1 By David. I confess Thee, with all my heart, Before the gods I do praise Thee.
Praise ye Jah! I thank Jehovah with the whole heart, In the secret meeting of the upright, And of the company.
For a great God `is' Jehovah, And a great king over all gods.
Jesus answered them, `Is it not having been written in your law: I said, ye are gods? if them he did call gods unto whom the word of God came, (and the Writing is not able to be broken,) of him whom the Father did sanctify, and send to the world, do ye say -- Thou speakest evil, because I said, Son of God I am?
`God thou dost not revile, and a prince among thy people thou dost not curse.
-- A Psalm of Asaph. God hath stood in the company of God, In the midst God doth judge.
I -- I have said, `Gods ye `are', And sons of the Most High -- all of you,
For great `is' Jehovah, and praised greatly, Fearful He `is' over all gods.
By David. Bless, O my soul, Jehovah, And all my inward parts -- His Holy Name. Bless, O my soul, Jehovah, And forget not all His benefits,
What then is it? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray also with the understanding; I will sing psalms with the spirit, and I will sing psalms also with the understanding;
speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 138
Commentary on Psalms 138 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 138
Ps 138:1-8. David thanks God for His benefits, and anticipating a wider extension of God's glory by His means, assures himself of His continued presence and faithfulness.
1. I will praise thee with my whole heart—(Compare Ps 9:1).
before the gods—whether angels (Ps 8:5); or princes (Ex 21:6; Ps 82:6); or idols (Ps 97:7); denotes a readiness to worship the true God alone, and a contempt of all other objects of worship.
2. (Compare Ps 5:7).
thy word above all thy name—that is, God's promise (2Sa 7:12-16), sustained by His mercy and truth, exceeded all other manifestations of Himself as subject of praise.
3-5. That promise, as an answer to his prayers in distress, revived and strengthened his faith; and, as the basis of other revelations of the Messiah, it will be the occasion of praise by all who hear and receive it (Ps 68:29, 31; Isa 4:3).
5. for great is the glory—or, "when the glory shall be great," in God's fulfilling His purposes of redemption.
6, 7. On this general principle of God's government (Isa 2:11; 57:15; 66:2), he relies for God's favor in saving him, and overthrowing his enemies.
knoweth afar off—their ways and deserts (Ps 1:6).
8. God will fulfil His promise.