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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 138:1-5

I. How he would praise God, compare Ps. 111:1. 1. He will praise him with sincerity and zeal??With my heart, with my whole heart, with that which is within me and with all that is within me, with uprightness of intention and fervency of affection, inward impressions agreeing with outward expressions.? 2. With freedom and boldness: Before the gods will I sing praise unto thee, before the princes, and judges, and great men, either those of other nations that visited him or those of his own... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 138:6-8

David here comforts himself with three things:? I. The favour God bears to his humble people (Ps. 138:6): Though the Lord be high, and neither needs any of his creatures nor can be benefited by them, yet has he respect unto the lowly, smiles upon them as well pleased with them, overlooks heaven and earth to cast a gracious look upon them (Isa. 57:15; 66:1), and, sooner or later, he will put honour upon them, while he knows the proud afar off, knows them, but disowns them and rejects them, how... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 138:5

Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord ,.... Which are all mercy and truth; ways of pleasantness, and paths of peace: so the eunuch went on his way, and in the ways of the Lord rejoicing, Acts 8:39 ; Or, "they shall sing of the ways of the Lord" F20 בדרכי יהוה "de viis Jehovae", Piscator, Schmidt; so some in Vatablus. ; of the excellency, pleasure, and usefulness of them; for great is the glory of the Lord ; shown in the works of creation; more especially in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 138:6

Though the Lord be high ,.... Above all the earth, and all the nations of it, and the highest of men in it; above the heavens, and the angels there, who are his creatures and at his command; above all the blessings and praises of his saints: the perfect knowledge of him is so high as not to be attained; and his thoughts and ways are higher than ours, as the heavens are higher than the earth; he is indeed the most High, higher than the highest; see Psalm 113:4 . According to Arama, here... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 138:5

They shall sing in the ways of the Lord - They shall admire thy conduct, and the wondrous workings of thy providence, if they should not even unite with thy people. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 138:6

Though the Lord be high - Infinitely great as God is, he regards even the lowest and most inconsiderable part of his creation; but the humble and afflicted man attracts his notice particularly. But the proud he knoweth afar off - He beholds them at a distance, and has them in utter derision. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 138:6

Verse 6 6.Because Jehovah the exalted, etc. In this verse he passes commendation upon God’s general government of the world. The thing of all others most necessary to be known is, that he is not indifferent to our safety; for though in words we are all ready to grant this, our disbelief of it is shown by the feat’ we betray upon the slightest appearance of danger, and we would not give way to such alarm if we had a solid persuasion of our being under his fatherly protection. Some read, Jehovah... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 138:1-8

The goodness of God. There are very few psalms where so much is crowded into a very small compass as in this. The writer in a very few strokes brings out those features in the character of God which make him to be the One who is worthy of our deepest reverence, of our fullest confidence, of our most grateful praise. We have— I. HIS LOVING - KINDNESS . ( Psalms 138:2 .) II. HIS FAITHFULNESS . ( Psalms 138:2 .) The psalmist gives thanks for "thy truth," and goes on to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 138:1-8

Exultation in God. What a contrast between this psalm and the previous one! There the sad-hearted writer asks, "How can we sing?" Here the psalmist can and will do nothing but sing. The effect of this spirit is seen throughout the psalm. I. IT WILL OPENLY CONFESS GOD . ( Psalms 138:1 , Psalms 138:2 .) "Before the gods," meaning, we think, those high princes and potentates—god-like in their majesty, power, and in the abject homage and deference that men paid to them—under... read more

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