Short answer: Psalm 138 is a psalm of thanksgiving attributed to David. The psalmist declares that he will give thanks to the Lord with his whole heart and sing praises before the heavenly beings. He thanks God for his steadfast love and faithfulness, and he testifies that when he called upon the Lord, he was answered and strengthened. The psalm celebrates God's care for the lowly and his faithfulness to his promises.
The setting of the psalm
Psalm 138 is a psalm of thanksgiving attributed to David. The psalmist declares that he will give thanks to the Lord with his whole heart. The setting is one of worship before the heavenly beings — the gods or divine council — as David sings praises to God's name for his steadfast love and faithfulness.
The psalmist testifies that when he called upon the Lord, the Lord answered him and made him bold with strength in his soul. The answer to prayer is not just deliverance from circumstances but inner strengthening. All the kings of the earth will give thanks to the Lord when they hear the words of his mouth, because God's glory is great.
The psalm declares that though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but he knows the haughty from afar. God's care for the humble is a recurring theme in Scripture. The psalmist walks in the midst of trouble, but the Lord preserves his life and stretches out his hand against the wrath of his enemies.
The psalm ends with the confidence that the Lord will fulfill his purpose for the psalmist. The steadfast love of the Lord endures forever, and he will not forsake the work of his hands. The combination of God's sovereignty and personal care is the foundation of the psalmist's thanksgiving.
For Christians, this psalm models wholehearted thanksgiving. The God who answers prayer and strengthens the soul is the same God revealed in Jesus Christ. The care for the lowly that the psalm celebrates is most fully expressed in Christ, who humbled himself to save the humble.
The themes of Psalm 138 have encouraged believers throughout the centuries. The psalm's message of trust in God, dependence on his provision, and hope in his deliverance speaks to the deepest needs of the human heart. Whether read in times of joy or seasons of suffering, this psalm continues to nourish faith and inspire worship.
The language of Psalm 138 is both simple and profound. The psalmist uses ordinary words to express extraordinary truths about God's character and his relationship with his people. This accessibility is one of the reasons the Psalms have been the prayer book and hymnal of God's people for millennia.
I will give you thanks with my whole heart. Before the gods, I will sing praises to you. 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. In the day that I called, you answered me. You encouraged me with strength in my soul.
Psalm 138:1-3 (World English Bible)
Key words and their meaning
The Hebrew word for 'steadfast love' (chesed) in verse 2 describes God's covenant loyalty and faithful love. This word is central to the psalm's thanksgiving — David thanks God for both his steadfast love and his faithfulness.
The word 'lowly' (shaphal) in verse 6 describes those who are humble, low, or afflicted. God regards the lowly but knows the haughty from afar. The contrast between how God treats the humble and the proud is a central theme of Scripture.
The word 'purpose' (gamar) in verse 8 describes completion or fulfillment. David trusts that God will fulfill his purpose for him — the purpose for which God created and called him.
All the kings of the earth will give you thanks, Yahweh, for they have heard the words of your mouth. Yes, they will sing of the ways of Yahweh, for Yahweh’s glory is great! For though Yahweh is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but he knows the proud from afar.
Psalm 138:4-6 (World English Bible)
What the psalm claims
First, God answers prayer and strengthens the soul. David called, and God answered him, making him bold with strength in his soul.
Second, God regards the lowly but knows the proud from afar. God's care for the humble is a mark of his grace.
Third, the Lord will fulfill his purpose for his people. What God begins, he will complete.
The psalm's message is as relevant today as when it was first written. The challenges of living faithfully in a fallen world have not changed, and the resources of God's grace remain the same. This psalm equips believers to face those challenges with confidence in God's steadfast love and faithfulness.
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. Yahweh will fulfill that which concerns me. Your loving kindness, Yahweh, endures forever. Don’t forsake the works of your own hands.
Psalm 138:7-8 (World English Bible)
Where readers disagree
The meaning of 'before the gods' in verse 1 has been discussed. Some understand it as the heavenly beings or angels, while others see it as human rulers or judges.
The relationship between God's sovereignty and human prayer has been discussed. The psalm teaches that God hears and answers prayer while remaining sovereign over all.
The fulfillment of God's purpose for the psalmist has been discussed. This verse has encouraged believers that God has a specific purpose for each life.
I will give you thanks with my whole heart. Before the gods, I will sing praises to you. 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. In the day that I called, you answered me. You encouraged me with strength in my soul.
Psalm 138:1-3 (World English Bible)
How this psalm connects to the gospel
The themes of Psalm 138 find their ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The New Testament frequently draws on the Psalms to explain who Jesus is and what he accomplished. The psalm's language of deliverance, kingship, and steadfast love all point toward the gospel.
In Jesus, believers see the perfect fulfillment of everything this psalm celebrates. The deliverance the psalmist experienced was a foreshadowing of the greater deliverance Christ would accomplish. The kingship celebrated in the psalm points to Christ's eternal reign. The steadfast love described in the psalm is fully revealed in Jesus's sacrificial death and resurrection.
For Christians, reading this psalm is an opportunity to see God's faithfulness across the entire biblical story. The same God who heard the psalmist's cry also hears the prayers of his people today. The same deliverance finds its ultimate expression in the salvation Christ offers. The psalm invites believers to trust in this faithful God and to make his praise known to all generations.
The New Testament writers understood the Psalms as a prophetic witness to Christ. Jesus himself told his disciples that everything written about him in the Psalms must be fulfilled (Luke 24:44). When the apostles preached about Jesus, they regularly quoted the Psalms to demonstrate that his suffering, death, resurrection, and exaltation were all part of God's redemptive plan.
Psalm 138 participates in this prophetic witness. Whether through its language of kingship, its descriptions of suffering and deliverance, or its celebration of God's steadfast love, this psalm contributes to the biblical portrait of the Messiah. Reading it in light of Christ does not diminish its original meaning but reveals its deepest significance.
All the kings of the earth will give you thanks, Yahweh, for they have heard the words of your mouth. Yes, they will sing of the ways of Yahweh, for Yahweh’s glory is great! For though Yahweh is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but he knows the proud from afar.
Psalm 138:4-6 (World English Bible)
Biblical fidelity check
Psalm 138 is theologically sound and consistent with the broader biblical witness. Its themes of God's steadfast love, faithfulness, and righteousness are central to biblical theology. The psalm contributes to the Psalter's comprehensive portrait of God's relationship with his people. While each psalm reflects its original historical context, its truths are enduring and applicable to believers today. The New Testament affirms and deepens the themes found in this psalm, particularly through the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main message of Psalm 138?
The main message of Psalm 138 is i give you thanks with my whole heart. The psalm teaches that God is worthy of trust and praise. It calls believers to respond to God's character with faith, obedience, and worship.
How does Psalm 138 point to Christ?
Psalm 138, like all Scripture, ultimately points to Jesus Christ. The themes of God's deliverance, steadfast love, and kingship find their fullest expression in Christ. The New Testament frequently quotes the Psalms to explain Christ's person and work. As Jesus himself said, the Scriptures bear witness to him (John 5:39).
How does Psalm 138 apply to Christians today?
Psalm 138 applies to believers today by providing language for prayer, praise, and lament. It teaches about God's character and how believers should respond to him. The psalm's truths are timeless, addressing the universal human experiences of joy, suffering, hope, and trust.
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