Psalm 138

Bowing down and giving thanks to the name of the LORD.

 


 

BOWING DOWN AND GIVING THANKS TO THE NAME OF THE LORD

By David.

 

VERSE 1. I will give you thanks with my whole heart. Before the gods, I will sing praises to you.

with my whole heart. What does it mean to praise the LORD God wholeheartedly?

Many people praise God halfheartedly.

 

VERSE 2. I will bow down toward your holy temple, and give thanks to your Name for your loving kindness and for your truth; for you have exalted your Name and your Word above all.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Psalms and from the entire Bible.

give thanks to your Name. Which name is that?

you have exalted your Name. The LORD God has exalted his own name above all.

you have exalted your … Word. The LORD God has exalted the Bible above all.

 

VERSE 3. In the day that I called, you answered me. You encouraged me with strength in my soul.

In the day that I called. As soon as we pray, the LORD God answers us.

strength in my soul. The LORD increases the strength of our soul. He makes us bold and gives us energy.

This can happen in many ways. Here are two examples:

We do active spiritual practices, such as reading the Bible or memorizing Scripture.  Through those practices, the LORD God invisibly grants us fresh strength.

We sit quietly before the LORD God in contemplative prayer. Our inner being becomes quieted. The Divine Surgeon works invisibly and quietly within us.

 

VERSE 4. All the kings of the earth will give you thanks, LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth.

 

VERSE 5. Yes, they will sing of the ways of the LORD; for great is the LORD’s glory.

 

VERSE 6. For though the LORD is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but the proud, he knows from afar.

 

VERSE 7. Though I walk in the middle of trouble, you will revive me. You will stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies. Your right hand will save me.

Though I walk in the middle of trouble:

Psalm 23:4. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me

you will revive me. The word “revival” often means “re-Bible.” That is, as we turn back to the Bible, God revives us.

right hand. The Bible often mentions “the right hand” of God. That is a position of power and honor. We believe it refers to Jesus Christ. More verses about the right hand.

 

VERSE 8. The LORD will fulfill that which concerns me; your loving kindness, LORD, endures forever. Don’t forsake the works of your own hands.

fulfill that which concerns me. God has a plan for our lives. Whatever happens, he will keep working away at that plan.

 


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PSALMS

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 1617, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 3435, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 5253, 5455, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 7071, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 888990, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104105, 106, 107108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148149, 150

Deuterocanonical chapter: 151

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, MemorizeDavid’s Fasting

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.