Psalm 138

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 138

It does not appear, nor is it material to enquire, upon what occasion David penned this psalm; but in it, I. He looks back with thankfulness upon the experiences he had had of God's goodness to him, Ps. 138:1-3. II. He looks forward with comfort, in hopes, 1. That others would go on to praise God like him, Ps. 138:4, 5. 2. That God would go on to do good to him, Ps. 138:6-8. In singing this psalm we must in like manner devote ourselves to God's praise and glory and repose ourselves in his... read more

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

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 138 A Psalm of David . This psalm is generally thought to have been written by David upon his being advanced to the throne; on account of which he praises the Lord, who had supported him under many exercises, and had made good his promise to him, at least in part; and he firmly believed the accomplishment of the rest, that he would perfect what concerned him, Psalm 138:8 . It seems as if this psalm was composed between his being king over Judah and over all... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 138:1

I will praise thee with my whole heart ,.... Cordially and sincerely, in the uprightness and integrity of his heart; which denotes not the perfection of his service, but the sincerity of it; his heart was in it, and his whole heart; all the powers and faculties of his soul were engaged in it, being deeply sensible of the great favours and high honours bestowed upon him; and though the object of praise, to whom he was obliged for them, is not so fully expressed; yet is easily understood to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 138:2

I will worship towards thy holy temple ,.... Not the temple at Jerusalem, which was not yet built, though, when it was, the Jews in their devotions at a distance looked towards it, 1 Kings 8:38 ; but rather the tabernacle of Moses, in which was the ark, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi observe; and over that the mercy seat and cherubim, between which Jehovah dwelt; and this being a type of Christ's human nature, which was perfectly holy, and is called by himself a temple, and is the true tabernacle... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 138:3

In the day when I cried thou answeredst me ,.... When in distress through Saul's persecution, he cried to the Lord, and he immediately answered him, and delivered him out of his troubles; and such immediate answers of prayer are to be remembered with thankfulness: see Psalm 18:6 ; and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul ; put him good heart and spirit, when before ready to faint; strengthened his heart and grace in it, particularly faith, and drew it forth into lively act... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 138:4

All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord ,.... Or "let them confess", or "praise thee" F19 יודוך "confiteantur tibi", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus. ; a wish or prayer. Not only the kings known to David, as Kimchi limits it; or that lived in his days, as Hiram and others; but in the latter day, when they shall come to Zion, the church, and be nursing fathers to it, and shall serve and worship the King Messiah, Isaiah 49:23 ; when they hear the words of thy mouth ;... 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

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