Exultation in God.
What a contrast between this psalm and the previous one! There the sad-hearted writer asks, "How can we sing?" Here the psalmist can and will do nothing but sing. The effect of this spirit is seen throughout the psalm.
I. IT WILL OPENLY CONFESS GOD. (Psalms 138:1, Psalms 138:2.) "Before the gods," meaning, we think, those high princes and potentates—god-like in their majesty, power, and in the abject homage and deference that men paid to them—under whose authority and oppression they had so long lived. The den of lions, the burning fiery furnace, had hitherto been the penalty which had to be paid, did any man dare to praise Jehovah in the presence of these mighty kings. But it had been done all the same; and here the psalmist declares he will do it again. And, indeed, the spirit of praise is irrepressible. It must tell out its gladness in God.
II. AND WILL DECLARE THE REASON WHY.
1. Because of the Lord's "loving-kindness." (Psalms 138:2.) We do not know what special instance of this called forth the praise here expressed; but he whose eyes are opened of the Lord to mark his loving-kindness will never lack loving-kindness to mark.
2. His "truth." The Lord's fidelity to his Word. What he promised he performed. How unbelieving we too often are! Yet those who have trusted the Lord have never had cause to regret their doing so.
3. And this in so emphatic and extraordinary a manner. "Thou hast magnified thy Word," etc. The Lord's name and renown for fidelity were great already, and had led to high expectation; but what the Lord had done had surpassed all expectation—it had been "above all thy Name."
4. And this had been a matter of the psalmist's own personal experience. (Psalms 138:3.) Whether or no the particular burden, for relief from which he had cried unto the Lord, had been taken away, we do not know; but if, as is so often the case, it had not, there had been given strength to bear it—"Thou strengthenedst me," etc. One way or the other, the cry of the believer is heard, and either the trouble itself is removed, or grace sufficient, not only to bear it, but to enable us to glory in it, is given instead; and this, surely, is the better of the two. And all this the psalmist had himself experienced (2 Corinthians 12:9).
III. WILL CONFIDENTLY EXPECT GREAT BLESSING AS THE RESULT OF HIS TESTIMONY. (Psalms 138:4, Psalms 138:5.) Kings, not merely common people, but kings—a very unlikely class—shall be moved by it. They shall come away from the paths of sin into the ways of the Lord; they shall be really converted. And, what is more, they shall "sing in" those ways; they shall rejoice and be glad. And such confident expectation will ever result from this spirit.
IV. WILL DISCLAIM ALL WORTH AND GOODNESS OF ITS OWN, (Psalms 138:6.) He confesses that he is one of the lowly ones, and that it is all of the Lord's condescension that he has been noticed at all.
V. WILL GO FORWARD WITHOUT FEAR. (Psalms 138:7.)
1. Of trouble; even though he walk in the midst of it; for God will revive him.
2. Of his enemies; for God will save him.
3. Of personal failure; for (Psalms 138:8) "the Lord will perfect," etc. He might, and probably would, fail; but God will not allow of that.
VI. BUT WILL NOT, THEREFORE, PRESUME. Instead of this, the psalm ends with the humble prayer, "Forsake not the works," etc. Such are some of the blessed fruits of the spirit of exultation in God. Let us cherish it more by confession, by trust, by personal experience.—S.C.