Psalm 138:8

8 The LORD will do all this for my sake. Your faithful love lasts forever, LORD! Don't let go of what your hands have made.

Psalm 138:8 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 138:8

The Lord will perfect [that which] concerneth me
Or "will", or "may the Lord perform for me" ^F24: all things in providence; all that he had appointed for him, that would be for his good and his own glory, ( Psalms 57:2 ) ; and particularly what concerned him as a king. He had made him king over the house of Judah; he had begun to fulfil his promise concerning the kingdom; and he would perfect it, by setting him over all the tribes of Israel. Also he believed he would perfect what concerned him as a saint, even the good work of grace upon his heart; which is but a begun work, is imperfect, is gradually carried on, and will be completed; God is able to do it, and none can hinder him; he has promised to do it, and he is faithful who will do it; and his glory is concerned in it; and it may be depended on it will be finished; he is a rock, and his work is perfect; see ( Philippians 1:6 ) ;

thy mercy, O Lord, [endureth] for ever;
a phrase often used by the psalmist, with which his heart was affected; and here used, both as an argument by which he concluded God would perfect his begun work, and as an encouragement to make the following request:

forsake not the works of thine own hands;
as are all the works of providence and grace: the work of grace upon the heart may be expressed in the plural number, because of the several branches of it; which are all so many works, as the work of faith, labour, of love ( 1 Thessalonians 1:3 ) ; and which is the Lord's handiwork; and a curious work it is, a new creation work, a work of almighty power; and which he will never cease from, or be remiss in, as the word ^F25 signifies, until he has accomplished it, ( 2 Thessalonians 1:11 ) . It is a prayer of faith, and may be most confidently believed: and some indeed render it as an expression of faith, "thou wilt not forsake the works of thine hands" ^F26; David himself was the work of God's hands, as Kimchi observes, as a creature, as a king, and as a saint; and so are all the people of God, ( Isaiah 45:11 ) ; and whom he will never leave nor forsake; for they are his church, his chosen, his children, his portion and inheritance, ( Psalms 94:14 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F24 (ydeb rmgy) "perficiet pro me", Montanus, Musculus; "perficiat pro me", Junius & Tremellius.
F25 (Prt la) "ne dimittas", Pagninus, Montanus.
F26 "Non deseres", Musculus, Piscator.

Psalm 138:8 In-Context

6 Even though the LORD is high, he can still see the lowly, but God keeps his distance from the arrogant.

7 Whenever I am in deep trouble, you make me live again; you send your power against my enemies' wrath; you save me with your strong hand.

8 The LORD will do all this for my sake. Your faithful love lasts forever, LORD! Don't let go of what your hands have made.