Psalm 138

What’s Happening?

No spiritual power and no earthly ruler can conquer David because he is loved by the God who rules over them all. As if in the heavenly throne room, David praises God before all other gods and kings (Psalm 138:1-2). Whether heavenly rulers or human rulers, the point is the same: all rulers will join David when they hear him sing the praises of such a great God (Psalm 138:4-5).  Every other earthly king serves a heavenly god that was made by David’s God. As a result, everything in creation is owned by God, under his name. Everything is subject to God, for his word goes out in all the world, like a king’s law goes out from his throne (Psalm 138:2).  David knows this God by name and has received his words. Now David calls all creation to join him in praising God’s name and words. 

David invites all rulers to humble themselves before this great God, because this higher-than-all God has compassion for the lowly (Psalm 138:6). David knows this because God has shown compassion to him when he was lowly and cast out. When he was in danger, David cried to God, and God saved him from all his troubles (Psalm 138:3). He trusts that God will preserve his life as often as he falls into trouble (Psalm 138:7). Since God’s arms have protected David in the past, he knows his future is safe in God’s hands too (Psalm 138:8). The rulers listening to David’s song are invited to humble themselves, not resist God’s rule, and receive the compassion of the most exalted God.

Where is the Gospel?

The most highly exalted God, above all heavenly and earthly rulers, who made himself known to David, made himself known to us in Jesus. The highly exalted Jesus, who has compassion on the lowly, came through a humble birth, lived a humble life, and died a humble death. But from the lowliest place, God raised Jesus to his exalted throne room before all other gods. Now, Jesus has received the name David praised—the name above every other god and king. (Philippians 2:10-11). And since every power in heaven and earth bows to Jesus, they cannot conquer his humble people or separate them from his love (Romans 8:38-39). And now, we get to join David in praising Jesus as the exalted King before all the gods of heaven and rulers of the earth.

From the first days of Jesus’ ascension, we see evidence of the gods praising Jesus’ name. People named after pagan gods humble themselves under Jesus and proclaim him as the most highly exalted God. The Athenian scholar Dionysius and the prolific preacher Apollos join the voices that praise Jesus as God (Acts 17:34; 18:27). The apostle Paul's friends Hermes, Artemas, and Titus join him in declaring the exaltation of Jesus to all creation (Romans 16:14; Titus 1:4; 3:12). Paul himself preaches Jesus before kings and rulers, and even Caesar and his household are affected (Acts 25:12,23; Philippians 4:22). Ultimately, every ruler will be humbled and bow before Jesus’ name.

See for Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit would open your eyes to see the God who is higher than all and yet has concern for the lowly. And may you see Jesus as the one who is the praise of all gods and kings.