Psalms 138:1-6

A Thankful Heart

1

Davidic.

1 I will give You thanks with all my heart; I will sing Your praise before the heavenly beings.^[a]

2 I will bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your constant love and faithfulness. You have exalted Your name and Your promise above everything else.^[b]

3 On the day I called, You answered me; You increased strength within me.^[c]

4 All the kings on earth will give You thanks, Lord, when they hear what You have promised.^[d]

5 They will sing of the Lord's ways, for the Lord's glory is great.

6 Though the Lord is exalted, He takes note of the humble; but He knows the haughty from afar.

Psalms 138:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or the gods (Jb 1:6; 2:1), or before judges or kings (Ps 82:1,6-7; Ex 21:6; 22:7-8); Hb Elohim
• [b]. 2 Sm 7
• [c]. Hb obscure
• [d]. Lit hear the words of Your mouth