A man must grow up in so many ways.”
–Louis L’Amour (“End of the Drive”)
“But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.”
–Isaiah 64:8 (NKJV)
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William Jones gives us a capsule of Psalm 138 when he says, “Grace will complete what grace begins. God does not abandon His work in an incomplete state.” What a wonderful psalm to follow 137. Lawson tells us, “Every believer should live with a bold confidence in the sovereignty of God over his life.” Or, maybe those grand words of missionary David Livingston should be our slogan, “I am immortal until the will of God for me is accomplished.” Let’s see what Psalm 138 has for us.
1 — I will praise You with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing praises to You.
2 — I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
3 — In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.
4 — All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth.
5 — Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.
6 — Though the LORD is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.
7 — Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me.
8 — The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your hands. (NKJV)
David begins this psalm declaring that he will praise from his whole heart, meaning his whole being. Remember, praise is an act of the will. It is something that you choose to do. The question is, “What is your response to the Lord on this particular day of your life? You can begin any day without praise, or choose every day to worship.” (Wood) What is the script that is laid out before this day? How will you respond, with complaining or with praise? We may not, at times, feel like praising, but still it is a choice. David proclaims “I will sing praises” not mumbling or grumbling, but overflowing.
George Wood writes, “When you turn your face toward Him you find the reality of His love and faithfulness. You walk in the confidence that the Lord’s exaltation of His name and Word above all things means that all His everlasting promises to you personally will come true.” The NLT translates verse 2, “…your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.” What He commands will come to pass.
Never forget that God’s love toward you and me endures forever. His purposes will be fulfilled even in the face of threatening foes. Our lives are resting in God’s hands, not in the clutches of our enemies. This is audacious faith, this is true worship God is there! He is with us in the midst of any kind of trouble. The NIV puts verse 7 this way, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life…”. David knew this from personal experience, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4, NKJV)
The final verse of this Psalm should bring us comfort and hope. It should give us that calm assurance that we go through this life under His guidance and protection. God will not forsake us. He was with us and delivered us in the past, and He will continue to do so, now–today, and also into the future of tomorrows. He will not take us so far then abandon us. He will “clench his fist” (vs 7, NLT) to save us from our enemies. Imagine God clenching His fist against those who threaten to harm us. His plan for us doesn’t ever stop. Paul declares, “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6, NKJV) The NIV states, “…he who began a good work in your will carry it on to completion…”.
To finish, look at the last verse from the NLT, “The LORD will work out his plan for my life–for your faith love, O LORD, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.” He will work out His plan. He will complete and finish what He has started with your life–you can depend on it! Don’t ever despair, God is there! Working even when we cannot see any immediate results, know that God has you under His loving care.
“The work which His goodness began
The arm of His strength will complete.
His promise is Yea and Amen,
And never was forfeited yet.”
–Augustus Toplady
“But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.”
–Isaiah 64:8 (NKJV)
———————————-
William Jones gives us a capsule of Psalm 138 when he says, “Grace will complete what grace begins. God does not abandon His work in an incomplete state.” What a wonderful psalm to follow 137. Lawson tells us, “Every believer should live with a bold confidence in the sovereignty of God over his life.” Or, maybe those grand words of missionary David Livingston should be our slogan, “I am immortal until the will of God for me is accomplished.” Let’s see what Psalm 138 has for us.
1 — I will praise You with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing praises to You.
2 — I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
3 — In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.
4 — All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth.
5 — Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.
6 — Though the LORD is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.
7 — Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me.
8 — The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your hands. (NKJV)
David begins this psalm declaring that he will praise from his whole heart, meaning his whole being. Remember, praise is an act of the will. It is something that you choose to do. The question is, “What is your response to the Lord on this particular day of your life? You can begin any day without praise, or choose every day to worship.” (Wood) What is the script that is laid out before this day? How will you respond, with complaining or with praise? We may not, at times, feel like praising, but still it is a choice. David proclaims “I will sing praises” not mumbling or grumbling, but overflowing.
George Wood writes, “When you turn your face toward Him you find the reality of His love and faithfulness. You walk in the confidence that the Lord’s exaltation of His name and Word above all things means that all His everlasting promises to you personally will come true.” The NLT translates verse 2, “…your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.” What He commands will come to pass.
Never forget that God’s love toward you and me endures forever. His purposes will be fulfilled even in the face of threatening foes. Our lives are resting in God’s hands, not in the clutches of our enemies. This is audacious faith, this is true worship God is there! He is with us in the midst of any kind of trouble. The NIV puts verse 7 this way, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life…”. David knew this from personal experience, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4, NKJV)
The final verse of this Psalm should bring us comfort and hope. It should give us that calm assurance that we go through this life under His guidance and protection. God will not forsake us. He was with us and delivered us in the past, and He will continue to do so, now–today, and also into the future of tomorrows. He will not take us so far then abandon us. He will “clench his fist” (vs 7, NLT) to save us from our enemies. Imagine God clenching His fist against those who threaten to harm us. His plan for us doesn’t ever stop. Paul declares, “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6, NKJV) The NIV states, “…he who began a good work in your will carry it on to completion…”.
To finish, look at the last verse from the NLT, “The LORD will work out his plan for my life–for your faith love, O LORD, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.” He will work out His plan. He will complete and finish what He has started with your life–you can depend on it! Don’t ever despair, God is there! Working even when we cannot see any immediate results, know that God has you under His loving care.
“The work which His goodness began
The arm of His strength will complete.
His promise is Yea and Amen,
And never was forfeited yet.”
–Augustus Toplady