Psalm 138 (December 8th, 2025)
- Brian Lee
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Summary
Psalm 138 is a psalm of David in which he gives wholehearted thanks to the Lord for His steadfast love and faithful care. The psalm moves from thanksgiving (vv.1–3), to prophetic hope for worldwide recognition of God (vv.4–6), to personal trust in God’s unfailing commitment (vv.7–8). It is deeply personal yet globally expansive, rooted in God’s covenant character and His active involvement in His servant’s life.
I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise (v.1).
He acknowledges that God has answered him in the day of his need:
On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased (v.3).
David also looks outward and forward. He envisions a world in which all kings will one day praise the Lord because they have heard “the words of your mouth” (v.4). God is highly exalted. Yet, He regards the lowly (v.6).
Finally, David confesses both his weakness and his strength.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. (vv. 7 &8)
Who is God?
God is exalted yet attentive to the lowly.
In verse 6, David writes,
For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.
God’s transcendence does not make Him distant. It makes His nearness even more astonishing. The One who reigns above every “god” (v.1) bends toward those who have nothing to boast about.
In Scripture, God repeatedly draws near to the humble. Moses at the burning bush, Hannah in her anguish, Mary in her lowliness. Above all, we see this in Christ, who “emptied himself” and took the form of a servant (Philippians 2:6–8). Psalm 138 reveals a God whose greatness expresses itself not in aloofness but in gracious attention to those who humbly seek Him.
What is our Guilt?
Our deepest strength should come from God’s presence.
David testifies,
On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased (v.3).
This is not simply circumstantial deliverance. It is inward strengthening. God not only can change situations, but can also change hearts. The phrase “strength of soul” suggests courage, stability, and renewed resolve. Many times in the Psalms, and throughout Scripture, God’s help comes first as inner resilience before He alters the outward crisis. Let's remember that even when God does not remove trouble, He is strengthening the one who humbly prays.
How does Grace Shine?
God’s steadfast love guarantees the completion of His work in us.
The closing confession is one of the most comforting lines in the Psalms:
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever (v.8).
David anchors his hope not in his performance but in God’s covenant love. God will finish what He has begun. This truth echoes throughout Scripture. Psalm 138 invites us to rest not in our own ability to hold on to God, but in God’s unwavering grip on us.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank you that though you are exalted above all things, you look upon the lowly with compassion. Thank you for hearing us on the day we call and for strengthening our souls when we feel weak or overwhelmed. Teach us to trust that you will fulfill your purpose for us, not because of our worthiness but because your steadfast love endures forever. Give us a heart that praises you wholeheartedly and rests in the security of your covenant promise.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
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