deceiving the nations. As the Apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians, we do not fight against flesh and blood but against the powers and the principalities and the prince of the air. It is a spiritual warfare that we are in. It rages on and on without end.

Oh friends, you may wonder, what battle does this look like? Think with me for a minute: how many times have you heard or thought or even used the phrase: “This is Africa” or “This is Zambia.” Oftentimes these are statements of identity and are often made pessimistically. It often is a hopeless statement that things will never change. But do you realize that this is spiritual warfare? When we think in this manner and act in this manner we are thinking and acting on a foundation of lies and deception. This is not merely Africa, nor is this merely Zambia! Friends this is our Father’s world and we are his image bearers. The truth is that even though we live in a broken world with broken systems, God has equipped us and given us everything that we need to make a difference in this world. As God’s people we can live God’s way and make a lasting difference in God’s world. We must not accept the status quo or false narratives that robs us the hope and strength that is ours in God. Do we live in a third world country? No we don’t! We live in God’s world! Are we lesser people because we are black in complexion? No, we are of equal value with all men everywhere blessed with much melanin! This is a battle that we must fight and win: the battle of restoring our dignity that is anchored on a biblical understanding of our identity.

Oh friends, how can we fight and win this battle? You see, God’s people of old had God’s chosen king! Oh friends! Don’t we have today God’s chosen king with us? He is not just God’s chosen king…he is the Chosen king! He is the fulfillment of the eternal reign of King David. This king is Jesus! He is the king above all kings! All the kings and the peoples of the earth will bow before Him. He is the God-King who fought the greatest battle there ever has been and ever will be! And He won it. He is the king who displays to us God’s steadfast love and faithfulness in perfection. He is the king who shows us the ways of the LORD and the greatness of the glory of the LORD. He is not only the way but also the glory! In Him, the LORD who is high regards the lowly.

Oh friends this is the wonder and mystery of the gospel. That God is our Savior King! His life on earth, His death on the cross, His resurrection from the dead, His ascension into heaven, and His promised return are our hope and strength. Herein we find our redemption! Friends, this savior king lived a perfect life that none of us could ever live, not even King David. We have a better King in every sense. Friends, this savior King died a death that we all deserve! And towards his death, he was weak and in need of strength! And on that day he called to God and was strengthened by God. He understands and sympathizes with our weaknesses. He knows the pains and struggles of living in a broken world and delights to help us. Oh friends our savior King died and was buried, and for a moment it seemed that our greatest enemy had triumphed over God’s chosen king. But on the third day, unlike king David who remained in the grave, our King Jesus rose from the dead and gave the Serpent enemy the greatest blow there ever has been. See friends, we have a true conquering savior king. Oh yes, the seed of the woman has crushed the serpent’s head truly!

And it only gets better! This savior King has united us with himself. His life is our life. His death is our death. His burial is our burial. His resurrection is our resurrection. His ascension is our ascension and his return will be ours too! Our primary identity is United with Christ. We are those who are not merely in Africa, nor in Zambia but rather in Christ. This is who we are. Oh Christian, how much of your identity is tied to this reality? How conscious are you that this is who you are?

The Psalmist says, “For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly…”

This is the essence of being lowly: to know that I am not my own, but belong––body and soul, in life and in death––to my faithful savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by His Holy Spiirt assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.”

All of our battles are won by our Savior King Jesus! His victory is our victory! In Him, we fight and win. Because of our Savior King we can say what David said with full confidence:

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life;

You stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,

And your right hand delivers me.

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;

Your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.

Do not forsake the work of your hands.”

What battles are you fighting today? You may be here this evening and perhaps you are not a Christian. Do you realize that you are not only in battle, but that you are also on the losing side? Without the Savior King not only do you lose but you are lost. Would you bow the knee and come to the Savior King who has triumphed over our greatest enemy of sin and death?

Oh dear Christian, ours is the victory in Christ Jesus. May we never lose sight of this reality. Christ sees us through to the very end, even when our life comes to an end and our body lays in the ground…he will carry our soul through the valleys of the shadows of death and bring us to the golden shore and into his eternal kingdom where we shall dwell with him forever! And on that day when he returns, he shall clothe our souls with new bodies and we shall dwell with him forever and ever. Our Savior King has triumphed and reigns forever and ever.

For this reason we join with the psalmist and give thanks to God, and sing of his ways for great is the glory of the LORD, and we walk with confidence in the midst of live’s troubles. Our Savior King is faithful and with steadfast love. Amen.