Psalm 138:2 NIV

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 138:2

For thy loving-kindness - Thy tender mercy shown to me; and for the fulfillment of thy truth - the promises thou hast made. Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name - All the Versions read this sentence thus: "For thou hast magnified above all the name of thy holiness," or, "thy holy name." Thou hast proved that thou hast all power in heaven and in earth, and that thou art true in all thy words. And by giving the word of prophecy, and fulfilling those words, thou hast magnified... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 138:2

Verse 2 2.I will worship towards the temple (192) of thy holiness. H e intimates that he would show more than private gratitude, and, in order to set an example before others, come in compliance with the precept of the law into the sanctuary. He worshipped God spiritually, and yet would lift his eyes to those outward symbols which were the means then appointed for drawing the minds of God’s people upwards. He singles out the divine mercy and truth as the subject of his praise, for while the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 138:1-3

Valiant for the Lord. The Septuagint ascribes this psalm to Haggai or Zechariah. It can hardly be by David. But it was by some greatly tried but triumphant saint. I. SEE HOW HE STANDS UP FOR GOD . Note his boldness. Not only would he praise God with his whole heart, but he would do this in the very face, in the teeth as it were, of the heathen gods; so would he defy and scorn them whilst honoring the Lord in whom he trusted. So would he strengthen his faith and love, as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 138:1-8

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 138:2

I will worship toward thy holy temple . The term "temple" here must designate the tabernacle (comp. Psalms 5:8 ). And praise thy Name for thy loving-kindness and for thy truth. "Mercy" and "truth" are God's two highest attributes ( Exodus 34:6 ). They were especially shown to Israel in God's promises and his fidelity to them. For thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy Name. Some would amend the text, and read אמתךָ , "thy truth," for, אמרתךָ "thy Word." But if we keep the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 138:2

The Word and the Name. In order to understand the declaration of our text, let us— I. INQUIRE THE MEANING OF THE WORD AND THE NAME . 1. The Name . What is the import of this? The expression is one that perpetually occurs in Scripture, and generally it has much the same meaning. In Romans 1:19 , Romans 1:20 it is spoken of as "that which may be known of God;" and he refers to "the things that are made" as a source of such knowledge. Thus St. Paul declares... read more

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 138:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 138:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 138:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 138:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 138:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 138:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 138:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 138:2

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