Psalms 138:1-5

Thanksgiving for the LORD'S Favor.

1

A Psalm of David.

1 1I will give You thanks with all my heart; I will sing praises to You before the 2gods.
2 I will bow down 3toward Your holy temple And 4give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have 5magnified Your word according to all Your name.
3 On the day I 6called, You answered me; You made me bold with 7strength in my soul.
4 8All the kings of the earth will give thanks to You, O LORD, When they have heard the words of Your mouth.
5 And they will 9sing of the ways of the LORD, For 10great is the glory of the LORD.

Psalms 138:1-5 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.

Cross References 10

  • 1. Psalms 111:1
  • 2. Psalms 95:3; Psalms 96:4; Psalms 97:7
  • 3. 1 Kings 8:29; Psalms 5:7; Psalms 28:2
  • 4. Psalms 140:13
  • 5. Isaiah 42:21
  • 6. Psalms 118:5
  • 7. Psalms 28:7; Psalms 46:1
  • 8. Psalms 72:11; Psalms 102:15
  • 9. Psalms 145:7
  • 10. Psalms 21:5

Footnotes 3

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