Psalms 138 Overview
David praises God before rulers, thanks Him for lovingkindness and truth, expects earth's kings to praise, confesses God's regard for the lowly, and trusts Him to perfect what concerns him.
Before you read Psalms 138
Coming from
Psalm 137 centered on exiles weep for zion and cry for justice against babylon. Psalms is an anthology rather than a continuous chronological story, so the connection here is canonical and thematic.
In this chapter
David praises God before rulers, thanks Him for lovingkindness and truth, expects earth's kings to praise, confesses God's regard for the lowly, and trusts Him to perfect what concerns him.
Leads into
Psalm 139 turns to god knows, surrounds, and formed the psalmist completely, continuing the Psalter’s arranged movement without requiring that the two psalms describe consecutive historical events.
Key understandingExplore deeper
Psalm 138 belongs to Book V of the Psalter (Psalms 107–150). “Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name” should be read as exalted praise of God's reliable self-revelation, not as a claim that Scripture is a separate deity above God.
Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper
Central truth
Wholehearted thanks because God answers and exalts His word.
Thanksgiving truth
In Psalm 138, remembered deliverance should become explicit thanksgiving rather than private relief only.
Royal truth
In Psalm 138, every human throne is dependent on and accountable to the LORD’s higher kingship.
Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper
Thanksgiving connection
1 Chronicles 16 joins remembered acts of God with public thanksgiving and praise. This connection helps frame Psalm 138.
Royal connection
Revelation 19:11-16 presents the final victorious rule of Christ over the nations. This connection helps frame Psalm 138.
What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper
Keep thanksgiving in context
Do not make the deliverance in Psalm 138 a guaranteed timetable for every believer’s present crisis.
Keep royal in context
Keep Psalm 138 in its Israelite royal setting, then follow later Scripture where it extends the language to the Messiah.
Read Psalms 138 watching for…
praise whole heart.
before gods.
word and name.
lowly regarded.
perfect that concerneth me.