Psalms 136-138

Let’s take a closer look at Psalm 138 today. 

Do you struggle with having confidence in God’s provision for you? I tend to be cynical, skeptical, and negative by nature. Maybe it’s my “thorn in my flesh” but this is truly a struggle of mine. This Psalm was refreshing to my spirit this morning and lifted me up. 

The verse that stood out the most was 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.” 

This was a reminder to me that no matter what I think about myself, or what is going on in the world…I can rest assured that God has a purpose and a plan that He will fulfill. This reminder has to transcend my cynicism, skepticism and negativity. The reminder is not based on me though; it’s based on the character of God. I must think on the character of God and knowing His faithfulness and love washes away my sin of cynicism, skepticism and negativity.

You see this is why we must be in God’s word every day and meditate on His character every day. God has exalted His name and His word (verse 2) so that we will see His faithfulness and love and be reminded that He is good, that He has us in his hand and He will fulfill His purpose for us! 

When we meditate on the character of God and his faithfulness, to us it should bring us to a place of thankfulness and praise with our whole hearts! (verse 1) 

I want you to take a moment today and just read verse 8 out loud in confidence. “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” Remember the basis for His fulfilling His purpose for your life is that His love for you endures forever. 

“The work of your hands” in verse 8 carries the idea of a potter and clay. The potter has the finished image of the pot in his mind before he even puts his hand on the clay. Remember that God is shaping and molding you into the image of his son Jesus and, “He who started a good work will be faithful to complete it.” (Philippians 1:6) 

Will you praise Him this morning and give Him thanks? Verse 2 says, “I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks.” This idea is a public display of thankfulness. Verse 1 says “before the gods I sing your praise.” This is not a recognition of “false gods” but a slight towards them that there is one true God who deserves praise and thankfulness. 

As a church in a culture full of false gods, gods of self, money, success, convenience and power, we must live with a posture of humility, thankfulness and praise that shows this world that we trust in something greater than anything else in this world! That we serve a God who is steadfast in love and who is ever faithful to fulfill His purposes in and through us!