Psalms 138King James Version
I will praise thee with my whole heart. Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly. Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever.
A thanksgiving psalm for answered prayer. I will praise you with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing praise toward your holy temple. In the day I cried, you answered me and strengthened me with strength in my soul. All the kings of the earth shall praise you when they hear the words of your mouth. Though the LORD is high, he has respect to the lowly; the proud he knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you will revive me. The LORD will perfect that which concerns me.
The personal experience of being heard and strengthened when crying out becomes the basis for the expectation that all kings will eventually recognize the same LORD who regards the lowly.
verse: "The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands." The closing confidence rests on God's identity as maker: he will not abandon his own work.
Superscription: 'A Psalm of David.' Opens the final Davidic collection (138-145) before the closing Hallel (146-150). The phrase 'before the gods' (v1) is interpretively significant: David's praise is public and challenges the gods of the nations. The perfect tense of v3 ('thou answeredst me') grounds the confidence of v8 ('will perfect').
David as the one who prayed and was strengthened; God addressed before the 'gods' (heavenly beings or foreign rulers); the kings of the earth who will hear and praise; the lowly regarded by God; the proud known from afar.
Psalm 138 opens the final Davidic collection in the Psalter (138-145). The 'gods' before whom David sings (v1) may be heavenly court members, or an anticipation of the kings of v4-5 who will eventually praise. The confession that God perfects what concerns him (v8) became a central text for Christian theology of divine faithfulness in process.
For the morning after being heard: when the cry was answered and now the question is how to carry that forward. The psalm is thanksgiving that opens into expectation.
1[A Psalm of David.] I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
2I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
3In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
4All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.
5Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.
6Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
8The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.