Psalm 138:1-3

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 138:1

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 138:1

I will praise thee with my whole heart - I have received the highest favors from thee, and my whole soul should acknowledge my obligation to thy mercy. The Versions and several MSS. add יהוה Yehovah , "I will praise thee, O Lord," etc. Before the gods will I sing - אלהים נגד neged Elohim , "in the presence of Elohim;" most probably meaning before the ark, where were the sacred symbols of the Supreme Being. The Chaldee has, before the judges. The Vulgate, before the angels. So the... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 138:3

With strength in my soul - Thou hast endued my soul with many graces, blessings, and heavenly qualities. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 138:1

Verse 1 1.I will praise thee with my whole heart As David had been honored to receive distinguishing marks of the divine favor, he declares his resolution to show more than ordinary gratitude. This is exercise which degenerates and is degraded in the case of hypocrites to a mere sound of empty words, but he states that he would return thanks to God not with the lips only, but with sincerity of heart, for by the whole heart, as we have elsewhere seen, is meant a heart which is sincere and not... 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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 138:3

Verse 3 3.In the day when I cried to thee, etc. Frequently God prevents our prayers, and surprises us, as it were, sleeping: but commonly he stirs us up to prayer by the influence of his Spirit, and this to illustrate his goodness the more by our finding that he crowns our prayers with success. David well infers that his escape front danger could not have been merely fortuitous, as it plainly appeared that God had answered him. This then is one thing noticeable, that our prayers more nearly... read more

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