Psalm 138

Psalm 138

Give Thanks!

I. God alone is worthy of our wholehearted thanks because of who He is and what He does (Vv. 1-3)

a. God promised to deliver David from his enemies, and to set up His eternal Kingdom through David’s throne and line. As always, God was faithful to His Word, but He did none of these things in David’s life because he lived so sinlessly or because he was so deserving. God did what He did in David’s life, and does what He does in all lives, because He is who He is. As David considers God’s nature, character, and actions, he’s humbled to wholeheartedly thank and praise God before all the false and powerless gods of his enemies. David is thankful for God’s Name, which is to say His Nature and character revealed through His lovingkindness and truth. God has continually blown away all of David’s expectations for what he thought God would or should do, so David brags on how amazing God is. Today, David might say, “God, you’ve outdone yourself this time!”. David had prayed to God many times in desperation and great need, and God had answered and delivered him in a powerful ways. David is thankful that God answered his prayers, but we must see that David didn’t necessarily receive the answers he wanted from God. He doesn’t say that God removed him from his troubles, completely healed his pain, or totally vanquished every enemy that stood against him, but that God made him gold and strengthened his soul. David faced far greater enemies than the kings and armies of the nations surrounding him, he battled against lust, greed, power, and self-righteousness, but he trusted continually in God, and God grew David to see the value of His answers in his life over and above all other things. We all face enemies and idolatrous false gods in our lives that seek to enslave us, and difficulties that try to wear us down. Idols can’t be removed, they must be replaced, and God is faithful to do that when we see our need and humbly and sincerely call out to Him. We must trust His answers, faithfulness, and truth over our own, and be wholeheartedly thankful. (Vv. 1-3; 2 Sam. 7:12-16; 22:1-4, 13-15; Ps. 51; Matt. 6:19-21; 6:33; 2 Cor. 12:7-10; Eph. 3:20-21)

II. God alone is worthy of our wholehearted thanks, because He’s too glorious to keep to ourselves (Vv. 4-5)

a. A God so glorious as this is far too amazing to keep to ourselves. David is a king, and as such, he understands better than anyone else the strain and burden of leading a nation. It’s no wonder then, that he’s concerned about these other kings. The reality for all these kings, and for all humanity, is that one Day they’ll all humbly bow and confess Jesus’ Lordship as the unquestioned ruler of the kings of the earth, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. But David also speaks of a present time, when kings will give thanks to the LORD and sing of the ways of the LORD as a result of hearing God’s Word. David is acknowledging that God’s glorious lovingkindness and faithfulness must move us to share His greatness with others with a great desire and eager anticipation to share in the glorious renewal of all things with them. David reminds us of our Lord’s command to make disciples of all nations, and His promise that He is always with us. (Vv. 4-5; Ps. 2:10-12; 89:27; 119:46; Isa. 49:7; 52:15; 60:3; Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:18-20; Rev. 1:5; 19:16; 21:5)

III. God alone is worthy of our wholehearted thanks, because He lifts us up and never lets us down (Vv. 6-8)

a. David closes out his psalm of thanksgiving and praise by returning to the reality of who God is in His life, what He’s done, and what David is absolutely certain God will do. He’s thankful because God saves us, preserves us in life, will faithfully complete us in His intended image for us, and we can be certain God will never forsake us. David is thankful because God stoops down to lift us up and won’t ever drop us! God truly is the Highest of the high, and the Greatest of the great. His highness and greatness is most fully scene in His amazing mercy, love, and grace displayed through Christ, through whom God showed the most amazing display of unconditional love creation will ever know. Though Christ, God is merciful and gracious to save and sanctify, and He’ll be just to judge. But God doesn’t remove us from the world or life’s difficulties. However He’ll be faithful to walk through all of life’s valleys with us, providing all that we need, refining us through life’s challenges, into the image of Christ. God’s love and faithfulness never changes, and we can be absolutely certain and wholeheartedly thankful that He who created us, He who sustains us, He who redeems us, and He who perfects us, won’t ever drop us! (Vv. 6-8; Ps. 8; 23:4; 34:18; 51:16-17; 72:12-14; 113:4-9; Isa. 57:15; 66:2; Matt. 5:3-5; Luke 1:47-55; John 1:14-18; 3:16-21; Rom. 8:28-39; 2 Cor. 5:21; 8:9; Gal. 6:7-8; Eph. 2:10; Phil. 1:6; 2:2-13; 3:20-21)