This week's Psalm is a delightful song of thankfulness and praise for all the Lord gives to you and me!
PSALM 138 Of David.
1 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.
I'd like to focus especially on the final three verses, which really summarize the loving relationship God gives to you and to me. In verse six, David observes what is undeniably true: the Lord, the Creator of all things, the One who is "higher" above and over all things/people/governments/etc..., "regards the lowly". That's you and me! This clause sums it up for us: The God of the universe loves you, and cares for you, and provides all things for you! How does the Lord "regard" us? David reminds us, mentioning several things.
First, the Lord preserves your life as you walk amidst trouble. The Lord does not shield or protect us from all bad things, but He preserves our lives as we walk through those very difficult days. The Lord preserves our earthly lives, keeping us in faith and promising that no person or thing can ever take away your salvation. The Lord also preserves your eternal life, promising that He has already gone and prepared a mansion for you in heaven [John 14:2-3]!
Second, we read in verse 7b how the Lord works & fights against your "enemies''. Of course, this doesn't mean that God is your special bodyguard, zapping your enemies at your command! God's strong "right hand" [Jesus Christ] has already conquered and defeated our most important and dangerous enemy: the devil, the world and our sinful natures. The Lord has already DELIVERED you from sin, death and the power of the devil! Those are you bad enemies and they're already defeated!
Finally, verse eight is just so powerful and beautiful! Soak it in, pray over this verse as you wrap up this short devotion time. And never forget the final clause: You are the work of God's hands! He created you, formed you in your mother's womb and has loved you INCREDIBLY since that moment you were conceived!
Forsaken...? Absolutely never! Loved and forgiven? Absolutely always & forever!
Thank You, O Lord for this psalm, and for how You wonderfully regard us, in Your love and mercy! AMEN
Peace to you on this Lord's Day!
Pastor Mark
Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS Burton, Michigan
office: 810.744.1188
mobile: 248.881.7627
Pilgrim Website
Pilgrim Facebook page
Soli Deo Gloria
"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…” Psalm 37:7
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