Psalms · Chapter 138

V. 1. The gods-Before kings and princes.

Verse 1. I will praise thee with my whole heart] I have received the highest favours from thee, and my whole soul should acknowledge my obligation to thy mercy. The Versions and several MSS. add hwhy Yehovah, “I will praise thee, O LORD,” &c.

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 Septuagint, Æthiopic, Arabic, and Anglo-Saxon. The Syriac, Before kings will I sing unto thee. This place has been alleged by the Roman Catholics as a proof that the holy angels, who are present in the assemblies of God’s people, take their prayers and praises, and present them before God. There is nothing like this in the text; for supposing, which is not granted, that the word elohim here signifies angels, the praises are not presented to them, nor are they requested to present them before God; it is simply said, Before elohim will I sing praise unto THEE. Nor could there be need of any intermediate agents, when it was well known that God himself was present in the sanctuary, sitting between the cherubim. Therefore this opinion is wholly without support from this place.

Verses 1, 2. I will praise thee with my whole heart — With uprightness of intention, and fervency of affection. Before the gods will I sing praises, &c. — Before kings and princes, or, before judges and great men, either those of other nations who visited him, or those of his own nation that attended on him. He will not only praise God in his heart, which he might do, by pious ejaculations, in any company, but will sing praise with his voice, if there should be occasion. I will worship toward thy holy temple — Where the ark was. He saith, toward it, because he was not permitted to enter into it. For thy loving-kindness and for thy truth — For thy goodness and for thy promises; 1st, For promising me singular blessings out of thy mere grace and favour; and, 2d, For performing thy promises most faithfully. For thou hast magnified thy word, &c. — Thou hast glorified thy faithfulness, in fulfilling thy promises unto me, more than any other of thy glorious perfections by which thou art known. Not that one of God’s attributes is really, and in itself, more great or glorious than another; or can be made so, but because one may be more celebrated and admired by men than another; as here, God’s gracious promise of the kingdom made to David, and the wonderful accomplishment thereof, in spite of all those difficulties which stood in the way, and which seemed to men to be insuperable, was, at this time, more observed and admired than any other of his attributes or actions.

1. Before the gods—Certainly not the heathen idols, which are contemptuously called nothings. See on Psalm 96:5. “Before the gods,” means in their presence. Clearly this is an instance where µyhla, eloheem, denotes princes, kings, dignitaries, and should read: “Before the princes or kings,” etc. See on Psalm 82:1, 6. Compare John 10:34, 35.

V. 2. Temple-Where the ark was. He was not permitted to enter into it. Magnified-For thou hast glorified thy word or promise unto me more than any other of thy glorious perfections.

Verse 2. For thy loving-kindness] Thy tender mercy shown to me; and for the fulfilment 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 thy holy name above all things-thou hast proved thyself to be ineffably great. The original is the following: Ëtrma Ëmv lk l[ tldgh yk ki higdalta al col shimcha, imrathecha, which I think might be thus translated: “For thou hast magnified thy name and thy word over all,” or, “on every occasion.” Kennicott reads, “He preferred faithfulness to his promise to the attribute of his power.” I believe my own translation to be nearest the truth. There may be some corruption in this clause.

Verses 1, 2. I will praise thee with my whole heart — With uprightness of intention, and fervency of affection. Before the gods will I sing praises, &c. — Before kings and princes, or, before judges and great men, either those of other nations who visited him, or those of his own nation that attended on him. He will not only praise God in his heart, which he might do, by pious ejaculations, in any company, but will sing praise with his voice, if there should be occasion. I will worship toward thy holy temple — Where the ark was. He saith, toward it, because he was not permitted to enter into it. For thy loving-kindness and for thy truth — For thy goodness and for thy promises; 1st, For promising me singular blessings out of thy mere grace and favour; and, 2d, For performing thy promises most faithfully. For thou hast magnified thy word, &c. — Thou hast glorified thy faithfulness, in fulfilling thy promises unto me, more than any other of thy glorious perfections by which thou art known. Not that one of God’s attributes is really, and in itself, more great or glorious than another; or can be made so, but because one may be more celebrated and admired by men than another; as here, God’s gracious promise of the kingdom made to David, and the wonderful accomplishment thereof, in spite of all those difficulties which stood in the way, and which seemed to men to be insuperable, was, at this time, more observed and admired than any other of his attributes or actions.

Verse 2. Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. The readings vary here in modern Versions. God’s word cannot be magnified above his name. Kimchi reads, “Thou hast magnified thy name in every word of thine.” An anonymous critic reads, “Thou hast magnified thy name above all things by thy word.”

2. Thy holy temple—Here denoting the place of thy holiness. Worship— Bow down, prostrate myself. Loving kindness and… truth—Mercy and truth, as Psalm 25:10—the ground and theme of his thanksgiving, which is expressed with “all his heart,” joyfully and publicly before kings, and prostrate before God in the place of his worship. The style is strongly Davidic. Magnified thy word—That is, given it strength and honour by fulfilling it. Above all thy name—Taking “name” in its true philosophical and lexical idea, as the sign or memorial of a thing or person, and the understanding of a name to be the true conception of the thing it represents, the under thought, the phrase “above all thy name,” would mean, above all other manifestations of thyself. The divine word, which had been now so wonderfully verified in David’s history, and which still, in promise, ran forward “for a great while to come,” (2 Samuel 7:19,) “magnifying” itself into visions of Messiah and his future Church, had transcended all other memorials of himself. The phrase should be taken in connexion with 2 Samuel 7:18-29. See introductory note.

Verse 3. With strength in my soul.] Thou hast endued my soul with many graces, blessings, and heavenly qualities.

Verse 3. In the day when I cried thou answeredst me — Didst give me to understand that my prayer was accepted, and should have a gracious return in due time; and strengthenedst me, in my soul — This clause limits and explains the former, and shows in what way God answered him so speedily, namely, not by giving him the very thing which he desired in that very instant, but by giving him inward support and patience, to wait God’s time, and to bear all his troubles cheerfully in the mean time, which was a singular mercy, and, indeed, greater than the actual donation of any temporal blessing. Observe, reader, if God give us strength in our souls, to bear the burdens, resist the temptations, and to do the duties, of an afflicted state; if he strengthen us to rely on him by faith, to maintain the peace of our own minds, and to wait with patience for the issue, we must own that he hath answered us, and are bound to be thankful.

3. Strengthenedst—Literally, Thou hast caused me to rise up. With strength in my soul—A more clear, direct profession of spiritual strength supernaturally bestowed could not be given in the words of any language. More amplified, but not more unequivocal, is the expression of Paul, “Strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.” Ephesians 3:16.

V. 4. The kings-A prophecy of the calling of the Gentiles. Hear-The gospel preached among then.

Verse 4. All the kings of the earth] Of the land: all the neighbouring nations, seeing what is done for us, and looking in vain to find that any human agency was employed in the work, will immediately see that it was thy hand; and consequently, by confessing that it was thou, will give praise to thy name.

Verses 4, 5. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee — All the neighbouring kings; or, rather, this is a prophecy of the calling of the Gentiles, and so the generality of the kings of the earth are intended, according to the prediction, Psalm 72:11; All kings shall fall down before him, all nations shall serve him; when they shall hear the words of thy mouth — The gospel preached among them. Yea, they shall sing in the ways — Or, of, or, because of the ways, of the Lord; that is, his wonderful counsel and gracious providences toward themselves and others. For great is — Or, great shall be, the glory of the Lord — At that time the worship and glory of God shall not be confined to one small land, as now it is, but shall be extended to all parts of the world.

Ver. 4. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee. This is the usual language in which the prophets speak of the conversion of the gentiles from idolatry, to worship the Lord Messiah.

4, 5. The kings of the earth shall praise thee—The words give the moral tendency and intent of this wonderful display of divine mercy, and, as a general thing, its ultimate effect—namely, to cause the nations to confess and praise Jehovah. A result to be fully realized only in gospel times through the unfoldings of the great gospel word.

V. 5. The ways-His wonderful counsel and gracious providences.

Verse 5. They shall sing in the ways of the Lord] They shall admire thy conduct, and the wondrous workings of thy providence, if they should not even unite with thy people.

Verses 4, 5. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee — All the neighbouring kings; or, rather, this is a prophecy of the calling of the Gentiles, and so the generality of the kings of the earth are intended, according to the prediction, Psalm 72:11; All kings shall fall down before him, all nations shall serve him; when they shall hear the words of thy mouth — The gospel preached among them. Yea, they shall sing in the ways — Or, of, or, because of the ways, of the Lord; that is, his wonderful counsel and gracious providences toward themselves and others. For great is — Or, great shall be, the glory of the Lord — At that time the worship and glory of God shall not be confined to one small land, as now it is, but shall be extended to all parts of the world.

4, 5. The kings of the earth shall praise thee—The words give the moral tendency and intent of this wonderful display of divine mercy, and, as a general thing, its ultimate effect—namely, to cause the nations to confess and praise Jehovah. A result to be fully realized only in gospel times through the unfoldings of the great gospel word.

Verse 6. Though the Lord be high] Infinitely great as God is, he regards even the lowest and most inconsiderable part of his creation; but the humble and afflicted man attracts his notice particularly. But the proud he knoweth afar off.] He beholds them at a distance, and has them in utter derision.

Verse 6. Though the Lord be high — And neither need any of his creatures, nor can be benefited by them. Yet hath he respect unto the lowly — Unto such as are mean and obscure in the world; to me, a poor contemptible shepherd, whom he hath preferred before great princes; and to such as are little in their own eyes. But the proud he knoweth afar off — But, as for the great men of the world, who are lifted up in pride, he looks upon them, as they do upon others, with scorn and contempt, and keeps them at a great distance, as disdaining to admit them into his presence.

6. See on Psalm 113:5, 6. Afar off—That is, though God is apparently “afar off,” in the highest heaven, yet he knoweth the proud, and taketh cognizance of all their thoughts and acts. See on “afar off,” Psalm 139:2, and on this judicial knowing, Jeremiah 29:23. It is opposed to his having respect to, or seeing with approbation, the “lowly” of the previous line.

Verse 7. Though I walk in the midst of trouble] I have had such experience of thy mercy, that let me fall into whatsoever trouble I may, yet I will trust in thee. Thou wilt quicken me, though I were ready to die; and thou wilt deliver me from the wrath of my enemies.

Verses 7, 8. Though I walk in the midst of trouble — That is, be compassed with dangers; thou wilt revive me — Thou wilt cheer my spirit and preserve my life. Thou shalt stretch forth thy hand — Put forth thy almighty power; against the wrath of mine enemies — To oppose and restrain their rage. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me — Will finish that great work of my deliverance and advancement, which he hath undertaken, and carried on hitherto. Thy mercy endureth for ever — It is not inconstant and changeable, as men’s affections are, but everlasting. And this may be either produced as a proof of the foregoing assertion, The Lord will perfect, &c. — Or, as an argument to enforce the following petition. Forsake not — Do not withdraw thy presence from me, who am thy creature, but continue to support and save me. Or, leave not, or, do not desist from, or, cease to carry on, as ãrt, rather signifies, the work, namely of my salvation, which is thus far advanced, not by any human help, but by thy power and providence.

V. 8. Perfect-Will finish the great work of my deliverance. Forsake not-Or, do not give over, the work of my salvation, which is thus far advanced, not by any human help, but by thy power and providence.

Verse 8. The Lord will perfect] Whatever is farther necessary to be done, he will do it.

Forsake not the works of thine own hands.] My body-my soul; thy work begun in my soul; thy work in behalf of Israel; thy work in the evangelization of the world; thy work in the salvation of mankind. Thou wilt not forsake these.

Verses 7, 8. Though I walk in the midst of trouble — That is, be compassed with dangers; thou wilt revive me — Thou wilt cheer my spirit and preserve my life. Thou shalt stretch forth thy hand — Put forth thy almighty power; against the wrath of mine enemies — To oppose and restrain their rage. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me — Will finish that great work of my deliverance and advancement, which he hath undertaken, and carried on hitherto. Thy mercy endureth for ever — It is not inconstant and changeable, as men’s affections are, but everlasting. And this may be either produced as a proof of the foregoing assertion, The Lord will perfect, &c. — Or, as an argument to enforce the following petition. Forsake not — Do not withdraw thy presence from me, who am thy creature, but continue to support and save me. Or, leave not, or, do not desist from, or, cease to carry on, as ãrt, rather signifies, the work, namely of my salvation, which is thus far advanced, not by any human help, but by thy power and providence.

8. Perfect that which concerneth me—He will finish, accomplish, all that relates to my welfare. Nothing shall fall to the ground. All shall work for good, tending to one complete result. See Psalm 57:2, and compare Philippians 1:6.