PsalmsChapter 138

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Of David. I thank you with all my heart; before the gods I sing your praise.[footnote: Hebrew elohim; possibly "the heavenly beings" or "the mighty ones"]

I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted your word above all your name.

On the day I called, you answered me; you made me bold, with strength in my soul.

All the kings of the earth will thank you, LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth.

They will sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.

For the LORD is exalted, yet he sees the lowly; the proud he knows from afar.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me alive; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand saves me.

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me. Your steadfast love, LORD, endures forever—do not abandon the work of your hands.

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Summary2

Chapter 138

Main Theme: A psalm of thanksgiving in which David praises God for his grace, faithfulness, and answered prayers.

Content: The psalmist promises to praise God with all his heart and to worship before his holy temple. He gives thanks that God answered when he called and strengthened him with power. The psalm proclaims that all the kings of the earth shall praise the Lord when they hear his words, for the glory of the Lord is great. Though the Lord is exalted, he looks on the lowly, and he preserves the psalmist in the midst of trouble. The psalm concludes with confidence that the Lord's grace endures forever, and a prayer that God will not forsake the work of his hands.

Key Words/Images:

God's temple (הֵיכַל קָדְשְׁךָ): The place of worship and God's holy presence.
Grace and faithfulness (חֶסֶד og אֱמֶת): God's covenant love and reliability as the foundation for praise.
God's right hand (יְמִינֶךָ): A symbol of God's saving power and protection.
The work of his hands (מַעֲשֵׂי יָדֶיךָ): An expression referring to humanity as God's creation, which he cares for.

Historical context

Places

The psalm mentions "your holy temple" (הֵיכַל קָדְשְׁךָ, hejkhal qodshekha) in verse 2, where the psalmist bows down in worship. This may refer to the temple in Jerusalem, but the Hebrew word hejkhal can also denote God’s heavenly dwelling. The phrase "before gods" (נֶגֶד אֱלֹהִים, neged elohim) in verse 1 is debated—it could mean "before angels", "before rulers/judges", or be a polemical declaration of praising Israel’s God in contrast to the gods of other nations. The Septuagint translated this as "angels", reflecting one early interpretive tradition.

Key Concepts

The phrase "your faithful love and your truth" (חַסְדְּךָ וְעַל־אֲמִתֶּךָ, chasdekha ve'al-amittekha) in verse 2 combines two central covenant concepts: chesed (faithful love, covenant loyalty) and emet (truth, reliability). This word pair appears frequently in the Psalms and highlights God’s character as both loving and trustworthy in his promises.

Verse 2 also contains the theologically charged phrase that God has "exalted your word above all your name" (הִגְדַּלְתָּ עַל־כָּל־שִׁמְךָ אִמְרָתֶךָ). This difficult sentence has been interpreted in several ways, but it likely points to the fact that God’s revealed word (his promises and speech) confirms and manifests his character and reputation.

Themes

The vision that "all the kings of the earth" will praise the Lord (verses 4–5) reflects an Israelite expectation of universal recognition of Yahweh. This theme appears in several royal psalms and prophetic texts, and may reflect a known motif from the ancient Near East where subordinate kings acknowledged a supreme king. In the Israelite context, this image is transferred to God’s cosmic rule.

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Key words7

Lord — A title that shows respect and reverence for God, acknowledging his sovereignty and power.
Praise — A form of musical or poetic expression that gives honor, thanks, and glory to God.
Mercy — God's grace, love, and compassion, especially toward people in need or suffering.
Truth — That which is real, correct, and reliable; here it often refers to God's word and promises.
Humble — A person who is modest and not arrogant, recognizing their dependence on God and others.
Pride — A negative trait that involves self-exaltation, arrogance, and an inability to accept help or guidance from God.
Salvation — God's act of saving people from sin, death, and eternal separation from him, often associated with faith in Jesus Christ.