Psalm 138

Psa 138:1

SUPERSCRIPTION: "OF DAVID".

CONTEXT: See v 4: "all the Kings of the Land [eretz]": ie 2Sa 6-8; Psa 60: the crisis in David's early reign, when threatened by surrounding Arab nations.

BEFORE THE "GODS": "Gods" (elohim) may = the princes of Israel (cp Psa 82), or the conquered kings of Arab nations (cp v 4; Psa 97:7,9; 119:46), or the vain idols they served (Psa 95:3; 96:4,5; 135:5).

Psa 138:2

TOWARD YOUR HOLY TEMPLE: (1) From the court before the sanctuary (1Ki 8:29), or (2) From the field of battle, as David thankfully faces Jerusalem (cp Psa 5:7; 28:2). (HEZEKIAH) After recovery from sickness, this was Hezekiah's great delight: 2Ki 20:8; Isa 38:20.

YOUR WORD: That is, Heb "imrah": Your "promise" (Psa 119:38,41,50, etc) ref to God's promise, probably the special promise given to David in 2Sa 7:12-16 (see vv 21,25,26,28 there) at the beginning of his reign in Jerusalem. (Note the coincidence between Psa 138:2 and 2Sa 7:26: "let thy name be magnified for ever.") The unexpected series of brilliant victories is here seen as a first token of the utter dependability of that great promise.

Psa 138:3

WHEN I CALLED: (HZ) The great double crisis of Hezekiah's reign: his mortal illness, and the Assyrian invasion.

(NT) Christ in his Gethsemane experience! And how much even the Messiah needed the strengthening of his soul, which help could come only from the Father!

Psa 138:4

Was the prophecy of 2Sa 7 published far and wide, thus provoking the hostile reactions described in 2Sa 8?

(HEZEKIAH) The kings of the Land brings gifts to the Lord to Jerusalem (2Ch 32:23; cp Isa 49:22,23; 60:3; Psa 138:2).

(LD) The kings of the nations bring gifts to Messiah (Psa 72:10,11; 102:15,22).

Psa 138:5

Did this really happen also in the time of David? Or was he aware that the Holy Spirit was guiding him to expand the remarkable experiences of his own time into a prophecy of Messiah's kingdom?

Psa 138:6

LOWLY: David, dancing before the ark. (HEZEKIAH) Hezekiah himself.

PROUD: Michal (2Sa 6:20-23), removed "afar" from David.

(HEZEKIAH) "Lowly" = Hezekiah; "proud" = Sennacherib.

Psa 138:7

(DAVID) 2Sa 8.

THOUGH I WALK IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLE: Christ's walking on the stormy waters was emblematic of the help given him against the tide of opposition from the rulers which constantly surged round him.

Psa 138:8

HIS PURPOSE FOR ME: God has spoken of David's house for a great while to come: 2Sa 7:13,26.

THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS: (NT) The saints: Psa 102:18; 103:22; 145:9,10; Eph 2:1-10; 4:22-24; Col 1:15-18; 3:9,10; 2Co 5:14-19.

SUBSCRIPTION: "FOR THE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC".