I. (138:1–3) I Will Give God Thanks for Answering My Prayer. The opening section explains the theme: “I will give you thanks” because “on the day I called, you answered me.”

Verse 1 describes the praise as “before the gods.” This may well refer to the angels, as the LXX takes it (cf. 8:5 and comment on 8:3–8; 29:1). Others suppose these to be human rulers (cf. comment on 82:1–4), while still others think these to be false deities. Since the setting is worship in the temple (138:2), the first option is most likely (1 Cor. 11:10).

The mention of the “name,” “steadfast love,” and “faithfulness” in Psalm 138:2 evokes the passage in which the Lord proclaims his “name”—the most prominent aspects of his character (cf. 135:1; comment on 135:1–4)—before Moses (Ex. 34:5–6). The experiences of answered cries for help have confirmed the singer’s confidence in the Lord’s character; when each person sings “my strength of soul you increased,” he takes renewed assurance with reflection on these events.

Psalm 138:2 also says, “You have exalted above all things your name and your word.” The Hebrew is difficult (cf. ESV mg.); the ESV text is more likely than the margin though. The particular experience for which the psalm gives thanks shows that God has “exalted” his “name” (to which the singer gives thanks) and his “word” (i.e., his word of promise to care for his servants).

II. (138:4–6) The Lord Is High and Looks on the Lowly. The very personal experience of God’s help is now put in perspective: the God to whom the psalmist had prayed is the universal Lord (he is “high”; v. 6), to whom all the Gentiles will one day come in worship (“all the kings of the earth shall give you thanks”; v. 4; cf. 102:15; Isa. 52:15). And yet he “regards the lowly” person. These Gentile kings have heard the Lord’s “words” (Ps. 138:4), presumably the words of grace and promise (cf. v. 2), and they will eventually be drawn in.

The one giving thanks in this psalm therefore aims to identify with the lowly and to reject being haughty.

III. (138:7–8) The Lord Preserves Me through All Troubles. The psalm closes by telling of God’s constant care for each of his faithful, returning to the “I” of the opening stanza. It is not easy for even the best believer to be mindful of this care at all times, and singing this and remembering these experiences will help the members of the congregation to be more aware of the ways in which God preserves and protects them.

The confidence of verse 8 is that God “will fulfill his purpose for” the singer. That is, as God has begun to care for him, so will he finish the job all his life long (cf. 57:2). His “steadfast love” (cf. 138:2) grounds the assurance that he will answer the closing prayer, “Do not forsake the work of your hands” (i.e., the lives of the faithful singers).766