Scripture Reading(s)
Psalm 138
138:1 I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;
138:2 I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness; for you have exalted your name and your word above everything.
138:3 On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul.
138:4 All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth.
138:5 They shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.
138:6 For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly; but the haughty he perceives from far away.
138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me.
138:8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
Reflections
I think one of the hardest parts of exercising our faith and trust in God is believing that He is in control before we reach the end of the trial that we are facing. The whole point of faith is to try and not only acknowledge that we trust in God but to live like we do. This Psalm is a prayer that of both praise and an expression of an unwavering belief that God is protecting David from harm.
The main idea that this Psalm portrays is found summed up in verse 8 “The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” I love how David uses the word “will” in stating what the Lord is going to do. There is no “if, maybe, perhaps, possibly” its an adamant declaration that the Lord is faithful because it is true to who He is.
David walked in the midst of many hard times, yet He hung on to the promises that God’s love for Him was steadfast love. He could not predict the future or what was going to happen tomorrow, but he knew for certain that God is faithful, loving and is sure to provide for His children, especially in our time of need.
For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly; but the haughty he perceives from far away.
The Bible has a lot to say about pride and humility. God has little patience for those who are prideful and think highly of themselves. Thought the prophet Isaiah the Lord proclaimed,
The Lord Almighty has a day in store
for all the proud and lofty,
for all that is exalted
(and they will be humbled),(Isaiah 2:12)
However, the Lord regards the lowly and the humble. When Jesus gave the sermon on the mount he declared that the meek shall inherit the earth. Indeed God is looking for followers who have humility. Let us always keep our egos in check and not get carried away with ourselves. Remember that everything we have comes from above. It is not ourselves alone that achieve any level of greatness but the hand of God from which all blessings flow.
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