Psalm 138—The beginning three verses and
ending two verses of this psalm of David are David’s vow to praise the Lord for
His deliverance and protection. The middle three verses, like the Introit call
upon all the kings of the earth to give thanks and sing of the ways and the
glory of the LORD. His love and mercy extend to all peoples of all time. Christ
is the Redeemer of the entire world.
There is an ethical statement of
importance in the psalm: “For though the
LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.” -v6
That God distinguishes between
the proud and the humble seems like a common truth to us but in the ancient
world it was an astounding statement. In ancient cultures, the principle that “might makes right” seemed to be almost
universal. For the God of the Hebrews to assert that he ‘regarded’ the lowly
was a counter-cultural statement.
David makes a
bold statement of confidence: “The LORD
will fulfill his purpose for me.” -v8
David was
certain, in light of God’s promises, of God’s care for him in the past, and of
his experiences of God’s care and deliverance, that God had a purpose for his
life. God was actively working to make that a reality and David was confident
that he would bring all of his plans for him to pass. [1]
Collect for Psalm 138 – Lord God, you keep the porud at a distance
and look upon the lowly with favor. Stretch out your hand to us in our
suffering, perfect in us the work of your love, and bring us to life in Jesus
Christ our Lord.[2]
[2] For
All the Saints, A Prayer Book for and by the Church, Vol. II © 1995 American
Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
[3] Drone image copyright (c) LCEF
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