A Better Way to Pray
Psalm 138 is a song of thanks with a final line of appeal. The Psalmist has a a number of good reasons for gratitude:
Psalm 138:1 (ESV) I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;
The Psalmist is going to thank God with all His heart.
I remember reading somewhere that confession and thankfulness are the same word in Hebrew. Because they both imply that you need someone else. To confess need is to say thanks. That's what we do when we thank God - we confess our need of Him.
He's thankful that God is true to His Word.
Psalm 138:2 (NLT) I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.
This verse is particularly difficult in Hebrew. It literally says, "you have exalted your word above all your name." Translators try to fix it by adding an "and" between "your word" AND "your name" but they shouldn't. The verse is saying God's Word is trustworthy! He can be counted on to be faithful to what He has said.
He's thankful because God is the sure source of strength.
Psalm 138:3 (NLT) As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.
He's thankful that God is caring toward those who depend upon Him:
Psalm 138:6 (NLT) Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud.
He's thankful that God is watching over Him and will fulfill His purpose for him in spite of what may come against him:
Psalm 138:7–8 (NLT) Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me. 8 The Lord will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.
Those are great reasons for thankfulness. And they give us reason to sing.
BUT... Did you see the last line? It's a request.
"Don’t abandon me, for you made me."
I think this last phrase of the Psalm speaks volumes to how we should pray and lay out our requests to God... We should pray with a thankful and confident heart - because we know that God is certain to accomplish His purpose and care for His people.
How much of our prayers are no more than worrying in God's direction? Instead, we should thankfully approach Him because how much we KNOW He cares for us!
Paul picks this up in 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (NLT) Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Our prayers should be filled with thanks even when surrounded by those who hate us because nothing can stop God's purpose for us!
Psalm 138:1 (ESV) I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;
The Psalmist is going to thank God with all His heart.
I remember reading somewhere that confession and thankfulness are the same word in Hebrew. Because they both imply that you need someone else. To confess need is to say thanks. That's what we do when we thank God - we confess our need of Him.
He's thankful that God is true to His Word.
Psalm 138:2 (NLT) I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.
This verse is particularly difficult in Hebrew. It literally says, "you have exalted your word above all your name." Translators try to fix it by adding an "and" between "your word" AND "your name" but they shouldn't. The verse is saying God's Word is trustworthy! He can be counted on to be faithful to what He has said.
He's thankful because God is the sure source of strength.
Psalm 138:3 (NLT) As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.
He's thankful that God is caring toward those who depend upon Him:
Psalm 138:6 (NLT) Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud.
He's thankful that God is watching over Him and will fulfill His purpose for him in spite of what may come against him:
Psalm 138:7–8 (NLT) Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me. 8 The Lord will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.
Those are great reasons for thankfulness. And they give us reason to sing.
BUT... Did you see the last line? It's a request.
"Don’t abandon me, for you made me."
I think this last phrase of the Psalm speaks volumes to how we should pray and lay out our requests to God... We should pray with a thankful and confident heart - because we know that God is certain to accomplish His purpose and care for His people.
How much of our prayers are no more than worrying in God's direction? Instead, we should thankfully approach Him because how much we KNOW He cares for us!
Paul picks this up in 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (NLT) Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Our prayers should be filled with thanks even when surrounded by those who hate us because nothing can stop God's purpose for us!
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