- “I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;”
Point 1: David expresses wholehearted gratitude.
We are to worship God with undivided devotion, not half-hearted affection. His heart is not shared with idols or worldly priorities.
Application: Give thanks with integrity and focus. Worship cannot be superficial. - “I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;”
Point 2: Praise is public, even in the face of false powers.
The “gods” could refer to idols, rulers, or spiritual forces. David is unashamed to declare God’s supremacy before them.
Application: Live boldly for God even when surrounded by opposition or ungodly systems. - “I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,”
Point 3: True worship involves humility and reverence.
To bow is to submit; to face the temple is to orient one’s life toward God’s presence.
Application: Orient your life around God’s presence and character. - “for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.”
Point 4: God’s name and His word are supreme.
His name is His nature; His word is His will. Both are lifted higher than all else.
Application: Revere God’s Word as the highest authority. - “On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.”
Point 5: God hears and strengthens in response to prayer.
David doesn’t just receive physical help—his inner being is renewed.
Application: Seek God not just for rescue, but for renewal. - “On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.”
Point 6: Prayer is the means through which God infuses courage.
David recalls specific times when he cried out, and God answered.
Application: Remember answered prayers as testimonies of God’s nearness. - “All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth,”
Point 7: God’s glory will be acknowledged by rulers.
The Word of God will reach even the highest authorities.
Application: Do not underestimate the reach of God’s Word—it can influence even global leaders. - “All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth,”
Point 8: Gratitude flows from revelation.
Hearing God’s Word leads to awe and gratitude, even in those with power.
Application: Share the Word boldly; it provokes worship. - “and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord.”
Point 9: God’s greatness evokes joyful praise.
His ways are not hidden—they are glorious and worth celebrating.
Application: Let your life sing of God’s ways—live in visible worship. - “and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord.”
Point 10: The more we know God’s ways, the more we will worship.
Knowledge of God leads to deeper adoration.
Application: Study His ways, not just His acts. - “For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.”
Point 11: God is exalted yet near to the humble.
His greatness doesn’t make Him distant—it reveals His kindness to the meek.
Application: Embrace humility; God dwells with the lowly. - “For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.”
Point 12: Pride creates distance from God.
The arrogant may talk of God, but they are not close to Him.
Application: Repent of pride to walk closely with God. - “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life;”
Point 13: God preserves in the middle of trials.
He doesn’t always remove the storm—but He protects in the midst of it.
Application: Trust God’s presence even when surrounded by hardship. - “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life;”
Point 14: The believer is never abandoned.
David walks “in” trouble, but not “alone” in it.
Application: Walk by faith through the valley, knowing God guards your life. - “you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.”
Point 15: God actively defends His people.
He does not ignore the threats—He intervenes with power.
Application: Trust the reach and might of God’s hand in your battles. - “you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.”
Point 16: God’s hand is a symbol of power and covenant.
The right hand symbolizes strength and authority to save.
Application: Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. - “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;”
Point 17: God’s plans for you are personal and sure.
David is confident not in chance but in God’s intentional purpose.
Application: Yield your life to God’s ongoing work—you are not random. - “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;”
Point 18: We are not self-made—we are God-shaped.
His will is more reliable than our plans.
Application: Submit your goals to the purpose of the Lord. - “your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.”
Point 19: God’s love is eternal and unchanging.
Steadfast love (Hebrew: hesed) is covenantal—it never ends.
Application: Anchor your hope in God’s enduring love, not in fleeting feelings. - “your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.”
Point 20: Love is the foundation of all God’s actions.
He disciplines, protects, and guides from love.
Application: Live securely, knowing God’s love never fails or expires. - “Do not forsake the work of your hands.”
Point 21: David prays for continual care and completion.
We are God’s workmanship; He is not done with us.
Application: Pray for God to perfect what He started in you. - “Do not forsake the work of your hands.”
Point 22: God never abandons what He creates.
This is not a fear of being forgotten, but a cry for continued shaping.
Application: Trust God’s faithfulness to finish what He began. - Summary of Psalm 138:
Point 23: The psalm moves from personal thanksgiving to global recognition of God’s glory.
David’s personal worship becomes prophetic as he foresees worldwide praise.
Application: Your worship can inspire nations—worship with vision. - Christological Insight:
Point 24: Jesus is the fullness of God’s steadfast love and Word (John 1:14).
The One who came in humility, loved the lowly, and fulfilled the purpose of God in full.
Application: See Jesus in every act of God’s love, and respond in whole-hearted praise.
“God Is Still God—and He’s Not Done Yet”
Psalm 138 — A Psalm of David
Introduction:
There are some psalms that whisper comfort and others that thunder confidence. Psalm 138 does both. It’s the voice of a man who’s been through valleys, faced enemies, endured trouble, and still lifts his hands in thanks. David is older now. He’s seen the dark, but he’s also seen the hand of God. This isn’t the testimony of a man who’s never been bruised. This is the praise of someone who has been broken and built back by the steadfast love of the Lord.
Ron Dunn once said, “God never wastes pain. Every trial is a platform for praise.” Psalm 138 is one of those platforms.
Let’s walk through this psalm and let God remind us: He is still God, and He’s not done yet.
I. Undivided Praise in a Divided World
Psalm 138:1 – “I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise.”
- David doesn’t hold back—his whole heart belongs to the Lord. He praises God in full view of counterfeit powers.
- There were many “gods” in David’s world—idols of wood, stone, and pride. But he raises a song not in the temple of comfort, but in the presence of every rival.
- Ron Dunn-style application: “You can’t have peace with the world and power with God at the same time.” Your praise must be public and pure.
II. Bowed Low Before the God Most High
Psalm 138:2 – “I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness.”
- David bows—worship starts low. When you know who God is, you get on your face.
- He thanks God not just for blessings, but for character: “steadfast love and faithfulness.”
- The Christian life isn’t lived on feelings but on facts: God is faithful even when we are not.
- Illustration: Ron Dunn would say, “Faith is not believing God will do what I want—faith is believing God will do what is right.”
III. God’s Word and Name Are Untouchable
Psalm 138:2b – “For you have exalted above all things your name and your word.”
- Nothing in creation outranks God’s name or His Word.
- The Word isn’t optional—it’s central. It’s how we know Him, trust Him, and follow Him.
- Application: When you can’t feel God, read His Word. When you can’t see His hand, trust His heart.
IV. Answered Prayer That Strengthens the Soul
Psalm 138:3 – “On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.”
- God doesn’t just fix problems—He fortifies people.
- David doesn’t say, “You changed my circumstance,” but “You made me stronger inside it.”
- That’s how we live—strength in the soul, not escape from the storm.
V. The Gospel Will Reach Every Throne
Psalm 138:4–5 – “All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks…for great is the glory of the Lord.”
- This is more than poetic—it’s prophetic. David sees the day when kings, rulers, presidents, and despots will bow to God.
- Christological Connection: Philippians 2:10–11 — “Every knee shall bow… every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
VI. The God Who Sits High, Stoops Low
Psalm 138:6 – “For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.”
- God is above all, yet not beyond reach.
- Humility attracts Him. Pride repels Him.
- Application: Get low and stay close. If you feel far from God, pride may be in the way.
VII. He Keeps You Through Trouble, Not From It
Psalm 138:7 – “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life…”
- God doesn’t always pull us out—sometimes He walks us through.
- We all want a God of prevention. But God is more often a God of preservation.
- Ron Dunn reflection: “We want God to rescue us from the fire. But God often refines us in it.”
VIII. The Hand That Delivers Still Moves
Psalm 138:7b – “You stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.”
- His hand is not shortened. The same hand that parted the Red Sea is the one that parts your fears.
- He doesn’t delegate your deliverance—He does it Himself.
- Personal appeal: Whatever enemy surrounds you—depression, fear, cancer, addiction—His hand is stretched toward you.
IX. God Will Finish What He Started in You
Psalm 138:8a – “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me.”
- David is confident: not in his ability, but in God’s resolve.
- This is Philippians 1:6 in seed form: “He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion.”
- Ron Dunn insight: “God doesn’t abandon His projects. You may be unfinished—but you’re not forsaken.”
X. Love That Endures When Everything Else Fails
Psalm 138:8b – “Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.”
- Circumstances change. People fade. Feelings betray. But the love of God outlasts it all.
- You don’t have to feel it to believe it. You just have to remember the cross.
- Invitation: Come home to His love. You’re never too far for mercy.
XI. A Prayer from the Battle
Psalm 138:8c – “Do not forsake the work of your hands.”
- David isn’t doubting. He’s depending.
- He knows he’s God’s workmanship, and he’s saying, “Don’t let go.”
- Gospel Invitation: The cross proves He won’t. You are the work of His hands—and the blood of His Son.
Conclusion:
Psalm 138 isn’t about a trouble-free life. It’s about a faithful God in the middle of a troubled life. The message of the psalm—and the message of the Gospel—is this:
God is still God. He sees you, sustains you, and He’s not done with you.
So don’t give up. Don’t walk away. Don’t believe the lie that it’s over. If you’re still breathing, God’s still working. If the road is long, His hand is strong. If your heart is breaking, His love is unshaking.
Come to Jesus. Trust the One who finishes what He starts. Praise the One whose steadfast love endures forever.
Christological implications of Psalm 138,
which reveal how this psalm points to and finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Though written by David, this psalm prophetically anticipates the person, work, and reign of Christ.
1. Wholehearted Praise Directed to the True God
Psalm 138:1 – “I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise.”
- Christological implication: Jesus is the full revelation of God (John 14:9). He is the One who receives true worship above all false gods.
- In the New Testament, the early church praised Jesus publicly—even under threat of persecution (Acts 4:20).
- Jesus is the object of all wholehearted worship. He is not one among many—He is Lord of all (Acts 10:36).
2. The Temple and God’s Name Point to Jesus
Psalm 138:2 – “I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name…”
- Christological implication: Jesus is the true and final temple (John 2:19–21).
- God’s name represents His character. Jesus came and revealed the name of the Father (John 17:6).
- Worship that was once tied to a place (the temple) is now centered on a person—Jesus Christ (John 4:21–24).
3. God’s Word and Name Exalted — Fulfilled in Christ
Psalm 138:2b – “For you have exalted above all things your name and your word.”
- Christological implication: Jesus is the Word made flesh (John 1:14). He embodies God’s Word and reveals His name (Philippians 2:9–11).
- The exaltation of the Word is completed in the exaltation of Christ. He is above all names (Hebrews 1:1–4).
4. Answered Prayer and Soul Strength — Jesus the Intercessor
Psalm 138:3 – “On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.”
- Christological implication: Jesus is our intercessor (Romans 8:34). Through Him we have access to the Father (Hebrews 4:14–16).
- Christ strengthens our inner being through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16).
- The soul-strengthening David experienced finds its ultimate source in Christ.
5. Global Worship — A Prophecy of Christ’s Reign
Psalm 138:4–5 – “All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks… for great is the glory of the Lord.”
- Christological implication: This is a preview of Christ’s universal lordship (Philippians 2:10–11).
- Kings and rulers will worship Christ at His return (Revelation 1:5; 19:16).
- The Great Commission is the beginning of this global acknowledgment (Matthew 28:18–20).
6. God Dwells with the Humble — Jesus’ Incarnation and Ministry
Psalm 138:6 – “For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.”
- Christological implication: Jesus is God Most High who humbled Himself (Philippians 2:6–8).
- He associated with the lowly, the broken, and the outcast (Luke 4:18; Matthew 11:29).
- God’s heart for the humble is seen most clearly in Christ.
7. Preservation in Trouble — Fulfilled in Christ’s Victory
Psalm 138:7 – “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life…”
- Christological implication: Jesus is the Good Shepherd who walks with us through the valley (John 10:11; Psalm 23:4).
- In Christ, our life is hidden and preserved eternally (Colossians 3:3).
- He is our shield and refuge in every trouble (John 16:33).
8. Divine Deliverance by God’s Right Hand — Jesus as God’s Right Hand
Psalm 138:7b – “Your right hand delivers me.”
- Christological implication: Jesus sits at the right hand of God (Hebrews 1:3; Acts 7:56).
- The right hand symbolizes strength and salvation—Christ is God’s saving hand stretched out to us (Isaiah 53:1; Luke 1:69).
- All deliverance now comes through Him.
9. God’s Purpose Fulfilled in Us — Through Christ
Psalm 138:8a – “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me.”
- Christological implication: God’s ultimate purpose is to conform us to the image of Christ (Romans 8:28–29).
- Christ is the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 22:13); He finishes what He starts (Philippians 1:6).
- Our purpose is completed in Christ, by Christ, and for Christ (Colossians 1:16–17).
10. Steadfast Love Endures — Perfectly Revealed in Christ
Psalm 138:8b – “Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.”
- Christological implication: The cross is the ultimate expression of God’s enduring love (Romans 5:8; John 15:13).
- Jesus is the eternal demonstration of God’s covenant love. He is love in person (1 John 4:9–10).
- Because of Christ, we know God’s love will never leave us (Romans 8:38–39).
11. “Do Not Forsake the Work of Your Hands” — Secured in Christ’s Finished Work
Psalm 138:8c – “Do not forsake the work of your hands.”
- Christological implication: We are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:10).
- Jesus declared on the cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30)—securing that God will never abandon the redeemed.
- In Christ, we are kept forever. He loses none of those the Father gives Him (John 6:39).
Summary:
Psalm 138 proclaims the faithfulness, power, and love of God. In Christ, all these qualities are made visible:
- The temple becomes the body of Christ.
- The Word is incarnated in Jesus.
- Steadfast love is crucified for our sin.
- The right hand of God is Christ enthroned.
- The global praise of God is fulfilled in the Great Commission and will culminate in the eternal worship of the Lamb.
Christ is the center of Psalm 138’s confidence, and His glory is the goal of its praise.
He Holds Me Still
I lift my thanks to You, O Lord.
Not in secret, but in the open.
Before powers that are not real,
I speak Your name with strength.
You alone are true.
I bow low toward Your place.
Your love does not change.
Your truth stands without fear.
You have lifted Your name high.
Your word is strong forever.
You heard me when I called.
You gave me strength inside.
You did not leave me alone.
Even kings will know You.
They will sing of Your great ways.
You are high, yet You see me.
I am small, but You draw near.
Pride keeps others far from You.
Trouble walks beside me,
But You are greater still.
Your hand keeps me safe.
Your plan will not fail.
Your love lasts through all time.
You will not forget me.
I am the work of Your hands.
You Do Not Let Go
I gave You my whole heart.
You were not far.
Even when voices rose against You,
I lifted praise above their noise.
You stayed close.
You do not move away from me.
You bend low to see my tears.
You give strength I do not earn.
You speak, and my soul hears.
Your love holds me steady.
The proud build high walls.
But You come through the low door.
You walk into my pain.
You stretch out Your hand.
And I live again.
Nations will see what You have done.
Rulers will sing a new song.
They will hear what I once cried.
Your glory will be known.
Your name will not be forgotten.
Do not leave what You started.
Shape me until I am finished.
Keep me in Your strong hand.
Your love does not end.
You do not let go.
You Are Still Here
I thought I was alone.
But You answered when I called.
You did not need loud words.
You knew my voice in the dark.
You stayed near when others left.
I walked in the middle of trouble.
It did not walk through me.
Your hand stopped the storm.
Your power moved in silence.
I am still standing.
Your name is higher than fear.
Your word is deeper than doubt.
I rest in what You said.
You do not forget Your promise.
You are not tired of me.
Even kings will see You.
They will praise Your ways.
No throne will outshine Yours.
You are Lord over all.
Glory belongs to You alone.
You made me with Your hands.
So I am Yours, not mine.
Do not stop Your work.
Even broken, I am known.
You are still here.
In the Shadow of Your Hand
I bow low, not in shame,
But in awe of who You are.
You do not demand my fear.
You invite me to trust.
You are not far away.
The world lifts false kings.
But they will fall in silence.
Only You rise forever.
Only Your voice gives life.
Only Your Word remains.
You heard me before I asked.
You held me when I was still.
Your love came without cost.
Your mercy did not rush.
You gave what I did not earn.
I walk through fire and wind.
You do not leave me there.
You walk the same path.
You cover me from harm.
I rest in the shadow of Your hand.
You made me. You know me.
I cannot be lost to You.
Finish what You began.
You are not done.
I trust Your love again.
“God’s Faithfulness Through It All” – A Reflection on Psalm 138
Psalm 138 is the quiet confidence of a believer who has been through fire and still worships. David doesn’t speak as someone who has escaped life’s pain, but as someone who has been preserved in the midst of it. This is not blind optimism—it is seasoned trust.
The psalm begins with wholehearted praise (v.1), showing us that worship must be undivided even when life is divided. David praises not in private but “before the gods,” meaning before all false powers and visible threats. He bows toward the temple (v.2), reminding us that worship is not just emotion—it is posture, reverence, and surrender to God’s unchanging character.
The core of the psalm rests on the beautiful truth: “You have exalted above all things your name and your word” (v.2). God’s character and His promises are never in conflict. He is faithful to Himself—and thus, faithful to us. That’s why David can say, “On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased” (v.3). God may not always change the outside, but He renews us from within.
In verses 4–6, we see a glimpse of the nations praising God. This anticipates the global worship of Christ. God’s greatness is not just for one people—it is for all who will bow in humility. The Lord is high, but He draws near to the lowly (v.6). The proud, on the other hand, are kept at a distance.
Then, in a deeply personal way, David reflects: “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life” (v.7). He knows that God doesn’t always remove the trial, but He walks with us through it. The psalm ends in a beautiful promise: “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me” (v.8). This is where rest is found. Not in perfect plans, but in a perfect God whose love endures forever.
Psalm 138 points us to Christ—the Word made flesh, the Name above all names, the hand stretched out to save, and the love that never ends. In Him, this psalm is not just poetry—it is promise.
Prayer: “The Work of Your Hands”
Father in heaven,
I praise You with all I am. You are worthy of my whole heart, not just part of it. Even when other voices rise around me, I choose to lift up Your name. You are not one of many—you are the only One.
Thank You that You are near. Thank You that You do not turn from the lowly. When I feel forgotten, You remember. When I am weak, You speak strength into my soul.
I praise You for Your Word, for it does not change. I trust Your love, for it does not fade. You have been faithful in the past; You will be faithful again.
Lord, finish the work You started in me. Keep Your hand on my life. Shape me, correct me, and guide me. When I walk through trouble, stay close. When I falter, hold me.
I am the work of Your hands. Do not forsake me. I belong to You. Through Jesus Christ, I pray with hope. Amen.