David's Psalms of Solitude: Psalm 138-145

The words David speaks in these eight Psalms have lifted me up so many times and helped me draw closer to God. These are probably the last Psalms recorded by David and in some ways serve as a commentary to the great Messianic promise in 2 Samuel 7:1-29.

In my first series of Blog posts for Life 100.3 I will contextualize and share what each of these Psalms means to me, with the hope that God might encourage you and direct you to the wonderful truths He reveals in these scriptures.

Psalm 138:

David is a man after God's own heart. Throughout his life as both a Shepard and a King (1 & 2 Samuel) we can see how boldly he seeks to know God, even in spite of his own shortcomings.

In verse 1, we're immediately reminded of how we should express our joy for God- with all our hearts. Jesus says the first great commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart (Mark 12:30). If you've put your trust in Jesus, you've opened your heart to Him, and therefore you should desire to love him. It's important to understand the significance of praising God with all of your heart, not just part of it, but all.

Proverbs 4:23 says "Above all else, guard your hearts, for everything you do flows from it." You can have a relationship with a friend or support a campaign with your heart not completely into it, and that's okay. Once your heart is sunk into something, it can be hard to get it out, and it can take time to do so. That's why it's such a life-altering decision to follow Jesus because you're giving your heart, your whole being to Jesus.

If we're praising God with all our hearts, then our whole lives should flow form this praise.

At the beginning of verse 2, David says he bows down towards God's temple. Bowing down is an act of submission. David recognizes God as the Lord of his life and so he is reverent towards Him. In the rest of the verse David explains why he submits to God, His love, and faithfulness do not fail, and His decree surpasses fame: God is worthy of praise.

Verse 3 hones in on the special relationship that David has with God and it also sheds light on what will happen in ours. When David calls on God, He doesn't just answer, He greatly emboldens: God makes David stouthearted, He strengthens him. You may feel you have enough strength on your own, but it is God who is the true giver of strength. We don't always feel or see how he answers our call immediately, but over time He is faithful and His strength is more than abundant.

Continuing on in the passage, David longs for all the Kings of the earth to praise the Lord's decree. The decree that David mentions already in verse 2 is likely God's promise that David's heir would reign forever. If that doesn't fire you up, scroll over to Matthew 1 and read Jesus' lineage. While it seems like world authorities today are far from praising David's heir (Jesus), what David voices here is what God desires and what we should too.

Further, David's praise shifts to the character of God: why should we sing of the ways of the Lord? "Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly" (Psalm 138:6). And as David and other Psalmists remind us: Who is like you, O Lord. We have to look up to God. He looks down to love us. There's no need for Him to do this but He earnestly desires to have a loving relationship with His children. By extension, we too should look kind on the lowly in our lives. David demonstrates this so beautifully in 2 Samuel 9 in how he treats Mephibosheth. For a more in-depth on God's character, head to Psalm 13.

Then in verse 7, David gets really personal with God, and this is what we need to do too. We need to remind ourselves of how the Lord has demonstrated his unfailing love towards us. These examples that David brings up are likely true for you too. In the midst of trouble, God has preserved your life and He's stretched out his hand to rescue you from your enemies.

Over the last year, I've been reminded that when I get down on myself and feel like I am in deep waters that someone else has gone before me. Someone else has been in my place and someone else has been in yours, and God has been their helper: He's lifted them up. Just think of the life David lived, and all of the struggles he endured: he ran from a King who wanted to kill him (1 Samuel 18-28), he reigned as King of Israel and Judah (2 Samuel 5- 1 Kings 2), and David has his struggles with women- he committed adultery when he slept with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 7). Through all David's trials he sought out God and He preserved David's life.

Finally, in verse 8 we're reminded that God's faithfulness endures. God will vindicate David, God will vindicate you- He will fulfill his promises because He loves us. It's not because God is exalted, that he will vindicate you, it's because he loves you.

I pray Lord, that you "do not abandon the works of your hands" (Psalm 138:8).

#Psalms #Word #Praise #Jesus #Bible