(third clause). Grace and truth Jesus Christ. As a word of command it is supreme; and in the person of the incarnate Word it is set above all the works of God's hands. His grand design in all was to rear up a glorious high throne, from which he might display the riches of his free and sovereign grace; this is that which he will have magnified through eternity above all his other name. When God strengthens, none can weaken. —William Greenhill. Would you have soul strength for the work you have in view? For great is the glory of the LORD. Of course the critics have tried to rend the authorship from David on account of the mention of the temple, though it so happens that in one of the Psalms which is allowed to be David's the same word occurs. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth. --Christopher Wordsworth. 2. —Joseph Addison Alexander. Ver. Of David. This mysterious transaction having taken place in the incarnation and death of the Lord Jesus Christ, we behold all the perfections of God united and harmonizing in a way that they never did, or could, by any other means: we see justice more inexorable, than if it had executed vengeance on the whole human race; and mercy more abundant, than if it had spared the human race without any such atonement. So that men need not fear that any of them shall at any time, or in any case whatsoever, move in the least contrariety thereunto. As man laid on trouble, so Christ laid in consolation: both tides rose and fell together; when it was spring tide with him in affliction, it was so with him in his joy. How often has the Lord quickened us by our sorrows! A pure influx into the mind of an apostle is no sufficient guarantee for the instruction of the world, unless there be a pure afflux also; for not the doctrine that has flowed in, but the doctrine that has flowed out, is truly all that we have to do with. Ver. 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. Ere long we shall see the world in flames; the heavens and earth shall pass away, "but the word of the Lord endures for ever." Whole Psalm. Ver. All men love their own works, many dote upon them: shall we think God will forsake his? But the proud he knoweth afar off. 3. Ver. a. Ver. The statement of this sentence is one which all believers can make, and as they can substantiate it with many facts, they ought boldly to publish it, for it is greatly to God's glory. Do they despise the atonement? For this worship and praise are for ever due! “To be sorry for sin is no atonement for it, but it is the right spirit in which to [turn] to Jesus, who is the reconciliation and the Saviour.” (Spurgeon… They reverence him, and he respects them. 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. The Psalmist will not for a moment suspend his songs because there are images before him, and their foolish worshippers might not approve of his music. Faith's fervent prayer: "Forsake not the works of thine own hands.". To my mind it is one of the most remarkable expressions in the whole book of God. I. Copyright StatementThese files are public domain and are a derivative of an electronic edition that is available on the Christian Classics Ethereal Library Website. Ver. the meaning is, "Before, or in the presence of, the gods of the heathen, i.e., in scorn of, in sight of, the idols, who can do nothing, I will praise Jehovah, who does miracles for me and his people." c) As a preparation to eternally honouring him. c) By exhibiting the strength in soul which was given in answer to prayer. 1. Before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. If others do not praise the Lord, there is all the more reason why we should do so, and should do so with enthusiastic eagerness. —John Livingstone, 1603-1672. Whole Psalm. 1. Used by Permission. e) That he will do this with our work for him. 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. Ver. 7. I will worship toward thy holy temple. Gathered to hear the words of Jehovah's mouth. I will praise thee with my whole heart. We can take no cognizance of the doctrine that is conveyed from heaven to earth, when it has only come the length of excogitation in the mind of an apostle; and it is not till brought the farther length of expression, either by speech or by writing, that it comes into contact with us. 3. 8. The sentence in the text is wonderfully full of meaning. The Lord hath respect unto the lowly, and will make them sing. —Joseph C. Philpot, 1802-1869. God's wisdom is never at a loss; but when providences are darkest, then the morning star of deliverance appears. David himself rehearses the words of Jehovah. Ver. Not necessarily that which gives me concern. Psalm 138:3 Parallel. God is concerned in all that concerns his servants. Ver. Concerning this there is abundant room for praise. For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name, etc. Walking with God is like walking among beds of spices, which send forth a fragrant perfume. 3. 5. Forsake not the works of thine own hands. The word is the glass in which we see God, and seeing him are changed into his likeness by his Spirit. —Franz Delitzsch. 2. It is one gracious way of answering our prayers when God doth bestow upon us spiritual strength in our souls; if he do not give the things we desire, yet if he gives us strength in our souls, he graciously answers our prayers. There are very many points in relation to God, of the highest interest to mankind, on which the disclosures of science shed no light; there are many things which it is desirable for man to know, which cannot be learned in the schools of philosophy; there are consolations which man needs in a world of trouble which cannot be found in nature; there is especially a knowledge of the method by which sin may be pardoned, and the soul saved, which, can never be disclosed by the blowpipe, the telescope, or the microscope. 6. If the Lord begins to build, and does not finish, it will not be his honour. 1. Those Psalms were the united utterances of national devotion. It does not appear, nor is it material to enquire, upon what occasion David penned this psalm; but in it, I. 2. Ver. Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/tod/psalms-138.html. He humbleth himself to behold the things of the children of men; he condescends to men of low estate. Ver. 6. And great need have we of tenderness in our low estate; a little thing would crush us: we have such bruised and feeble souls, that unless we had One who would deal tenderly with us we must soon be destroyed. Ver. The gods of the heathen had their worshippers; then, should Jehovah be deserted by his loyal subjects? 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. Here is a double wonder—kings in God's ways, and kings singing there. Ver. Ver. Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. —John Trapp. When God revives us, trouble will never harm us. Ver. These things, if learned at all, must be learned from revelation, and these are of more importance to man as a traveller to another world than all the learning which can be acquired in the schools of philosophy—valuable as that learning is. Psalms 138:8. He hath respect unto the lowly. 2. Thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. Let a man once know the ways of Jehovah, and he will find therein abundant reason for song; but the difficulty is to bring the great ones of the earth into ways so little attractive to the carnal mind. 2. They know where they are going. It may not be best for us that the trial should come to an end; it may be far more to our advantage that by its pressure we should learn patience. Thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. Bibliography InformationSpurgeon, Charle Haddon. Psalm 138 – God’s Promise to Honor His Word and to Complete His Work This psalm is titled A Psalm of David. 8. Exquisite lawyers love to wrestle with niceties and difficulties in the law, to show their skill the more. 2. Ver. 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