Click here to read PSALM 138 in poetic form.
Background
Psalm 138 is in the Deuteronomy Book of the Psalms (Psalms 107-150). These 44 Psalms, like the Book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament, show God’s Word as the source of salvation, deliverance, and healing. This would be fully carried out in the life of the coming Messiah, the living Word, Jesus Christ. Psalm 138 gives praise for God’s constant protection and care to David. The Lord in his mercy will “perfect” that concerning David by sending the promised Messiah to redeem mankind.
Structure
(Verses 1-4) Praise for the Lord’s loving kindness and truth in strengthening David
(Verses 5,6) Telling of God’s glory and His regard for the lowly (not the proud)
(Verses 7,8) Confidence that the Lord will revive (as in the resurrection of Jesus Christ), save with His right hand (as God did for Jesus Christ many times), and in mercy perfect (by sending the Messiah to fulfill his mission)
Key Scriptures
Verse 2—“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” The Psalmist praises God for His mercy and truth in promising to send the Messiah, the godly focus and central truth of His Word.
Verse 6—“Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.” This theme is repeated throughout scripture. God saves the lowly and humble, but He brings down the proud and haughty (James 4:6-10; I Peter 5:5-7). The scriptures show the Messiah’s humble heart toward the Father. Moses was “very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). Jesus Christ was a prophet like unto Moses (Deuteronomy 18:18), and Jesus was “meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29).
Jesus Christ always went to his Father for counsel and advice on what to do. Jesus said, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (John 5:30).
Verse 7—“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me [return me to life]: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.” Jesus Christ had no doubt that His Father would raise him from the dead after three days and three nights in the grave. He had the great hope of being raised from dead just as Jonah was raised from death after three days and nights (Matthew 12:40). Psalms 16:8-11 also gave Jesus Christ hope, and that joyful hope is what gave him the strength to endure (Hebrews 12:2).
Verse 8—“The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.” The Hebrew word translated “perfect” (verb), means to complete or bring to success. This continues the thought in verse 7 that the Messiah had total confidence that the Lord would fulfill all things concerning him: his earthly ministry and fulfillment of God’s calling as the Messiah, his suffering and death, his resurrection and ascension, and his seating and eternal position at God’s right hand.
FOR FURTHER STUDY
All 150 of The Psalms in Poetic Form are available from Amazon in a book, either Large Print or a smaller Bedside Reader.
The Background, Structure, and Key Scriptures for all 150 Psalms are available from Amazon in a book The Psalms: Background & Structure with Key Scriptures Explained.
