Psalms 138:1-8·~1 min

A Thankful Heart

David begins by thanking the LORD with his whole heart, singing before the gods, bowing toward the holy temple, and praising God's name for steadfast love and truth. The thanksgiving is concrete: on the day he called, the LORD answered and made him bold with strength in his soul.

O¹f David. ²I bow down toward Your holy temple ³On the day I called, You answered me;

From David's own answer the psalm widens outward, imagining the kings of the earth giving thanks when they hear the words of the LORD and singing of his ways and great glory. The reason is that the LORD, though high, regards the lowly, while the proud remain known only from afar.

⁴All the kings of the earth will give You thanks, O LORD, ⁵They will sing of the ways of the LORD, ⁶Though the LORD is on high,

The psalm closes by speaking from within trouble rather than beyond it: the LORD preserves life, stretches out his hand against enemies, and saves with his right hand. Because the LORD will fulfill his purpose and his steadfast love endures forever, David asks him not to forsake the work of his hands.

⁷If I walk in the midst of trouble, ⁸The LORD will fulfill

Section summaryDavid gives wholehearted thanks before the gods, bowing toward the holy temple because the LORD has exalted his name and answered him with strength. The psalm then imagines all the kings of the earth giving thanks when they hear the LORD's words, celebrates the God who is high yet regards the lowly and knows the proud from afar, and ends with confidence that he will preserve David in trouble and fulfill his purpose for him.

Role in the chapterThis section functions as a psalm of grateful confidence. Its work is to move from a particular answered prayer into a vision of the LORD's public glory and then back into the speaker's ongoing need, so that thanksgiving becomes the ground of trust rather than the end of it.