Tehillim 138 | “They Will Sing of the Lords Ways”

This psalm is composed of three sections. In the first, the poet offers thanks to God, in the second he proclaims that even kings and rulers must give thanks to the Lord, and in the third he asks that just as God has begun to deliver him in the past, so too will He continue to deliver him in the future.

Dr. Beni Gesundheit offers a meaningful connection between this psalm and the one preceding it, which described the Babylonian exiles after the destruction. He suggests that this psalm stands in deliberate contrast to the situation in exile, when we refused to sing the songs of Zion before our captors. But the day will come when the redemption will be so great that the nations themselves will sing a song of praise to God.

The central theme of the praise that the nations will offer is: “For the Lord is high up, yet He sees the lowly.” (v.6) This quality touches on one of the great philosophical questions — how can a transcendent and perfect God be concerned with what happens in our world? It is a wonder, but the psalm does not attempt to resolve that philosophic question, instead it proclaims with conviction – “For the Lord is high up, yet He sees the lowly.” (v.6)  It is worth noting that God’s providence is an incomparable blessing, and yet, it can also lead to distress, as we will see in the next psalm.