September 16 — Psalm 138

“I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness; for you have exalted your name and your word above everything. On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul. All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth. They shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD. For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly; but the haughty he perceives from far away. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me. The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.”

Psalm 138 is a song of whole-hearted thanksgiving for G-d’s salvific work. It employs the form of an individual thanksgiving song, beginning with the basic sentence, “I give you thanks, Lord with my whole heart” Rather than sacrifice, the singer offers this song after bowing down in worship toward the temple, holy because it is the place of the Presence of G-d.

Psalm 138 is, then, a guide to the meaning and practice of people lifting up words of thanksgiving — especially thanksgiving for those who know that G-d is their redemption: “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me.” It reminds us that salvation comes to us as individuals in community — and therefore it creates a community that can speak as one in unity. It teaches that our salvation is not first of all and only for our sake but is also and foremost the revelation of the coming kingdom of God for all people.

For those who truly know that “The LORD will fulfill his purpose…; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever”, the reality of the promise of salvation requires a life of trust and prayer. Life with all its dangers, trials and temptations will continue for the redeemed; G-d’s salvation gives us reason to hope that what G-d has begun, through Jesus Christ, will surely be brought to completion. As Paul says in Philippians 1:6: “I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Let us Pray:

Compassionate God, you look with favor upon the lowly. Keep us safe in the midst of trouble, make known your love in our words and deeds, and bring us to new life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.