Salmos 138

1 Graças te dou de todo o meu coração; diante dos deuses a ti canto louvores.

2 Inclino-me para o teu santo templo, e louvo o teu nome pela tua benignidade, e pela tua fidelidade; pois engrandeceste acima de tudo o teu nome e a tua palavra.

3 No dia em que eu clamei, atendeste-me; alentaste-me, fortalecendo a minha alma.

4 Todos os reis da terra de louvarão, ó Senhor, quando ouvirem as palavras da tua boca;

5 e cantarão os caminhos do Senhor, pois grande é a glória do Senhor.

6 Ainda que o Senhor é excelso, contudo atenta para o humilde; mas ao soberbo, conhece-o de longe.

7 Embora eu ande no meio da angústia, tu me revivificas; contra a ira dos meus inimigos estendes a tua mão, e a tua destra me salva.

8 O Senhor aperfeiçoará o que me diz respeito. A tua benignidade, ó Senhor, dura para sempre; não abandones as obras das tuas mãos.

Salmos 138 Commentary

Chapter 138

The psalmist praises God for answering prayer. (1-5) The Lord's dealing with the humble and the proud. (6-8)

Verses 1-5 When we can praise God with our whole heart, we need not be unwilling for the whole world to witness our gratitude and joy in him. Those who rely on his loving-kindness and truth through Jesus Christ, will ever find him faithful to his word. If he spared not his own Son, how shall he not with him freely give us all things? If God gives us strength in our souls, to bear the burdens, resist the temptations, and to do the duties of an afflicted state, if he strengthens us to keep hold of himself by faith, and to wait with patience for the event, we are bound to be thankful.

Verses 6-8 Though the Lord is high, yet he has respect to every lowly, humbled sinner; but the proud and unbelieving will be banished far from his blissful presence. Divine consolations have enough in them to revive us, even when we walk in the midst of troubles. And God will save his own people that they may be revived by the Holy Spirit, the Giver of life and holiness. If we give to God the glory of his mercy, we may take to ourselves the comfort. This confidence will not do away, but quicken prayer. Whatever good there is in us, it is God works in us both to will and to do. The Lord will perfect the salvation of every true believer, and he will never forsake those whom he has created anew in Christ Jesus unto good works.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 138

\\<>\\. This psalm is generally thought to have been written by David upon his being advanced to the throne; on account of which he praises the Lord, who had supported him under many exercises, and had made good his promise to him, at least in part; and he firmly believed the accomplishment of the rest, that he would perfect what concerned him, Ps 138:8. It seems as if this psalm was composed between his being king over Judah and over all Israel. Though Theodoret understands the psalm as a thanksgiving of the Jews upon their return from Babylon, which David prophesied of. The Syriac version calls it a thanksgiving with a prophecy; as indeed it is a prophecy of the Messiah's kingdom, and of the calling of the Gentiles in the latter day, as appears from Ps 138:4.