I Give You Thanks, O LORD
Devotional
Companion to the Psalter
A Devotional Guide to the Psalms
I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise ...
for you have exalted your name and your word
above everything ...
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.
-- Psalm 138:1, 2c, 8
Theme: Seven reasons for wholehearted thanks to God
Outline
1-3 -- Amidst the idolatrous pomp of the world, I thank you, Lord, for your covenant love and faithfulness to me.
4-6 -- I look forward to the day when heathen nations will have learned to sing of your ways.
7-8 -- Amidst troubles, I look forward to the fulfillment of your redeeming purpose for me.
Notes
• Thanksgiving
• God's name (his character, his reputation) and God's word (his revelation to man) are exalted above everything, the supreme blessings for the world (v. 2).
• This is a missionary psalm, looking forward to the salvation of the world (v. 4).
• "The work of your hands" = the nation of Israel, the individual who wrote the psalm and the one praying it, and all creation (v. 8).
For Reflection
• What are the seven great reasons for heartfelt gratitude to God? Verse 8 is a great promise and prayer for everyone to use. "God will keep me going until he has fulfilled his purpose for me." And when death comes, he will keep on working in me and through me!
• Every person in the covenant of salvation is the handwork of God. "We are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life" (Ephesians 2:10). "He who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).
Prayer
Lord God, in the midst of heathenism and of troubles, we thank you that you have begun a good work in us. With the psalmist we are confident as we anticipate the fulfillment of your purpose for us, for both the lowliest of humankind as well as for kings yet afar off needing to hear your word. You will not forsake the work of your pierced hands, O Christ. Amen.
before the gods I sing your praise ...
for you have exalted your name and your word
above everything ...
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.
-- Psalm 138:1, 2c, 8
Theme: Seven reasons for wholehearted thanks to God
Outline
1-3 -- Amidst the idolatrous pomp of the world, I thank you, Lord, for your covenant love and faithfulness to me.
4-6 -- I look forward to the day when heathen nations will have learned to sing of your ways.
7-8 -- Amidst troubles, I look forward to the fulfillment of your redeeming purpose for me.
Notes
• Thanksgiving
• God's name (his character, his reputation) and God's word (his revelation to man) are exalted above everything, the supreme blessings for the world (v. 2).
• This is a missionary psalm, looking forward to the salvation of the world (v. 4).
• "The work of your hands" = the nation of Israel, the individual who wrote the psalm and the one praying it, and all creation (v. 8).
For Reflection
• What are the seven great reasons for heartfelt gratitude to God? Verse 8 is a great promise and prayer for everyone to use. "God will keep me going until he has fulfilled his purpose for me." And when death comes, he will keep on working in me and through me!
• Every person in the covenant of salvation is the handwork of God. "We are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life" (Ephesians 2:10). "He who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).
Prayer
Lord God, in the midst of heathenism and of troubles, we thank you that you have begun a good work in us. With the psalmist we are confident as we anticipate the fulfillment of your purpose for us, for both the lowliest of humankind as well as for kings yet afar off needing to hear your word. You will not forsake the work of your pierced hands, O Christ. Amen.
