Today’s post is part of our Psalm Saturdays series from guest blogger Robert Chamberlain. You can read his archives at www.roberlain.wordpress.com .
Psalm 138:1–8 (ESV)
1 I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;
2 I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
3 On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.
4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth,
5 and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.
6 For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.
8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
God loves wholehearted thanksgiving, and that’s what He gets from the Psalmist here. All the gods of the nations are idols, but God is worthy of praise forever. We have good reason to give God thanks, because He loves us and is faithful to us.
The name of the Lord is exalted above all things. God is who He is, and at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, because there’s no other name by which we should be saved. And God’s word is exalted because by it we are made wise for salvation.
God always answers our prayers, just not necessarily in the ways we would expect or want. He strengthens our souls even as our bodies inevitably weaken as we age. Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day to day.
God’s salvation hasn’t been achieved in a corner. All the rulers of earth have heard of Him. The Psalmist describes them all giving Him thanks and singing His praise, which seems inconceivable, although I suspect that kind of think will eventually go on at the funeral of Elizabeth II of the UK.
The Lord might be high above all, but He has regard for the lowly. The haughty however are far from Him. Even in the midst of trouble, God looks after us.
God has defeated our enemies, including our greatest enemy of death. He will deliver us from them all. He will preserve our lives eternally.
The Lord always fulfills His purposes, even in our individual lives. His love is eternal. We cry out to Him not to forsake the work of His hands.
“Thank You Lord for Your unfailing love and faithfulness to us. Please don’t forsake us, for Jesus’ sake, amen.”
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