All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth. He shall not make his boast of God in vain: he shall be kept alive, and made more alive than ever. The soul's noblest exercise: "worship", "praise.". Ver. Ver. 4. But in the sacred volume all the glory of the Godhead shines: there we are admitted, so to speak, even to the council chamber of the Most High; to hear the covenant entered into between the Father and the Son; the Father engaging to give to him a seed, whom he should have for his inheritance, if he, on his part, would "make his soul an offering for their sins", and, in their nature, expiate the guilt of their iniquities. It is a happy circumstance that, if God be away at any other time, yet he is pledged to be with us in trying hours: "when thou passest through the rivers I will be with thee." Strength imparted to the soul is an inestimable boon; it means courage, fortitude, assurance, heroism. 1. 7. Oh, that it were come! For great is the glory of the LORD. Jehovah himself will see to this and therefore it is most sure. Ver. This is one of those expressions of Scripture that seem so comprehensive, and yet so amazing. In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. Look upon the wounds of thine hands, and forsake not the works of thine hands, prayed Queen Elizabeth. In these days when new religions are daily excogitated, and new gods are set up, it is well to know how to act. 2. 3. If the burden was not removed, yet strength was given wherewith to bear it, and this is an equally effective method of help. Verses 1-8. Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. Kings have usually small care to hear the word of the Lord; but King David feels assured that if they do hear it they will feel its power. (first and last clauses). His mind is so taken up with God that he does not mention his name: to him there is no other God, and Jehovah is so perfectly realized and so intimately known, that the Psalmist, in addressing him, no more thinks of mentioning his name than we should do if we were speaking to a father or a friend. There is no acceptable worship except through him; but we can offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Now, the humble soul, being the image of Christ, who is the express image of his Father, God cannot but have a regard unto him. God's right hand cannot forget its cunning; Jerusalem is his chief joy, and he will defend his own elect. 5. God’s rescues demand our grateful songs: his deliverances our new anthems of exultant praise. There is much diversity in the meaning assigned to "gods" in this verse. Forsake not the works of thine own hands. Ver. He will have a desire to the work of his hands, for he knows it has cost him already, and he will not throw away a vessel upon which he has expended so much of labour and skill. Go to, To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use our convenient, Spurgeon's Verse Expositions of the Bible, Commentary Critical and Explanatory - Unabridged, Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible, Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures. Thou hast bestowed the promise of perpetuity to my house and to my kingdom, which rises in grandeur and goodness above all thy past manifestations of thyself in behalf of thy people (2Sa 7:10 12-13 15-16 7:21-22 2Sa 24-26 29; 2 Samuel 7:21 especially, "For thy Word's sake ...hast thou done all these great things"; 2 Samuel 7:26, "And let thy name be magnified for ever" —an undesigned coincidence of language between the history and the Psalm). 2011. Psalms 138:6. Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. DIVISION. Spurgeon's wife said that if Spurgeon had never written any other work, this would have been a permanent literary memorial. 8. He that meets a spectacle or person which he cannot endure to look upon, avoids it, or turns from it while he is yet afar off; whereas, if the object be delightful, he draweth near and comes as close as he can. Other masters cut out work for their servants, but do not help them in their work; but our Master in heaven doth not only give us work, but strength. 1. Praising and singing are our armour against the idolatries of heresy, our comfort under the depression caused by insolent attacks upon the truth, and our weapons for defending the gospel. 8. so that, if God has revealed his truth to your soul, and given you faith to anchor in the world of promise, sooner than that should fail, he would suffer the loss of all; for he has magnified his word above all his name. Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. These eight Psalms are the devout Israelite's Manual of private prayer and praise. Ver. I am sure there is more gold and silver (spiritual joy, I mean, and comfort) to be found in Christ's camp, among his suffering ones, than their brethren at home in peace and prosperity ordinarily can show. They who hear the words of God will know God. His delivering us. 2. God's wisdom is never at a loss; but when providences are darkest, then the morning star of deliverance appears. Nor is it the knowledge only of truth that we obtain, but the operation and efficacy of it on our souls. Where humility is the corner stone, there glory shall be the top stone. The Psalmist's dismal excursion: walking "in the midst of trouble"; this is not a spectator, but one assailed. He will see to it that none of their precious things shall fail of completion; their life, their strength, their hopes, their graces, their pilgrimage, shall each and all be perfected. Ver. Some (LXX., Luther, Calvin, etc.) Were our hearts as they ought to be when we read the Word, we would tremble at that more than at any manifestation of God since the world began in all his works; and if so be thou dost not see more of the glory of God in his Word than in his works, it is because thou hast little light in thee. 2. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord. Ver. Thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in. One who was a scoffer met a humble child of God one morning, and he said to him, “Tell me, is your God a great God or a little God,” and the poor man said, “Sir, he is both, for, though he is so great that the heaven of heavens cannot contain him, yet he makes himself so little that he condescends to dwell in my poor heart.” Ah, it was sweetly said. —Franz Delitzsch. Oh, how fully I am persuaded that a line of praises is worth a leaf of prayer, and an hour of praises is worth a day of fasting and mourning! The worshipper's contemplation. I will praise thee with my whole heart. 3. 2. They are found in this part of the psalter, in consequence of having been made the basis, or rather the body, of a system or series (Psalms 135:1-21; Psalms 136:1-26; Psalms 137:1-9; Psalms 138:1-8; Psalms 139:1-24; Psalms 140:1-13; Psalms 141:1-10; Psalms 142:1-7; Psalms 143:1-12; Psalms 144:1-15; Psalms 145:1-21; Psalms 146:1-10) by a later writer. His utmost dexterity shall be displayed. Ver. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me. For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. Even so, the true hearted believer of these days must not fall into the will worship of superstition, or the wild worship of scepticism, but reverently worship as the Lord himself prescribes. The grace of God makes a man thoughtful, and leads him to concern about himself, his life, his future, and the completeness of the work of grace. Psalms 50:15. —John Trapp. What an assembly! This may refer to the Incarnate Word, the Son of God, who was called "the Word." Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: —. It may also have been written many years into the exile. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee. By punishing them in hell. "Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name." Many modern critics are to the word of God what blowflies are to the food of men: they cannot do any good, and unless relentlessly driven away they do great harm. When God revives us, trouble will never harm us. Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: That is a sweet text. This is the first of a series of eight Psalms (Psalms 138:1-8; Psalms 139:1-24; Psalms 140:1-13; Psalms 141:1-10; Psalms 142:1-7; Psalms 143:1-12; Psalms 144:1-15; Psalms 145:1-21), probably the last composed by David, a kind of commentary on the great Messianic promise in 2 Samuel 7:1-29. Ver. How will he act? The LORD is gracious and full of compassion: David echoed the self-description of Yahweh to Moses: The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth (Exodus 34:6). Ver. 1. Assured of the love of God and the truth of his word, let us cling the closer to these. Eye of worshippers fixed on him. b) It would evince his strong faith in the true. 3. Of God's will we know nothing, but from the word: "we know neither good nor evil from all that is before us." When they are miles away he knows all about them. Having thus spoken, he utters his personal confidence in Jehovah, who will help his lowly servant, and preserve him from all the malice of wrathful foes. In this Aramaizing Psalm what the preceding Psalm says (Ps 138:6) comes to be carried into effect, viz. Oh how infinite is the distance between him and us! Ver. This soul might will continue: the man having been strengthened for one emergency remains vigorous for life, and is prepared for all future labours and sufferings; unless, indeed, he throw away his force by unbelief, or pride, or some other sin. Behold in me thy work, not mine: for mine, if thou seest, thou condemnest; thine, if thou seest, thou crownest. 1-3. These eight Psalms are composed in the first person, and they follow very happily after the fifteen "Songs of Up goings", and the three Psalms of praise uttered by the chorus of those who have gone up to Sion. "Spurgeon's Verse Expositions of the Bible". His creating hands formed our souls at the beginning; his nail pierced hands redeemed them on Calvary; his glorified hands will hold our souls fast and not let them go for ever. He went to his work of testimony with fall assurance of success: he meant to speak only the words of Jehovah's mouth, and he felt sure that the kings would hear and praise Jehovah. 3. In a sense sufficiently striking this promise was fulfilled to David, and to the nation of Israel, as surrounding monarchs beheld the wonderful dispensations of divine providence which attended their steps (2Sa 5:11 8:10); but in its completest sense, it shall realize its accomplishment in the future conquests of Messiah, when the princes and potentates of the earth receive his word, learn by divine grace to celebrate the glorious methods of his love, and see in the light of faith the greatness of Jehovah's glory as the God of salvation. We have here God's transcendent greatness; he is the high Lord, or Jehovah: he is "the high and lofty One, who inhabits eternity, and who dwells in the high and lofty place, to which no man can approach." Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. And yet he has "magnified" something "above his name" —his word — his truth. Ver. God bids us serve him, and he will enable us to serve him, Ezekiel 36:27 : "I will cause you to walk in my statutes." The Lord's dealing with the humble and the proud. Bitterness is forbidden, and controversy is apt to advertise the heresy; the very best method is to go on personally worshipping the Lord with unvarying zeal, singing with heart and voice his royal praises. If this Psalm refers to the promise in 2 Samuel 7:1-29, there can be no doubt of the correctness of the superscription, which ascribes it to David. b) They do not go out of them to find pleasure. Ver. I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. In full confidence David is prepared to own his God before the gods of the heathen, or before angels or rulers (Psalms 138:1-3); he declares that he will instruct and convert kings and nations, till on very highway men shall sing the praises of the Lord (Psalms 138:4-5). https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/spe/psalms-138.html. —John Lillie. Had half the time spent in councils and controversies been given to praising the Lord, the church would have been far sounder and stronger than she is at this day. I will praise thee. II. Psalm 138. The LXX., Vulgate, Ethiopic, and Arabic translate angels. Thou makest me brave in my soul (with) strength. Ver. Psalms 138:1. Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. God's work is perfect, man's is clumsy and incomplete. The title tells us both the author and the audience of the psalm: To the Chief Musician. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD. Every creature bears the name of God; but in his word and truth therein contained it is written at length, and therefore he is more choice of this than of all his other works; he cares not much what becomes of the world and all in it, so that he keeps his word, and saves his truth. 1. Let us adore the Lord who has spoken to us by his word, and by his Son; and in the presence of unbelievers let us both praise his holy name and extol his holy word. 2. Faith's fervent prayer: "Forsake not the works of thine own hands.". See "Spurgeon's Sermons", No. That is a thing to make a man King — when in the day of trouble God comes to him, hears his prayer and works his deliverance, when none else can help. Lowliness honoured to its great surprise. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me. The swine are trampling on the pearls at this time, and nothing restrains them; nevertheless, the pearls are pearls still, and shall yet shine about our Monarch's brow. There was some special day in which David cried more vehemently than usual; he was weak, wounded, worried, and his heart was wearied; then like a child he "cried", —cried unto his Father. 2. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but the divine word will not pass away, and in this respect especially it has a preeminence over every other form of manifestation. Forsake not the works of thine own hands. See how the people of God plead with God in greatest distress (Isaiah 64:8): "But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we are all the work of thy hand. Whoever edited and arranged these sacred poems, he had an eye to apposition and contrast; for if in Psalms 137:1-9 we see the need of silence before revilers, here we see the excellence of a brave confession. This also is our defence against modern heresies: we cannot forsake the Lord, for he has heard our prayers. Psalms 138:8. —Christoph Starke. God has a greater regard unto the words of his mouth, than to the works of his hand: heaven and earth shall pass away, but one jot or tittle of what he hath spoken shall never fall to the ground. on StudyLight.org What a purpose! 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