PRAISE THE LORD WITH THE WHOLE HEART
PSALM 138: 1-8
PSALM 138: 1-8
Key verse: v. 8, “The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.”
Introduction:
This is a Psalm of thanksgiving to God for those great deliverances which he had granted to David from Saul and other enemies; by the remembrance whereof David encourageth himself to trust in God in all him future difficulties.
I. PRAISE GOD FOR HIS GOODNESS AND TRUTH
A. David praises the Lord with a “WHOLE HEART,” Psalm 9:1, “I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.”
1. David’s praise was whole hearted BEFORE the ENTIRE CONGREGATION, Psalms 111:1, “Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.”
2. David’s praise was IN the SPIRIT OF UNDERSTANDING what God had done for him, 1 Corinthians 14:15, “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”
a. Our worship of the Lord is based on UNDERSTANDING of His Word, Psalms 119:130, “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”
b. Our praise in song is with understanding of the words we sing, Psalms 47:7, “For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.”
B. David was NOT ASHAMED TO PRAISE his God BOLDLY before the heathen, Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
1. Praising God is work that the GREATEST of men NEED NOT BE ASHAMED OF, 2 Timothy 1:12, “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
2. The people noted the BOLDNESS of the Apostles that they had been WITH JESUS, Acts 4:13, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”
B. David praises the Lord FOR TWO THINGS, v. 2.
1. For the Lord’s LOVINGKINDNESS, Psalms 5:7, “But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.”
2. For the Lord’s TRUTH, Psalms 85:10, “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”
C. David knew that God had MAGNIFIED HIS WORD, v. 2; Isaiah 42:21, “The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.”
D. David KNEW BY EXPERIENCE how God responded to his prayers, v. 3.
1. God HEARD his prayer, Psalms 18:6, “In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.”
2. God’s reply was IMMEDIATE, Isaiah 65:24, “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”
3. Strength from the Lord was THE RESULT, Ephesians 3:16, “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;”
II. DAVID PROPHESIZES THAT THE KINGS OF THE EARTH WILL PRAISE THE LORD vv. 4-6
A. In the LATTER DAYS all kings of the earth will worship the Lord, Psalms 72:11, “Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.”
B. When they HEAR God’s Word, Isaiah 52:15, “So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.”
1. They shall LISTEN, Job 29:9-10, “The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. 10- The nobles HELD THEIR PEACE, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.”
2. They shall SEE what they had not known, Isaiah 55:5, “Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.”
3. They will CONSIDER what they had not heard, Romans 16:26, “But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:”
III. DAVID PROFESSES THE FRUIT OF HIS TRUSTING IN GOD IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLES vv. 7-8
A. Trust the Lord brings POSITIVE RESULTS, v. 7; Psalms 23:4, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: FOR THOU ART WITH ME; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
1. God preserved his life amidst all his troubles, Psalms 71:20, “Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt BRING ME UP AGAIN from the depths of the earth.”
2. The Lord raised David up, Psalms 144:2, “My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and HE IN WHOM I TRUST; who subdueth my people under me.”
B. God will COMPLETE in works in us, v. 8; Jeremiah 32:39-40, “And I will give them ONE HEART, and ONE WAY, that they may FEAR ME for ever, FOR THE GOOD OF THEM and of their children after them: 40- And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put MY FEAR in their hearts, that they shall NOT DEPART FROM ME.”
CONCLUSION