Session 7: A Prayer of Thanksgiving
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Our belief in the power of praying to God and our trust in Him is reflected in our expressions of gratitude to Him. As God responds to our needs, we graciously thank Him. However, even before we receive an answer, we can thank Him because we know His loving character. We can pray with an attitude of thankfulness because we are certain that God will answer in the best way.
This psalm provides a way of offering thanks to God for signs of his constant care. are the final collection of psalms attributed to David. The themes of these psalms reaffirm David’s confidence in God’s promise to uphold His covenants.
Let’s start with
is the first of eight consecutive Davidic psalms (cf. heading) near the close of the Psalter. They seem to have been written during a time when the Jewish people were suffering under the wicked. The psalms emphasize David’s own need, and that of the Jewish people corporately. And they encourage them to continue to trust in God to accomplish all that He promised, especially with regard to the Davidic covenant Thus this unit of psalms affirms the messianic hope (Sailhamer, NIV Compact Bible Commentary, 346).
1 I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise;
2 I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.
Verse 1 “Before the gods”?? Compare:
has many parallels to the oracles of blessing in Isaiah (cf. ). Some of the LXX manuscripts link this psalm to the period of Haggai and Zechariah.
3 For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
1 God has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
Why praise and exalt God for being above something that doesn’t exist?
What did the temple represent in ancient Israel?
The psalmist honors the temple because it is Yahweh’s residence on earth. The psalmist sees God’s presence as especially localized in the Jerusalem temple because of His covenant relationship with Israel.
10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
138:2 give thanks to your name.
138:title are the last psalms affiliated with David and make up roughly half of the psalms affiliated with David in Book Five of the Psalms (). Book Five contains 14 psalms attributed to David.
We talked about names in the Bible before. What was significant about names?
Since are collectively a conclusion to the entire Psalter, this final block of Davidic psalms () adds weight to the traditional view of the entire Psalter as “The Psalms of David.” Although about half of the psalms are affiliated with David, they are not distributed evenly throughout the Psalter. For example, Books Three and Four () have only three Davidic psalms (; ; ). See note on 3:title.
David and the Psalm Titles
138:1–3 The psalmist thanks Yahweh for His help and praises His reputation and character. His praise portrays a strong sense of personal gratitude.
The psalmist may more specifically be referring to some sort of armed conflict when God delivered him (and Israel).
138:2
God’s name represents a summary reference to His character and all the past deeds for which He is known cf. ; ; ; ).There is a link between the word of God, which is truth and his name, which epitomizes His character.
Examples:
11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may exult in you.
5 May we shout for joy over your salvation,
and in the name of our God set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
3 For you are my rock and my fortress;
and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;
One ATTRIBUTE of God is His word is truth:
160 The sum of your word is truth,
and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.
This phrase emphasizes God’s commitment to Israel.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
What’s in a name:
14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”
58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
1; ).
1 David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him.
On bowing down toward God’s holy temple see comment on 134:2. Praise is expressed for His lovingkindness (cf. comment on 5:7) and truth (v. 2; cf. comment on 43:3), as when He redeemed David from Saul (cf. 57:3; ; ).
Let’s move to
3 On the day I called, you answered me;
my strength of soul you increased.
4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,
for they have heard the words of your mouth,
5 and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
for great is the glory of the Lord.
6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly,
but the haughty he knows from afar.
In verse 3, David proclaims he feel the Lord answering him and strengthening him. What does that say about his relationship with God?
How does your relationship compare?
In verse 4, David speaks in future tense regarding the kings of the earth. Does this sound familiar in other Scripture?
15 Nations will fear the name of the Lord,
and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory.
23 By myself I have sworn;
from my mouth has gone out in righteousness
a word that shall not return:
‘To me every knee shall bow,
every tongue shall swear allegiance.’
5 Now therefore what have I here,” declares the Lord, “seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Their rulers wail,” declares the Lord, “and continually all the day my name is despised.
15 so shall he sprinkle many nations.
Kings shall shut their mouths because of him,
for that which has not been told them they see,
and that which they have not heard they understand.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
4 Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
What was the Abrahamic Covenant?
138:4–6 The Lord Is High, and Looks on the Lowly. The very personal experience of God’s help is now put in perspective: the God to whom the singer had prayed is the universal Lord (he is high), to whom all the Gentiles will one day come in worship (all the kings of the earth shall give you thanks; cf. 102:15; ); and yet he regards the lowly person (such as the one giving thanks in this psalm).
The actual Abrahamic Covenant is found in .
The actual Abrahamic Covenant is found in .
1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Make a case for the message of and being in line with the second part of verse 4 and verse 5. What do they have in common?
4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,
for they have heard the words of your mouth,
5 and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
for great is the glory of the Lord.
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head;
like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.
5 My wounds stink and fester
because of my foolishness,
ps
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
138:4–6 The psalmist widens his view to the international stage, and he seems to imply that Yahweh will gain fame because He helped him. He implies that Yahweh’s personal help for the psalmist will eventually translate into a more prominent place for Israel among the nations, which other kings will notice.
138:4 This explicitly identifies the international context of the psalm (compare note on v. 1).
The psalmist doesn’t specify how the kings heard God’s words. He may have related God’s words to the foreign kings himself as he declares his thanks and praise to God.
138:5 The psalmist anticipates that the foreign kings will sing (shir in Hebrew) of the ways of Yahweh, which seems to indicate that they will come to worship the God of Israel, Yahweh, at some point.
6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly,
but the haughty he knows from afar.
Foreign kings would see God’s work as He acts on behalf of Israel—usually at their expense. However, the psalmist doesn’t specify that the foreign nations have been defeated and then worship God; he only states that they will eventually worship God.
What is meant by lowly? What part of us indicates if we are haughty or lowly?
The Hebrew word used for lowly, shapal, refers to humility in both one’s life condition and attitude.
Verse 6
Compare:
23 One’s pride will bring him low,
but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.
Go to
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
). Together the redeemed of the Gentile nations and the people of Israel will sing of the ways of the Lord (cf. ; ; ; ). The concept of God’s spiritual provision is also affirmed by David’s statement that He regards the lowly (v. 6). The verb translated “regards,” when used with God as the subject, typically signifies His assessment and provision of what is most needed (see comments on 4:6).
). Together the redeemed of the Gentile nations and the people of Israel will sing of the ways of the Lord (cf. ; ; ; ). The concept of God’s spiritual provision is also affirmed by David’s statement that He regards the lowly (v. 6). The verb translated “regards,” when used with God as the subject, typically signifies His assessment and provision of what is most needed (see comments on 4:6).
7 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.
8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.
Compare to
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
Notice the tense of these verses. Why is that significant for David and for us?
We should not just look backwards to see what God has done for us.
The psalm closes by telling of God’s constant care for each of his faithful.
It is not easy for even the most faithful believer to be mindful of this care at all times
singing this will help the members of the congregation be more aware of the ways in which God preserves and protects them.
The Right Hand of God (verse 7)
The Right Hand of God (verse 7)
A figure of speech that represents God’s ultimate power and authority, and where the exalted Jesus Christ now sits.
You have a strong arm; Your hand is mighty, Your right hand is exalted.
The right hand of God as a symbol
The right hand of God as a symbol
:8
A symbol of power
I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
A symbol of protection See also ; ; ;
:8
A symbol of God’s presence See also ; ;
My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.
A symbol of God’s saving power pp See also ; ; ; ;
:10
A symbol of victory ; ; ;
Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
A symbol of the defeat of God’s enemies See also ; ;
:13
"For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, 'Do not fear, I will help you.'
A symbol of God’s mighty works See also ; ;
:3
A symbol of judgment ;
In fierce anger He has cut off All the strength of Israel; He has drawn back His right hand From before the enemy And He has burned in Jacob like a flaming fire Consuming round about.
Jesus Christ at God’s right hand
Jesus Christ at God’s right hand
:11
Jesus Christ is exalted to God’s right hand Comparison between Jesus Christ and the angels confirms Christ’s absolute supremacy. See also ; pp pp ; ; ; ; ; ;
You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
Jesus Christ rules every authority at God’s right hand See also
:10
Jesus Christ continues his work at God’s right hand See also ; ; ;
As is Your name, O God, So is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness.
Jesus Christ will return at God’s right hand pp
:23
Jesus Christ takes a scroll from God’s right hand The scroll probably refers to God’s decrees for the destiny of the world.
Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand.
:8
The right hand of Jesus Christ
The right hand of Jesus Christ
The LORD has sworn by His right hand and by His strong arm, "I will never again give your grain as food for your enemies; Nor will foreigners drink your new wine for which you have labored."
The place of the righteous on judgment day
:5
A privileged place granted by the Father pp
That Your beloved may be delivered, Save with Your right hand, and answer us!
A place of protection for Christians The angels of the churches are probably the church leaders. See also ;
The term "God's right hand" in prophecy refers to the Messiah to whom is given the power and authority to subdue His enemies (; ).
1 The Lord says to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”
16 the right hand of the Lord exalts,
the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”
Therefore, what we can say is that "God's right hand" refers to the Messiah, the LORD Jesus Christ and He is of equal position, honor, power and authority with God ().
44 “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet” ’?
1 The Lord says to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”
1 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.” ’ 5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ 10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”
15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.
23 The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, 24 saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.’ 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother. 26 So too the second and third, down to the seventh. 27 After them all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.”
29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.
34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, 42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying,
44 “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet” ’?
45 If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” 46 And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
Jesus questions the Pharisees about who they think the "Christ" or the Messiah is. "
Whose son is He? They say unto him, The Son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make Thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call Him Lord, how is He his son?" (, KJV). The position of the Messiah is at God's right hand.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
The fact that Jesus Christ is at the "right hand of God" was a sign to the disciples that Jesus had indeed gone to heaven. In , Jesus told the disciples that He had to go away and He would send the Holy Spirit. So the coming of the Holy Spirit in the upper room on the day of Pentecost () was proof positive that Jesus was indeed in heaven seated at the right hand of God. This is confirmed in :34where the Apostle Paul writes that Christ is sitting at God's right hand making intercession for us.
7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
The fact that Christ is "sitting" refers to the fact that His work of redemption is done and when the fullness of the gentiles is brought in (), Christ's enemies will be made His footstool as the end of the age comes, all prophecy is completed, and time is no more.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Therefore, what we can say is that "God's right hand" refers to the Messiah, the LORD Jesus Christ and He is of equal position, honor, power and authority with God (). The fact that Christ is "sitting" refers to the fact that His work of redemption is done and when the fullness of the gentiles is brought in (), Christ's enemies will be made His footstool as the end of the age comes, all prophecy is completed, and time is no more.
25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.
fulfill his purpose for me. As God has begun to care for me, so he will finish the job all my life long. This goes back to God’s promise to Israel found in
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
But this promise is also personal:
The international scope of the psalm (e.g., v. 4) and the psalmist’s strong sense of mission (v. 8) suggest he is speaking as a king navigating the perils of international relations as a believer in Yahweh.
138:8 An expression of God’s covenant commitment to Israel. See 136:1 and note: While thanksgiving and praise are closely related in the Psalms, thanksgiving is usually connected to something God has done, while praise is based on God’s excellence and character.
Compare verse 8 to
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
In Hebrew, the first use of the divine name Yahweh can be the subject of the verb “to proclaim.” The result is the rendering, “Yahweh proclaimed, ‘Yahweh, the compassionate and gracious God’”—which creates the impression that Yahweh is using the third-person voice to refer to himself. Either way is consistent with 33:19.
Takeaways
Takeaways
Because of His love, faithfulness, and responsiveness, we know the Lord to be a reliable source of hope.
Our lives are made stronger through our relationship with the Lord.
The Lord has a plan for us that will fit into His eternal purpose.
Self-Reflection
Self-Reflection
How does your conviction that God continues to unfold His plan for you encourage you and give you reason to be thankful?
The Hebrew expression used here, le'olam, conveys the unceasing nature of God’s commitment over the course of Israel’s history.
C. Praise God for His Future Faithfulness (138:7–8)
138:7–8. As in , David expresses his confidence in the Lord, Though I walk in the midst of trouble (cf. and comments there). God will stretch forth His hand is a frequent expression of God’s judgment (cf. ; ; ; ) against the wrath of my (David’s, and by extension, Israel’s) enemies. But in contrast, David concluded with the confident assertion, Your right hand will save me (cf. ; ; ) and that God would accomplish what concerns me (cf. 57:2). His affirmation that God not forsake him and His people, the works of Your hand (cf. 100:3), alludes to the promise of .