Please read the text: Psalm 147:1-20 (ESV)

IT IS GOOD TO SING PRAISES TO OUR GOD

God’s people should praise him constantly. It’s pleasant and befitting. (v.1-2),

Praise the LORD!

For it is good to sing praises to our God;

for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.

2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem;

he gathers the outcasts of Israel.

God’s care extends over to those who are sorrowing and humble as He takes care His creation intimatetly through His power (v.3-6).

3 He heals the brokenhearted

and binds up their wounds.

4 He determines the number of the stars;

he gives to all of them their names.

5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;

his understanding is beyond measure.

6 The LORD lifts up the humble;

he casts the wicked to the ground.

God delights to sustain creation and provide for the physical needs of his creatures (v.7-9).

7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;

make melody to our God on the lyre!

8 He covers the heavens with clouds;

he prepares rain for the earth;

he makes grass grow on the hills.

9 He gives to the beasts their food,

and to the young ravens that cry.

But of all his creatures, He does not delight in those who are proud but toward those who humbly trust in his steadfast love (v.10-11).

10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse,

nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,

11 but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him,

in those who hope in his steadfast love.

That is why he delights in Israel above other nations. He protects his people and gives them food to enjoy (v.12-14).

12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem!

Praise your God, O Zion!

13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates;

he blesses your children within you.

14 He makes peace in your borders;

he fills you with the finest of the wheat.

He sends them a tough winter weather to make them tough in order to endure hardship. After the winter, He sends them pleasant weather to remind them of His continual care(v.15-18).

15 He sends out his command to the earth;

his word runs swiftly.

16 He gives snow like wool;

he scatters frost like ashes.

17 He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs;

who can stand before his cold?

18 He sends out his word, and melts them;

he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.

Most importantly, He has given them his word. Through His word, they can know him better and as a result bring him further joy. (v.19-20).

19 He declares his word to Jacob,

his statutes and rules to Israel.

20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation;

they do not know his rules.

Praise the LORD!

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Text: Psa 146:1-10 ESV

1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!

2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

3 Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.

4 When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.

5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,

6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever;

7 who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free;

8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.

9 The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

10 The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!

-Psa 146:1-10 ESV

THE LORD WILL REIGN FOREVER

No matter how stable people may appear to be, they can never be fully relied upon. They do not have unlimited power and their lives may be cut short at any time (v.1-4).

1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!

2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

3 Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.

4 When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.

God, on the other hand, can be relied upon, for he is the all-powerful Creator and his life never ends (v.5-6).

5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,

6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever;

Also, he has special care for those suffering from poverty, injustice, physical handicaps and social insecurity (v.7-10).

7 who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free;

8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.

9 The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

10 The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!

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Text: Psa 145:1-21 ESV

1 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.

2 Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.

3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.

5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness.

7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

8 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

9 The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.

10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you!

11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power,

12 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]

14 The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.

16 You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.

18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.

20 The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.

21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

-Psa 145:1-21 ESV

GREAT IS THE LORD, AND GREATLY TO BE PRAISED!

The last 6 chapters of the book of Psalms are six hymns of general praise.

This psalm [chap 145] is David’s ‘Song of Praise’ and is an acrostic. Whereas, he other five have no titles. Notedly, each begins and ends with the words ‘Praise the Lord’.

God’s greatness is unsearchable. Thus, He is worthy to be the object of people’s praise, day and night, for ever and ever (v.1-3).

Those who know God’s greatness should meditate upon it and proclaim it to the next generations.(v.4-7).

He is full of goodness too, showing His covenant faithfulness to his people and gracious love to all people (v.8-9).

Those who have experienced his love should show their gratitude by praising him and telling others of his mighty works. In this way they will help spread his rule to the lives of others (10-13a).

His generosity and graciousness are always available to all his creatures (13b-16).

[The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]

14 The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.

16 You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

He is always on the side of those who call upon him, honour him and love him. But he is against those who in their sin reject the offer of his mercy (17-20).

17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.

18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.

20 The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.

All creation, and most specially His people, should bring him continual praise (v.21).

21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

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God’s Word for Today

2 May 2024

-Psa 144:1-15 ESV

BLESSED ARE THE PEOPLE WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD!

Most of the verses in this psalm are found in some other parts of the book, especially Psa 18. David praised God for granting victory in past battles and requested success in a present military encounter with an enemy. He was confident that God would save His people. This is used by the king on a special occasion of national celebration.

Israel’s king praises the almighty God for his continual protection and deliverance over their enemies. And, he is confident that He is still his present refuge (v.1-2). 

Blessed be the LORD, my rock,

    who trains my hands for war,

    and my fingers for battle;

2 he is my steadfast love and my fortress,

    my stronghold and my deliverer,

my shield and he in whom I take refuge,

    who subdues peoples under me.

As he thinks much deeper, the king praises God for his concern for the human race. How could God be interested to insignificant and weak creatures (v.3-4). 

3 O LORD, what is man that you regard him,

    or the son of man that you think of him?

4 Man is like a breath;

    his days are like a passing shadow.

Since God has saved his people in the past, they are confident in God to save them in present and future crises (v.5-8). 

5 Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down!

    Touch the mountains so that they smoke!

6 Flash forth the lightning and scatter them;

    send out your arrows and rout them!

7 Stretch out your hand from on high;

    rescue me and deliver me from the many waters,

    from the hand of foreigners,

8 whose mouths speak lies

    and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

Hence he is favored of God’s victories, the king will praise and worship. He concluded with expressions of his continued trust in God as his deliverer alone (v.9-11).

9 I will sing a new song to you, O God;

    upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you,

10 who gives victory to kings,

    who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword.

11 Rescue me and deliver me

    from the hand of foreigners,

whose mouths speak lies

    and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

Projecting his thoughts to the future, the king prays that the nation will enter a renewed life and joy of God’s blessings. (12-15).

12 May our sons in their youth

    be like plants full grown,

our daughters like corner pillars

    cut for the structure of a palace;

13 may our granaries be full,

    providing all kinds of produce;

may our sheep bring forth thousands

    and ten thousands in our fields;

14 may our cattle be heavy with young,

    suffering no mishap or failure in bearing;

may there be no cry of distress in our streets!

15 Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall!

    Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!

There is security and prosperity where families will grow and flourish, fields and flocks will be fruitful, and that people will enjoy peace and contentment. However,  he warns them such blessings are given only if they maintain their loyalty to God.

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God’s Word for Today

1 May 2024

Hear my prayer, O LORD;

    give ear to my pleas for mercy!

    In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!

2 Enter not into judgment with your servant,

    for no one living is righteous before you.

3 For the enemy has pursued my soul;

    he has crushed my life to the ground;

    he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.

4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;

    my heart within me is appalled.

5 I remember the days of old;

    I meditate on all that you have done;

    I ponder the work of your hands.

6 I stretch out my hands to you;

    my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah

7 Answer me quickly, O LORD!

    My spirit fails!

Hide not your face from me,

    lest I be like those who go down to the pit.

8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,

    for in you I trust.

Make me know the way I should go,

    for to you I lift up my soul.

9 Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD!

    I have fled to you for refuge.

10 Teach me to do your will,

    for you are my God!

Let your good Spirit lead me

    on level ground!

11 For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life!

    In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!

12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,

    and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,

    for I am your servant.

-Psa 143:1-12 ESV

YOU ARE MY REFUGE

David knows that he is a sinner like others. There is no way of escaping God’s punishment of sin.  God is righteous. Perhaps, he was thinking that God might be using the enemy to punish him for his sins. There were not so much options. He therefore casts himself entirely upon the mercy of God(v.1-2). 

Hear my prayer, O LORD;

    give ear to my pleas for mercy!

    In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!

2 Enter not into judgment with your servant,

    for no one living is righteous before you.

David expressed his troubles as to how he has been pursued and was forced to hide under the shadow of darkness in the cave (v.3-4). 

3 For the enemy has pursued my soul;

    he has crushed my life to the ground;

    he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.

4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;

    my heart within me is appalled.

But, he remembers God’s mighty deeds in the past. And, he prays that God will deliver him once more. (5-6). 

5 I remember the days of old;

    I meditate on all that you have done;

    I ponder the work of your hands.

6 I stretch out my hands to you;

    my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah

He fears himself to languish in hopelessness as those who die without God. He longs for a fresh experience of God’s steadfast love. (v.7-8). 

7 Answer me quickly, O LORD!

    My spirit fails!

Hide not your face from me,

    lest I be like those who go down to the pit.

8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,

    for in you I trust.

Make me know the way I should go,

    for to you I lift up my soul.

He prays that God, having rescued him, will instruct and guide him in the future (v.9-12). His petition of deliverance is for his desire to fulfill God’s desire.

9 Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD!

    I have fled to you for refuge.

10 Teach me to do your will,

    for you are my God!

Let your good Spirit lead me

    on level ground!

11 For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life!

    In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!

12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,

    and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,

    for I am your servant.

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Text: Psalm 142:1-7 (ESV)

1 With my voice I cry out to the LORD;

with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD.

2 I pour out my complaint before him;

I tell my trouble before him.

3 When my spirit faints within me,

you know my way!

In the path where I walk

they have hidden a trap for me.

4 Look to the right and see:

there is none who takes notice of me;

no refuge remains to me;

no one cares for my soul.

5 I cry to you, O LORD;

I say, “You are my refuge,

my portion in the land of the living.”

6 Attend to my cry,

for I am brought very low!

Deliver me from my persecutors,

for they are too strong for me!

7 Bring me out of prison,

that I may give thanks to your name!

The righteous will surround me,

for you will deal bountifully with me.

I CRY TO YOU, O LORD

Having been pursued by his enemies relentlessly, David has escaped from Gath and fled to the cave of Adullam.[1 Sam 22:1). He was a fugitive and alone.

He is overwhelmed with a terrible feeling of loneliness. He feels that no one cares for him. Thus, he cries out to God (v.1-4).

With my voice I cry out to the LORD;

with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD.

2 I pour out my complaint before him;

I tell my trouble before him.

3 When my spirit faints within me,

you know my way!

In the path where I walk

they have hidden a trap for me.

4 Look to the right and see:

there is none who takes notice of me;

no refuge remains to me;

no one cares for my soul.

God does know all about David’s problems beforehand, does He not? But, David did not eliminate the necessity of his calling upon God for help. Jesus said, “Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things” (Mat 6:32).

He prayed that God will deal with his enemies. That God will bring him out of prison. And for him to live a normal life in freedom and security again (v.5-7).

5 I cry to you, O LORD;

I say, “You are my refuge,

my portion in the land of the living.”

6 Attend to my cry,

for I am brought very low!

Deliver me from my persecutors,

for they are too strong for me!

7 Bring me out of prison,

that I may give thanks to your name!

The righteous will surround me,

for you will deal bountifully with me.

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Text: Psalm 141:1-10 (ESV)

1 O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me!

Give ear to my voice when I call to you!

2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,

and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;

keep watch over the door of my lips!

4 Do not let my heart incline to any evil,

to busy myself with wicked deeds

in company with men who work iniquity,

and let me not eat of their delicacies!

5 Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;

let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;

let my head not refuse it.

Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.

6 When their judges are thrown over the cliff,

then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.

7 As when one plows and breaks up the earth,

so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

8 But my eyes are toward you, O GOD, my Lord;

in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!

9 Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me

and from the snares of evildoers!

10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,

while I pass by safely

MY EYES ARE TOWARD YOU, O GOD, MY LORD

David has been maligned and slandered. How should he respond? He was tempted to use strong words and vile speech in return but he did not. David prays that he may be kept from such sins. That he won’t follow the evil ways of the wicked (v.1-4).

O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me!

Give ear to my voice when I call to you!

2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,

and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;

keep watch over the door of my lips!

4 Do not let my heart incline to any evil,

to busy myself with wicked deeds

in company with men who work iniquity,

and let me not eat of their delicacies!

If ever a godly person has a cause to rebuke him, David prays that he may receive it as a blessing. I is as if he has been anointed with oil. But, he will always remain opposed to evil (v.5).

5 Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;

let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;

let my head not refuse it.

Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.

People will be forced to take notice when God acts, for his punishments will leave the wicked completely shattered (v.6-7).

6 When their judges are thrown over the cliff,

then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.

7 As when one plows and breaks up the earth,

so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

Even when the wicked is still actively on attack mode, David prays that he will be saved from the traps and deception they have set for him (v.8-10).

8 But my eyes are toward you, O GOD, my Lord;

in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!

9 Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me

and from the snares of evildoers!

10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,

while I pass by safely.

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Text: Psa 140:1-13 ESV

1 Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; preserve me from violent men,

2 who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually.

3 They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's, and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah

4 Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip up my feet.

5 The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net; beside the way they have set snares for me. Selah

6 I say to the LORD, You are my God; give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O LORD!

7 O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.

8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah

9 As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!

10 Let burning coals fall upon them! Let them be cast into fire, into miry pits, no more to rise!

11 Let not the slanderer be established in the land; let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!

12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy.

13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence.

-Psa 140:1-13 ESV

I SAY TO THE LORD, YOU ARE MY GOD

The next four chapters belong to the time when David was fleeing from Saul. David was a fugitive who went to the Philistine city of Gath. But, he found no refuge there and narrowly escaped. Those events are recorded in 1 Samuel 21:10 - 22:1. Subsequently, David went to the cave at Adullam where many desperate men joined him later.

David’s enemies used treacheries and slanders to attack him. These wicked men are like venomous snakes, asps and cunning hunters (v.1-5).

1 Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; preserve me from violent men,

2 who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually.

3 They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's, and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah

4 Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip up my feet.

5 The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net; beside the way they have set snares for me. Selah

But, David’s confidence is in Yahweh, His God, God is his defender in whom he trusts for deliverance and salvation (v.6-8).

6 I say to the LORD, You are my God; give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O LORD!

7 O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.

8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah

David’s enemies will receive a fitting retribution. They would suffer the torments that they intended to inflict upon David (v.9-11).

9 As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!

10 Let burning coals fall upon them! Let them be cast into fire, into miry pits, no more to rise!

11 Let not the slanderer be established in the land; let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!

David praises God confidently to see his justice in punishing the wicked and delivering the innocent to the afflicted and needy like himself. (v.12-13).

12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy.

13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence.

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Text: Psa 139:1-24 ESV

1 O LORD, you have searched me and known me!

2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.

3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.

4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.

5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?

8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,”

12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.

19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me!

20 They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain.

21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?

22 I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!

24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

-Psa 139:1-24 ESV

SEARCH ME, O GOD, AND KNOW MY HEART!

God is all knowing. He knows all about the psalmist’s life - what he does, what he thinks, where he goes and what he says (v.1-4).

Because of the realization that God is all around him, the psalmist sometimes feels helpless (v.5-6).

A person may be tempted to run away from such an overpowering presence, but no escape is possible. Surely, this may bring fear to rebels. But, it brings comfort to believers (v.7-8).

Wherever he goes, God is present with him (v.9-10).

Whether in darkness or in light, God sees him constantly (v.11-12).

Being the Creator, God has perfect knowledge of those he created. He knows their innermost thoughts as well as their physical characteristics, and has a detailed knowledge of their lives that are yet to be (v.13-16).

As the psalmist contemplates about the wonderful works of God, he finds they are too vast to understand and too numerous to count. When he awakes after his meditation he knows that God is still with him (v.17-18).

Through his meditation, the psalmist has grown so close to God. As a result, he sees the wicked as God sees them and hates evil as God hates it. His heartbeat is as God’s heartbeat. He therefore prays that God will act in righteous judgment (v.19-22).

Nevertheless, he also looks at her heart. He is also aware that he himself is not perfect. He honestly prays that God will show him his sin, cleanse him, and lead him into a life of holiness (v. 23-24).

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God’s Word for Today

25 Apr 2024

I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart;

    before the gods I sing your praise;

2 I bow down toward your holy temple

    and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,

    for you have exalted above all things

    your name and your word.

3 On the day I called, you answered me;

    my strength of soul you increased.

4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD,

    for they have heard the words of your mouth,

5 and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD,

    for great is the glory of the LORD.

6 For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly,

    but the haughty he knows from afar.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

    you preserve my life;

you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,

    and your right hand delivers me.

8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;

    your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.

    Do not forsake the work of your hands.

-Psa 138:1-8 ESV

GREAT IS THE GLORY OF THE LORD

David, showing his love to God,  contrasted all lifeless gods how useless they are and how great is the only true God. This God loves his people, answers their prayers and gives them the strength to face life’s difficulties with boldness (v.1-3).

I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart;

    before the gods I sing your praise;

2 I bow down toward your holy temple

    and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,

    for you have exalted above all things

    your name and your word.

3 On the day I called, you answered me;

    my strength of soul you increased.

The rulers of other nations ought also to honor this God. In God’s sight,  their status doesn’t matter. That is, their high position does not make them any better than the poor and lowly (v.4-6). 

4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD,

    for they have heard the words of your mouth,

5 and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD,

    for great is the glory of the LORD.

6 For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly,

    but the haughty he knows from afar.

God is not respecter of persons. This truth encourages the psalmist. It is because those who are in positions of power are most abusive and wicked. They even try to kill him. However, he knows that God in His plan and steadfast love will save him (v.7-8).

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

    you preserve my life;

you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,

    and your right hand delivers me.

8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;

    your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.

    Do not forsake the work of your hands.

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