Psalm 138

“I will praise You with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing praises to You.  I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your Name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your Word above all Your Name.  In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.”  Psalm 138:1-3 (NKJV)

Boxer Mike Tyson said, “Everyone is a fighter until they get hit.”  Christians may aspire to a life of humble service, but no one likes to be treated like a servant.  We all want to be bold proclaimers of the gospel, but who takes the time to learn to articulately share their faith or risks relationships to see others come to faith?  King David, the author of today’s Psalm, was not ashamed to proclaim the greatness of God.  He did not feel the cultural pressure to be politically correct for fear of offending non-believers with his zeal for the Lord—quite the opposite.  David praised the God of Israel (the One, true God) with his whole heart before the pagan gods.

It is one thing to worship the Lord in a church service, but are we so bold out there in a world where there may be no believers around you, and people may actually be hostile toward people of faith?  The setting of today’s Psalm was not in the temple (or “Tabernacle” in David’s day).  No, David was out among the pagans, praying “toward” God’s holy temple.  It is the same level of boldness in the message that we are called to display, the kind that earns the great “Well done!”  (Matthew 25:14-30)

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.” 1 Peter 3:15-16 (NKJV)

What was the source of David’s boldness?  God’s Word!  David was so confident in the Word of the Lord that he trusted it had the power to convert the souls of even pagan kings & nations!

“All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord, when they hear the words of Your mouth.  Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord.  Though the Lord is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.” Psalm 138:4-6 (NKJV)

What if David’s gospel message were to get him into trouble or even cost him his life?  David was confident that the Lord could protect and revive him!

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me.  The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your hands.” Psalm 138:7-8 (NKJV)