Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Summarized Bible Commentary

Psalms 138:1-8

Contents: Thankfulness for the experience of God's goodness.

Characters: God, David.

Conclusion: Praising God is work of which the greatest of men need not be ashamed. A debt of gratitude is due Him for the wonders of His grace, the revelation of His Word, and the confidence derived from the promises that there is no experience that can overwhelm us if we look toward Him.

Key Word: Jehovah's loving kindness, Psalms 138:2.

Strong Verses: Psalms 138:2; Psalms 138:6; Psalms 138:7; Psalms 138:8.

Striking Facts: Psalms 138:2. Christ is the essential Word, John 1:1. He and His gospel are magnified above all the discoveries God had made of Himself to the fathers.

Continues after advertising

See also Psalms 138:1-8 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    PSALM CXXXVIII _The psalmist praises the Lord for his mercies to himself_, 1-3. _He foretells that the kings of the earth shall worship him_, 4, 5. _God's condescension to the humble_, 6. _The ps...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    I WILL PRAISE THEE WITH MY WHOLE HEART - Reserving nothing m my heart to give to idols or to other gods. All that constitutes praise to God as God, he would address to him alone. He would use no langu...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    Psalms 138 A Psalm of Deliverance This is a Psalm of David giving praise to the Lord for deliverance. The harp is now no more hanging idle on the willows, but is tuned afresh to praise His Name. It...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    CXXXVIII. PSALMS 138:1. The Psalmist praises Yahweh, in spite of the false gods and their worshippers, for His grace and fidelity to himself in trouble. PSALMS 138:2_ c._ Omit thy word (so LXX), and...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    TITLE. OF DAVID. by David. Placed here by Hezekiah, to correspond with H1; H2 and H4 See p. 826. PRAISE THEE. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, add "O Jehovah". HEART. Se...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    I will give thanks unto thee _with my whole heart_ Cp. Psalms 9:1. There is no need for the Psalmist to mention the name of Him Whom he addresses. The Ancient Versions, however, insert _O Lord_, after...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Thanksgiving for Jehovah's manifestation of His lovingkindness and truth in the fulfilment of His promises....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    BEFORE THE GODS— We have shewn, that the word אלהים _elohim,_ here rendered _gods,_ signifies either angels or princes, judges or rulers; in either of which senses it may be taken in this place. Houbi...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    _David praiseth God for the truth of his word: he prophesieth that the kings of the earth shall praise God: he professeth his confidence in God._ A Psalm of David. _TITLE._ לדוד _LEDAVID_— This psalm...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PSALMS 138 DESCRIPTIVE TITLE A King's Public Thanks for Advancement in Royal Dignity. ANALYSIS Stanza I., Psalms 138:1-3, Public Thanks for Unexpected Advancement and for the Lofty Feeling thereby...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. Psalms 138:1 -David will praise God with his whole heart, for the Lord's wonderful promise exceeding all His ea...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    BEFORE] i.e. in front of, in opposition to the (false) gods....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    Although the title ascribes this Ps. to David, it is generally considered to belong to the post-exilic period, of whose earnest piety it is one of the best examples. According to some scholars the spe...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Psalms 107:150 _GORDON CHURCHYARD_ THANKS! PSALMS 138 Jesus said, "Offer (to God) the gift that Moses told you (to offer)" (Matthew 8:4

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    BEFORE THE GODS. — Undoubtedly, as in Psalms 82:1 : “before the great” or “mighty.” (Comp. Psalms 119:46, “before kings.”) SING PRAISE. — Rather, _play. _...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    לְ דָוִ֨ד ׀ אֹודְךָ֥ בְ כָל ־לִבִּ֑י נֶ֖גֶד

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Psalms 138:1 This is the first of a group of eight psalms attributed to David in the superscriptions. It precedes the closing hallelujah psalms, and thus stands where a "find" of Davidic psalms at a l...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE MOST HIGH REGARDS THE LOWLY Psalms 138:1 This is the first of a cycle of Davidic psalms, based on 2 Samuel 7:1. God's promised favors are the theme of devout thanksgiving. No idols could have ach...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The final personal note of this song is reached in the words, “Jehovah will perfect that which concerneth me.” It opens with consecration to the sacred duty of praise. This consecration has a threefol...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    "[A Psalm] of David." I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the (a) gods will I sing praise unto thee. (a) Even in the presence of angels and of them who have authority among men....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    David. Some Greek copies add, "a psalm or alleluia of Zacharias in the dispersion," when the Israelites were at Babylon. But Theodoret greatly disapproves of those additions, and explains this psalm o...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS The Psalmist is here at his devotions, with his hymn of praise. He not only blesseth God himself, but he utters a prophecy (no doubt, in allusion to the days of the gospel) that all the grea...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    These are short, but most expressive words. Nothing, he saith, shall put his soul out of order in blessing the Lord; even in the presence of all the dunghill-gods of the earth, will he praise the Lord...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    1._I will praise thee with my whole heart _As David had been honored to receive distinguishing marks of the divine favor, he declares his resolution to show more than ordinary gratitude. This is exerc...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Psalms 138 gives the ground of faith God's word; and now the godly turns to own it in worship; and when that word reaches the kings of the earth, they shall turn and praise Jehovah and sing in His way...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    I WILL PRAISE THEE WITH MY WHOLE HEART,.... Cordially and sincerely, in the uprightness and integrity of his heart; which denotes not the perfection of his service, but the sincerity of it; his heart...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    __ Psalms 138:1 _« [A Psalm] of David. » I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee._ Ver. 1. _I will praise thee with my whole heart_] Which no hypocrite c...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _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,...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-5 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 Ch...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    PSALM 138 THE ARGUMENT This is a Psalm of thanksgiving to God for those great deliverances which he had granted to David from Saul and other enemies; by the remembrance whereof David encourageth himse...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Psalms 138:1 David H1732 praise H3034 (H8686) heart H3820 gods H430 praises H2167 (H8762) I will praise -...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Psalms 138:1. _I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee._ «Gods or no gods, whatever they may be, ‘I will praise thee with my whole heart,' I will not be a...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Psalms 138:1. _I will praise thee with my whole heart; before the gods will I sing praise unto thee._ We cannot be too much occupied in the praises of God. He rightly deserves all the thanksgivings w...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    A Psalm of David. Psalms 138:1. _I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee._ Before the heathen gods, however highly exalted I will sing thy praises so in...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    The LXX have prefixed the name of Haggai and Zechariah to this psalm; but all the Versions follow the Hebrew in ascribing it to David, to whom it undoubtedly belongs. It was probably one of the favour...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _I will praise Thee with my whole heart._ MORAL FEATURES OF A GOOD MAN’S LIFE I. The grand resolve of a good man--to serve God (verses 1, 2). 1. Entirely. “I will praise Thee with my whole heart.”...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PSALM PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 138:1. This psalm offers thanks to God for signs of his constant care. ⇐...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    INTRODUCTION “This,” says Barnes, “is the first of a series of eight Psalms (Psalms 38-145) placed together in this part of the book, and ascribed to David. They appear to be of the nature of a _suppl...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION A CLUSTER of Davidical psalms here follows. It is not easy to trace any single line of thought connecting them all, or to explain how they come to be so entirely separated from the great bu...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving-kindness and for thy truth: for thou has...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 14:15; Acts 23:5; Ephesians 5:19; Exodus 22:28; H

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    The gods — Before kings and princes....

Continues after advertising