Bible Study - No Other Name (2) - Psalm 138:1-8 - December 10, 2023

 

Bible Study – No Other Name (2) – December 10, 2023

GOD is majestic and exalted by everything HE does.

Our focus scripture is Psalm 138:1-8.

What is our attitude toward GOD?

David expressed his gratitude to GOD. As we read Psalm138, what is our message from GOD?

When we consider human life, it is a mystery. How does GOD communicate with us? In many different ways. GOD gets our attention, and HE then speaks. Do you recall last week’s study? GOD spoke to Moses out of a burning bush first and then audibly.

GOD gives us enquiring minds. When we discover how awesome HE is, our nature is to praise HIM.

David wrote a number of Psalms. In this Psalm, David wrote he would hold nothing back in his praise to the one True GOD of the world and Universe. Let’s consider what comes from the heart of David, a man after GOD’S own heart. Yet, we know that David committed some very grievous sins. He confessed his sins and GOD forgave him, but he had to suffer the consequence of his sins.

David’s ancestry is listed as being part of JESUS’ ancestral line. If you or I wrote a psalm of praise, what would we say to express our true hearts to GOD and JESUS? Some may say, “the things I would say would not be pretty!” Then, tell GOD the truth that is your heart and ask HIM to help you see your issues through HIS eyes. You may have asked but nothing happened. Were you listening or looking for HIS answer? Ask Him again and listen and look. You will be surprised. GOD’S Word tells us in Mathew 7:7 ⁷ “Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door^[a] will be opened to you.”

Let’s read Psalm 138:1-3:

A Thankful Heart

Of David.

¹ I will give you thanks with all my heart;
I will sing your praise before the heavenly beings.^[a]
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name
for your constant love and truth.
You have exalted your name
and your promise above everything else.^[b]
3 On the day I called, you answered me;
you increased strength within me.^[c]

David begins this Psalm declaring before GOD that he, himself, has searched his own heart and he gives GOD thanks without any hidden purpose or agenda on his part. David’s desire is to sing a song of praise before all, including all fellow humans and heavenly beings. These words are coming from a knowledge base of knowing there is both the real world and a spirit world. David sang his praises to GOD because GOD is over all.

Not only did David praise GOD’S name, he bowed down to GOD WHO resides in the Temple.

David gave thanks to GOD because GOD’S name is Holy and HIS name sets HIM apart from all other names. How did David know this? It was because when David called out to GOD, HE answered him and strengthened him. Therefore, David knew GOD was real. David had experienced GOD in real life.

This reminds me of an illustration. A man was falling off a cliff. He prayed and asked GOD to save him, when all of a sudden there was a large root sticking out from the side of the cliff that caught onto his pants and stopped him. The man than replied to GOD, “never mind this root caught me.” Often, we overlook the common things in life and don’t recognize them as coming from GOD. GOD is in all things, bringing about the results HE wants for us, as HE directs our lives as HIS Children or HIS future Children. Timing is vital as we journey through life. Timing is often the difference between a bad injury or death. Also, where a person is at certain time or place, can make a vast difference in the outcome of a situation. Have you ever come upon a bad accident on the highway and thought, “If I had been a few seconds sooner, I might have been involved.”

David recognized that GOD was worthy of his praise and his praise to GOD came from a heart that had no hidden agenda. It came from a pure heart of praise and adoration of the one true GOD.

Let’s read Psalm 138:4-5:

⁴ All the kings on earth will give you thanks, Lord,
when they hear what you have promised.^[d]
5 They will sing of the Lord’s ways,
for the Lord’s glory is great.

When those in authority upon earth hear YOU, they will know that YOU are real and they will sing of YOUR ways and that YOUR Glory is great and above all that they once thought was great. As a result, they will sing of YOUR ways and know that YOUR glory is greater than any other glory, including theirs.

They will want to tell others of your majesty and others will listen.

This is true for all of us who have been Spirit-born.

Let’s Read Psalm 138:6-8:

⁶ Though the Lord is exalted,
he takes note of the humble;
but he knows the haughty from a distance.

⁷ If I walk into the thick of danger,
you will preserve my life
from the anger of my enemies.
You will extend your hand;
your right hand will save me.
⁸ The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me.
Lord, your faithful love endures forever;
do not abandon the work of your hands.

GOD knows the heart of every person. Are we playing a game with GOD to get the material things of the world? GOD knows who is earnest and those who aren’t. We cannot fool GOD because HE knows our true heart.

Where does a person know the truth of his/her relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS? In the “eyes of his/her heart”. In the “eyes of our heart” resides truth. Are you a Spirit-born Christian or playing a game with GOD. GOD knows the truth. HE knows your heart.

You do not want to have JESUS to tell you, after you are dead and you meet HIM for HIM to tell you, “Depart from ME because, I never knew you!”

The LORD knows fake from a long way off “Though the Lord is exalted,
he takes note of the humble; but he knows the haughty from a distance.”

You can fool people but you will never fool GOD because HE knows our true heart.

Get to know GOD. Talk to HIM just as you would to another person and then listen. Read GOD’S Word, the Holy Bible and listen for the still small voice of GOD to speak to you.

If you have never made a profession of faith, do so now by asking JESUS to forgive you for your sins and asking JESUS to come into your heart. When you do, an eternal conversion takes place within you. GOD’S eternal Spirit unites with your human spirit and the miracle of Spiritual rebirth takes place quicker than the twinkle of your eye.

Let’s read John 3:1-9:

3 There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ² This man came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.”

³ Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again,^[a] he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

⁴ “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?”

⁵ Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. ⁸ The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So, it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

⁹ “How can these things be?” asked Nicodemus.

The beginning journey for all Christians is Spiritual birth. Have you asked JESUS to forgive you for your sins and for HIM to come into your heart? If not. Why not now? Eternity is just one heartbeat away!

When we learn what a gift or gifts we have through the miracle of Spiritual birth, we should want to share it/them with others.

Blessings!!!