Psalm 138 begins with thanksgiving and worship wholeheartedly directed toward the LORD. This is thanksgiving for the LORD’s steadfast love and faithfulness. The LORD has exalted above all things His name and His word. That is the beginning of the Psalm.
Psalm 138:1-2
I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise;
I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name
for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.
The Psalm ends with a promise, again grounded in the LORD’s steadfast love that endures forever. The promise is that the LORD will fulfill His purpose for the writer. The writer here is King David, and, of course, the promise is not only for David but also for you and me.
This brings us to consider the push in our day for each of us to fulfill our purpose in life. There are books written about how to find and fulfill our purpose. The cultural message is that we need to be the ones fulfilling our purpose. This view considers the individual to be the primary mover in fulfilling one’s purpose. The psalmist, inspired by the Holy Spirit, doesn’t say it that way. The promise is that the LORD will fulfill His purpose for you. The LORD will do it. The LORD is the primary mover in fulfilling His purpose for you and me. This promise is tied to the LORD’s steadfast love that endures forever. So the promise never fails. We fail, but the promise never fails.
As we consider purpose for our lives, this Psalm is a great encouragement to us. In it we see that the LORD’s purpose for our lives will be accomplished. Not one instant of our lives will be wasted. All things must work to accomplish the LORD’s purpose. His purpose for our lives is our purpose. Be encouraged.
Psalm 138:8
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.
Thank you for reading.