Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 138
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 138
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 138
"I will give thee thanks with my whole heart: Before the gods will I sing praises unto thee. I will worship toward thy holy temple, And give thanks unto thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. In the day that I called thou answeredst me, Thou didst encourage me with strength in my soul. All the kings of the earth shall give thee thanks, O Jehovah, For they have heard the words of thy mouth. Yea, they shall sing of the ways of Jehovah; For great is the glory of Jehovah." — Psalms 138:1-5 (ASV)
When we can praise God with our whole heart, we need not be unwilling for the whole world to witness our gratitude and joy in Him. Those who rely on His loving-kindness and truth through Jesus Christ will always find Him faithful to His word. If He spared not His own Son, how shall He not with Him freely give us all things? If God gives us strength in our souls to bear the burdens, resist the temptations, and do the duties of an afflicted state, if He strengthens us to keep hold of Himself by faith and to wait with patience for the outcome, we are bound to be thankful.
"For though Jehovah is high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly; But the haughty he knoweth from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me; Thou wilt stretch forth thy hand against the wrath of mine enemies, And thy right hand will save me. Jehovah will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy lovingkindness, O Jehovah, [endureth] for ever; Forsake not the works of thine own hands. " — Psalms 138:6-8 (ASV)
Though the Lord is high, yet he has respect for every lowly, humbled sinner; but the proud and unbelieving will be banished far from his blissful presence. Divine consolations have enough in them to revive us, even when we walk in the midst of troubles.
And God will save his own people so that they may be revived by the Holy Spirit, the Giver of life and holiness. If we give God the glory of his mercy, we may take the comfort to ourselves.
This confidence will not lessen prayer, but rather will enliven it. Whatever good there is in us, it is God who works in us both to will and to do. The Lord will perfect the salvation of every true believer, and he will never forsake those whom he has created anew in Christ Jesus to good works.
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