Passage

Psalms 138

Verses 1–8 WEB Voices

A Psalm of David: wholehearted thanks before the gods, worship toward the holy temple for steadfast love and faithfulness, and the claim that God has exalted His name and His word. Answered prayer strengthens the soul; kings will thank the LORD for the words of His mouth and sing of His ways. Though high, yet he looks after the lowly; in trouble He preserves, opposes enemies’ wrath, and fulfills His purpose—steadfast love forever, with the plea not to forsake the work of His hands.

Psalms 138:1

1I will give you thanks with my whole heart. Before the gods, I will sing praises to you.

Arminian

Wesley: before the gods—kings and princes. Whole-heart thanks refuses double speech.

Praise is public and sincere. Give thanks where the powerful can hear; lip-service without the heart is not this verse.

Reformed

Calvin: whole heart means sincere, not double; praise of a public kind before angels (or an honored assembly) as in a heavenly theater.

Gratitude rises from distinguishing mercies. Hypocrisy empties thanks; sincerity matches the God who helped.

Psalms 138:2

2I will bow down toward your holy temple, and give thanks to your Name for your loving kindness and for your truth; for you have exalted your Name and your Word above all.

Arminian

Wesley: temple—toward the ark he could not enter; magnified—God glorified His promise above other perfections toward the psalmist.

Steadfast love and faithfulness call for thanks. Trust the word God has exalted; bowed worship answers promise kept.

Reformed

Calvin: mercy and truth coupled—goodness tasted through the word; God’s name exalted by performing free promises, awakening dull hearts.

Outward symbol draws the mind up; the heart still worships spiritually. Word and name rise together in faithful fulfillment.

Psalms 138:3

3In the day that I called, you answered me. You encouraged me with strength in my soul.

Arminian

Answered calling increases soul-strength. Prayer met with help is not luck.

Keep calling. God sincerely answers; inward fortitude is mercy received, then to be used in further trust.

Reformed

Calvin: commonly God stirs prayer by His Spirit then crowns it; increased strength in the soul proves the escape was His answer.

Answered prayer opens the psalmist’s eyes to God’s goodness. Weak and afflicted, the saint is multiplied with spiritual strength from God.

Psalms 138:4

4All the kings of the earth will give you thanks, LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth.

Arminian

Wesley: kings—prophecy of Gentile calling; hear—the gospel among them.

The LORD’s words are meant to be heard widely. Thanksgiving among kings answers revelation sincerely offered to the nations.

Reformed

Calvin: report of God’s preserving word spreads; even kings hear that David was kept because God had commanded his anointing—illustrating goodness beyond Israel’s circle.

The mouth of the LORD publishes what makes rulers give thanks. Fame of promise-keeping serves His glory among the nations.

Psalms 138:5

5Yes, they will sing of the ways of the LORD, for the LORD’s glory is great!

Arminian

Wesley: ways—wonderful counsel and gracious providences. Glory great enough to set kings singing.

Sing the LORD’s ways, not only private wins. His counsel and kindness are public theme for grateful mouths.

Reformed

Calvin: let them sing of Jehovah’s ways; great is His glory—the spread of praise matches the greatness of the God who spoke and saved.

Ways of the LORD are matter for song because His glory is great. Gentile lips join what His word has made known.

Psalms 138:6

6For though the LORD is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but he knows the proud from afar.

Arminian

High, yet He regards the lowly; the haughty He knows only from afar. Condescension invites the humble; pride finds distance.

We approach God in lowliness. God’s height does not cancel His regard for those who bow; haughtiness still meets His knowing scrutiny.

Reformed

Calvin: greatness does not prevent respect to the poor; highly exalted, He still notices what seems far off—fatherly care without losing reverence for majesty.

Do not let divine majesty erase goodness, nor mercy erase awe. The high God governs the lowly near; He is not an Epicurean absentee.

Key contrast Both confess that the high LORD regards the lowly and knows the haughty from afar. Arminian readers typically stress the pastoral invitation: humble yourselves and find regard. Reformed readers stress providence—God’s exalted glory never cancels His near government of the poor, nor His distant disdain of proud self-exaltation.

Psalms 138:7

7Though I walk in the middle of trouble, you will revive me. You will stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies. Your right hand will save me.

Arminian

In mid-trouble He preserves; His hand against enemies’ wrath; right hand delivers. Trouble is deeply felt; so is rescue.

Walk through trouble calling on Him. Preservation and deliverance are gifts to trust and seek, not grounds for denial of danger.

Reformed

Calvin: faith’s office is to see life in the midst of death; God revives, stretches His hand against wrath, and saves by an invincible right hand.

Believers are not promised a path beyond all arrows, but a Preserver in the conflict. One foot toward the grave still flees under His wings.

Psalms 138:8

8The LORD will fulfill that which concerns me. Your loving kindness, LORD, endures forever. Don’t forsake the works of your own hands.

Arminian

Wesley: perfect—finish the great work of deliverance; forsake not—do not give over salvation advanced by His power, not human help.

Ask Him to complete what He began. Steadfast love forever grounds hope; the plea refuses presumption and passivity alike.

Reformed

Calvin: Jehovah will perform for me—mercy everlasting; He does not leave His work unfinished. What free grace began, unchangeable goodness carries on; pray so indolence does not bar the stream.

Confidence that He perfects salvation strengthens prayer rather than breeding sloth. Gifts and calling without repentance (Rom 11:29) meet the cry, Do not forsake Your handiwork.

Key contrast Both hear the LORD fulfilling purpose and enduring love, with a honest plea not to forsake His work. Arminian commentators stress finishing deliverance/salvation already advanced by God’s power as something the believer must keep seeking. Reformed interpreters stress God’s unchangeable mercy completing what He began—assurance that fuels prayer, not human self-finish.

Historic quotes

Voices from both camps

Classic comment on wholehearted praise, magnified word, answered cry, regard for the lowly, and the LORD finishing His work, from both sides of the debate.

Arminian Notable voices

“The gods—Before kings and princes. 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. The kings—A prophecy of the calling of the Gentiles. Hear—The gospel preached among them. The ways—His wonderful counsel and gracious providences. 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.”

John Wesley · Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (on Psalm 138)

Reformed Notable voices

“David, remembering singular help and the experience of God’s faithfulness and goodness, stirs himself to gratitude and from known faithfulness anticipates continuance of mercy. I will praise thee with my whole heart—sincerity, not empty words; before the angels (or eminent assembly) he will sing. He singles out mercy and truth: nothing more stimulates thanksgiving than free mercy, and we cannot taste it lively otherwise than through the word. Thou hast magnified thy name above all things by thy word—God’s name exalted by faithfully performing free promises. In the day I cried thou answeredst—escape was not fortuitous; prayer discovers His goodness. Though Jehovah is high, He regards the lowly; distance does not prevent His fatherly care. Should I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me—faith sees life in the midst of death. Jehovah will perform for me: His mercy is everlasting; He will not forsake the works of His hands. What He has begun He will perfect; betake yourself to prayer that indolence may not bar the stream of His goodness.”

John Calvin · Commentary on the Book of Psalms (on Psalm 138)

Quotations lightly abridged for length; wording follows standard English editions of the sources named.

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