[1] I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
The gods — Before kings and princes.
Verse 2
[2] I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
Temple — Where the ark was. He was not permitted to enter into it.
Magnified — For thou hast glorified thy word or promise unto me more than any other of thy glorious perfections.
Verse 4
[4] All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.
The kings — A prophecy of the calling of the Gentiles.
Hear — The gospel preached among then.
Verse 5
[5] Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.
The ways — His wonderful counsel and gracious providences.
Verse 8
[8] The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.
Perfect — Will finish the great work of my deliverance.
Forsake not — Or, do not give over, the work of my salvation, which is thus far advanced, not by any human help, but by thy power and providence.
Psalm 138 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 1
[1] I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
The gods — Before kings and princes.
Verse 2
[2] I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
Temple — Where the ark was. He was not permitted to enter into it.
Magnified — For thou hast glorified thy word or promise unto me more than any other of thy glorious perfections.
Verse 4
[4] All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.
The kings — A prophecy of the calling of the Gentiles.
Hear — The gospel preached among then.
Verse 5
[5] Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.
The ways — His wonderful counsel and gracious providences.
Verse 8
[8] The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.
Perfect — Will finish the great work of my deliverance.
Forsake not — Or, do not give over, the work of my salvation, which is thus far advanced, not by any human help, but by thy power and providence.