Salmos 138
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Salmos 138:1-3
138:1-3 This strophe outlines what the psalmist will do (four IMPERFECTS used in a COHORTATIVE sense), while Ps. 138:4-6 reflects what the nations should do. I will give You thanks ‒ BDB 392, KB 389, Hiphil IMPERFECT used in a COHORTATIVE sense (LXX adds YHWH to line 1 of v. 1). I will sing praises to You ‒ BDB 274, KB 273, Piel IMPERFECT used in a COHORTATIVE sense I will bow down towards Your holy temple ‒ BDB 1005, KB 295, Hishtaphel IMPERFECT used in a COHORTATIVE I give thanks to ‒ same as #1 YHWH answered him on the day he prayed and continues to answer him because he is a faithful follower emboldened and strengthened by YHWH, Ps. 138:3b of the character of YHWH His name, Ps. 138:2b,c His lovingkindness, Ps. 138:2b His faithfulness, Ps. 138:2b His word, Ps. 138:2c Notice the number of times the "k" sound closes words in Ps. 138:1-2. I will give You thanks, Ps. 138:1 I will sing Your praise, Ps. 138:1 holy, Ps. 138:2 Your name, Ps. 138:2 Your lovingkindness, Ps. 138:2 Your truth/faithfulness, Ps. 138:2 Your name, Ps. 138:2 Your word, Ps. 138:2 138:1 "with all my heart" This is a Hebrew idiom of total dedication (cf. Ps. 86:12; 111:1). This was a way of showing the difference between the faith/faithfulness of David ‒ a whole heart (before Bathsheba and later after the terrible episode) Solomon ‒ a divided heart (when he was old) Sin was not the issue, all humans sin (see note at Ps. 130:3-4), but continuing faith and repentance. Relationship with YHWH is the key, not performance based on human efforts. SPECIAL TOPIC: HEART ▣ "before the gods" This could be viewed in two ways. the throne room of heaven (i.e., temple worship) is where the psalmist makes his faith songs known (i.e., the heavenly council, Ps. 82:1; 89:7-8; 95:3; 96:4; 97:9; see SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVENLY COUNCIL) that YHWH is the only true God (see SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM), which was Israel's uniqueness in the ANE see the different uses of the term elohim, see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C. "Elohim" 138:2 "toward Your holy temple" Jews and Muslims prayed toward Jerusalem (later Muslims changed to Mecca). This was the place where the one true God chose to dwell (cf. Exod. 20:24; Deut. 12:5,11,13; 26:2), between the wings of the cherubim on the ark of the covenant (cf. Exod. 25:22) in the Holy of Holies. It was the place where heaven and earth met. If David's reign is the historical setting, then "temple" should be understood as "ark," housed in the "tabernacle." Israelites prayed when physically away from Jerusalem facing Jerusalem (cf. Dan 6:10) when in the temple facing the ark (cf. Ps. 28:2) SPECIAL TOPIC: CHERUBIM SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ARK OF THE COVENANT ▣ "Your name" See SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME OF YHWH (OT). ▣ "lovingkindness" See SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS (hesed). ▣ NASB, NKJV, Peshitta "truth" NRSV, TEV, JPSOA, REB "faithfulness" "constancy" The term's (BDB 54) meaning can be seen in use of this powerful theological VERB (BDB 52). Notice how the psalmist magnifies YHWH's name (special covenant name) YHWH's covenant loyalty YHWH's truth which is trustworthy SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH AND FAITHFULNESS IN THE OT ▣ "Your word" See SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR GOD'S REVELATION. ▣ "according to all" NKJV, JPSOA "above all" LXX, Peshitta "above every" This phrase is unclear in Hebrew (JPSOA). It may relate to "before the gods" of Ps. 138:1b. It is also possible that it relates to "the kings of the earth" in Ps. 138:4. Whatever the specific referent, in the mind of the psalmist it magnified the person of Israel's Deity. His characteristics are supreme (NJB). SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT) SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (NT) 138:3 YHWH's answer (IMPERATIVE) to the psalmist's prayer was (two IMPERFECT VERBS) make him bold (lit. "arrogant," BDB 923) but in this context the unique use of the Hiphil IMPERFECT, "bold" is the intended meaning The UBS Text Project (p. 421) gives the MT (BDB 923, רהב) a "B" rating (some doubt) and mentions the emendation of the RSV, NRSV, which suggests "multiply" or "increase" (BDB 915, רבה). "with strength" ‒ the NOUN, BDB 738, denotes strength or courage What a difference repentant, faithful prayer makes. Prayer affects us and God. SPECIAL TOPIC: INTERCESSORY PRAYER ▣ "On the day" Here is a good example of the figurative use of "day" (yom). SPECIAL TOPIC: DAY (yom) ▣ "soul" See full note on nephesh (BDB 659) at Gen. 35:18 online at www.freebiblecommentary.org. SPECIAL TOPIC: NEPHESH
Salmos 138:4-6
138:4-6 As Ps. 138:1-3 described the psalmist's prayers and YHWH's responses, now this strophe addresses the nations (i.e., "all the kings of the earth"). they will give thanks ‒ BDB 392, KB 389, Hiphil IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense they will sing of YHWH's ways ‒ BDB 1010, KB 1479, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense The reason for the idiom is YHWH's revelation (i.e., words) YHWH's ways (i.e., exalts the lowly, judges the haughty), Ps. 138:6 YHWH's great glory (see SPECIAL TOPIC: GLORY (kabod, OT)) 138:4 "All the kings of the earth" The OT discusses the nations under several categories. YHWH and His Messiah's possession ‒ Ps. 2:8; 82:8; Rev. 11:15 their fear/judgment ‒ Ps. 72:11; 102:15; Isa. 49:23 their worship ‒ Ps. 22:27; 66:4; 86:9; 138:4; Isa. 66:23; Rev. 15:4 SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN 138:6 "He knows" This VERB is often used in the sense of intimate personal relationship, as well as cognitive knowledge. See SPECIAL TOPIC: KNOW.
Salmos 138:7-8
138:7-8 The psalmist alludes to his current situation. I walk in the midst of trouble, Ps. 138:7 (this is hinted at in Ps. 138:3) he has wrathful enemies, Ps. 138:7b; it is never certain who these enemies are fellow Israelites pagan neighbors AB (pp. 275-276) asserts that this Psalm is best interpreted as a royal Psalm in David's reign because of the lexical and grammatical links to Ugaritic poetry. "what concerns me," Ps. 138:8a. This, too, is unspecified but the context implies a spiritual or religious motive the use of the word "revive" (lit. "keep me alive") implies the enemies were attempting to kill him he became ill 138:7 "walk" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PATH, THE WAY ▣ "Your right hand" This was an idiom for power, authority. See SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND. ▣ "save me" In the OT this refers to physical deliverance. See SPECIAL TOPIC: SALVATION (OT). 138:8a "will accomplish what concerns me" "will perfect that which concerns me" "will fulfill his purposes for me" "will accomplish his purpose for me" "will do all things for me" "will settle accounts for me" "will do everything you have promised" "rest Your right hand upon me" "will repay on my behalf" "avenges me" Well, by the variety you can see the phrase is uncertain and ambiguous. A promise to all faithful followers we all have a Divine purpose (cf. Ps. 57:2; Phil. 1:6) the object of our faith will accomplish/fulfill His purpose in us YHWH acting as the Kinsman Redeemer (see SPECIAL TOPIC: KINSMAN REDEEMER in the covenant sense of Phil. 2:12e-13 the NET Bible assumes an alternate VERB meaning, found in KB 197 רמג ‒ BDB 170, Qal stem, "complete," "accomplish" רמג ‒ KB 297, Qal stem, "avenge" 138:8b "Lovingkindness" See SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS (hesed). ▣ "O Lord" This is the covenant name for Israel's God. See SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. ▣ "everlasting" This term has a wide semantic field and must be interpreted in context. See SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam). 138:8c "Do not forsake the works of Your hands" The VERB (BDB 951, KB 1276, Hiphil JUSSIVE) denotes YHWH's faithfulness to His purposes. The phrase "work of Your hands" is a Hebrew idiom for YHWH's creation of mankind in His image/likeness (cf. Gen. 1:26-27; 2:1-7).