Psalm 138/Commentary

Bold and Humble Psalm 138

There are all sorts of motives concerning why people attend various churches in the religious world. Some churches present themselves as social centers, others as a kind of spiritual shopping center where we can pick and choose what sounds good to us. Other churches are there to rock the audience with an informal and contemporary format. Some people show up to “worship” out of a sense of history, duty or tradition, others are looking for business contacts or maybe even a Friday night date. Others think that God is going to directly speak to them and give them some kind of miraculous power. This Psalm addresses the issue of motives in worship. For David, worship began with the character of God. He is to be worshipped for who He is: His faithful love and truth (138:2). David has experienced both in this life. The God whom David serves answers prayer (138:3), remembers the lowly (138:6), and acts against the enemies of truth (138:7). In summation, God is to be worshipped because of what He has said (His revelation to man) and what He does (His acts on our behalf). These two grand truths should create in us both a boldness to praise Him and humility that willingly and cheerfully bows before Him. “I will give thanks with all my heart” (138:1) This would include both his mental and emotional capacities, as well as his energy, strength, and will. “Thus he will fulfill the Great Commandment to love God with all that he is” (Mastering the Old Testament, Psalms 73-150, Donald Williams, p. 477).

“I will sing praises to Thee before the gods” (138:1) The expression “before the gods” can have a couple of different meanings seeing that the term render “gods” can be translated or applied to different individuals. It can mean “before the angels (Job 1:6). In Psalm 82:6 the term is used of earthly kings or judges, thus David could be saying that he would praise God before “the great ones of the earth”. He would be vocal about his faith in God even when in the presence of people that others might view as intimidating. When he met with rulers from other nations, among other things, he would talk to them about the true God. Finally, there is a possibility that the term here refers to idols or the false gods of the surrounding nations. This is an

application made by Derek Kidner. Concerning this verse he writes, “David had once felt, but rejected, the pressure of ‘other gods’ (1 Samuel 26:19) within their territories—somewhat as we may feel the force of other ideologies” (Psalms 73150, p. 462). Thus the application for us would be,  I will speak of God’s existence and greatness even when surrounded by those who believe in evolution or atheism.  I will praise God when others want to speak of ‘mother nature’.  I will praise God when others say, ‘believe unquestioningly in science’.  I will praise God when others are seeking to blame or ignore Him.  I will mention God when it seems that others want to leave Him out of the equation or solution.  I will speak of God when every answer being given is not His answer to the problem.  I will speak of His wisdom when everyone else is wanting to rely on human wisdom.  When others get preoccupied with the possibility of ‘life on other planets’, I will speak of the reality of the Creator.  When others are engrossed with saving the planet—I will remind them more importantly its inhabitants must be saved.

“There is a time for silence, lest we cast our pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6), there is also a time for bold confession. We must be bold to praise God when others will not praise Him” (Psalms 107-150, James Montgomery Boice, p. 1194).

“For Thy lovingkindness and truth” (138:2) This refers to God’s steadfast love, mercy, forgiveness, and His faithfulness, consistency and absolute reliability. Yet Boice reminds us that both these attributes are under attack today. Some resent the fact that God says they need to be “forgiven”, they rather want to earn their right to be in heaven.

Others have little use for God’s truth, for they are more impressed by either the wisdom of other men, or their own hunches and opinions. “David had learned that God does not lie and that all God’s thoughts and actions toward us flow from love and persist in faithfulness. God is good, and He is always good (James 1:17)” (p. 1197).

“For Thou hast magnified Thy word according to all Thy name” (138:2) David here might be saying that God’s present revelation of Himself in Scripture has even surpassed what has been previously revealed. This would certainly be true concerning the revelation found in the New Testament (John 16:13;

Hebrews 8:6 “a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises”). Boice says here that God could be saying that what He values more than anything else is the integrity of His word. Above all else He wants to be “believed”.

“On the day I called Thou didst answer me” (138:3) David here realizes that God has actually provided to David what David really needed when he needed it. God is not late in answering prayer when what is asked is essential or according to His will. I hope that most mature Christians in looking back on their own lives have seen the same truth. “There is nothing which will expand our understanding of God and give us spiritual vitality like answered prayer” (Williams p. 478). It is easy to overlook answered prayers, or to view such things as just a matter of good timing or luck. In addition, it is so easy to become preoccupied with what we might erroneously call “unanswered prayers”. Typically, I have found that if something did not go the way I wanted to it go, often I find that:  I was praying outside the will of God.  I was wrongly wanting God to override a person’s freewill  My prayer was rather weak or non-existent. It is amazing how we often “think” that we really prayed about something, but further inspection will reveal that we might not have prayed at all about this (James 4:1-3).  If answered, my prayer would have only made me more selfish “Thou didst make me bold with strength in my soul” (138:3) This statement reminds us of what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:8-10. “It is not always the situation that needs changing; it is, as often as not, the man involved in it” (Kidner p. 462).

“All the kings of the earth will give thanks to Thee” (138:4) This sounds like Philippians 2:9-11, yet the prayer here, the “bold man’s desire” is that the great ones of the earth would hear the Scriptures and appreciate what is found therein. Often we forget that the “kings of the earth” need God as much in their life as anyone else. Solomon, when he became king, understood that far more than a strong military, or a good economy, he needed a wise heart, one that could discern good from evil (1 Kings 3:9).

Unfortunately, often people vote for the person who they think as all the answers. Would it not be more wise to look for the person who knows they do not have all the answers, but rather is humble before God.

“Yet He regards the lowly; but the haughty He knows from afar” (138:6) One important aspect of God’s greatness or glory is the fact that such a powerful and exalted Being cares for even the person on the last rung of the social or economic ladder. God is great, yet the men and women of the world who “think” they are great are at the true opposite end of greatness. “The two concepts of greatness have no meeting point” (Kidner p. 463). This verse simply reminds me that in this life I must resist the temptation to listen to and be impressed with all the wrong people. When I am reading a book, listening to music, or watching the news, I need to remind myself that I might presently be listening to someone who God only knows from a great distance!

“I walk in the midst of trouble” (138:7) Even though David was a mighty king and bold, before God and problems he was humble. David did not approach life with the attitude, “Bring it on, I can handle it”. In the world I find two different attitudes towards trouble. Some say, “I simply determined that this was not going to beat me, that I was not going to die, and I survived because of the strength I found in myself”. By contrast, David said, “Thou wilt revive me”. David looked to God for His necessary resources, and God was the source of His strength, and encouragement, and God would fight against David’s enemies (138:7), and accomplish His plan for David (138:8).

“The Lord will accomplish what concerns me” (138:8) Notice that David did not say, “The Lord will bring to pass all my plans”. It is so easy to think that somehow God exists for the purpose making sure we get everything we want in this life, almost like a wedding-coordinator who ensures that a couple gets the wedding they wanted. And that is why some people attend services and pray, because they view God as their servant and their good luck charm. David knew that God had a plan for David that might be completely different from David’s own agenda. David desired that God fulfill His plan for David, not merely David’s own short-sighted list. Is this our desire, that God’s will would be fulfilled through us and that our lives would magnify Him? Mark Dunagan/Beaverton Church of Christ/503-644-9017 www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net/mdunagan@easystreet.com