Dr. Christopher Graham

Pentecost +13 2026
Dr. Christopher Graham
Psalm 138

On November 19, 1863, people gathered in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to dedicate the Soldiers’ National Cemetery. The then-famous headline orator, Edward Everett, had spoken over two hours. President Abraham Lincoln then stood and used about 270 words in only 10 sentences to offer his address. In the days following the event, Everett wrote to Lincoln: “I wish that I could flatter myself that I had come as near to the central idea of the occasion in two hours as you did in two minutes.”

The Gettysburg Address: 270 words. The Psalm this morning as we have it before us is 173 words. Like last week’s psalm (Psalm 67), it is short. And like last week’s psalm, it is quite straightforward. As I said at the beginning of our series on the psalms, one danger in preaching on the psalms is overthinking or overanalyzing a psalm such as this, and, in doing so, removing its musical, rhetorical oomph. This morning you are going to help me from overdoing that.

Let me explain: Psalm 138 is a thanksgiving psalm that is rooted in God’s action in the psalmist’s experience in the past, which gives hope for the future. Notice verse 3: When I called upon you, you heard me; and gave me increase of strength.

This Psalm is a result of David looking back on a time when he called on the Lord. And the Lord answered! It’s not the angst-filled supplication seeking God’s action when the psalmist is in a tight spot, nor the lament when God is not answering the psalmist’s cries. This is the testimony of the psalmist that God has heard and has acted. There is a strange phenomenon in my home. When I sleep, I sleep hard. I can sleep through storms, noises, with the light on . . . But all Jill or one of my kids has to do is say “Christopher.” She can even whisper “Christopher” from another room. And I am awake and ready for action.

I know that this congregation has seen God work in your lives in this way. And so, here is how we are going to proceed. As I work through the Psalm and draw out a few observations that may be helpful as you reflect on it this week, you are going to help me from getting too deep by testifying about God’s work in your life. All you have to do is this. If you can relate to the psalmist and can testitfy to this in your life, stand up or raise your hand to get my attention. Start with the words from the psalm: When I called upon you, you heard me; and gave me increase of strength. If you then give us a reader’s digest or Twitter-sized testimony.

Anyone want to offer one now? Alright, anytime, stand up or raise a hand. I’ll pause and give you the floor.

With the memory of what God has done in the past, the psalmist is compelled to give thanks. Verses 1 and 2:

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart; * even before the gods will I sing praises to you.

I will worship toward your holy temple and praise your Name because of your loving-kindness and truth;

for you have magnified your Name and your word above all things.

Notice first the deeply personal nature of this section. The use of personal pronouns: I/You, I /You. The Lord’s love and faithfulness is not a general idea but has been displayed in his relationship with David. Growing up I sang this chorus:

Lord I praise you, because of who you are Not for all the mighty things that you have done Lord, I worship you, because of who you are You’re all the reason that I need to voice my praise Because of who you are.

That’s a great song that certainly fits other psalms, but it’s not Psalm 138. Remember, this is the psalm of one who has experienced God. It is precisely because of what God has done that elicits David’s praise.

Notice also how the work of God compels the psalmist’s whole being…my whole heart/bow down/sing praise. “Bless the Lord all my soul . . . and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”

And this thanksgiving is not constrained to those in the congregation. Verse 1: even before the gods will I sing praises to you. David stands before the “Elohim” – Either angelic beings or pagan gods. Either way, David is aware that in addressing God he testifying to the cosmos. It’s Buddy the Elf bursting into the room declaring before a room full of executives, “I’m in love, I’m in love and I don’t care who knows it!” But even in their midst, David still keep his orientation towards God.

In the second movement, David reflects on the nature of God’s relation to us:

4 All the kings of the earth shall praise you O Lord; * for they have heard the words of your mouth.

5They shall sing of the ways of the Lord;* that great is the glory of the Lord.

6 For though the Lord be high, yet he has respect for the lowly;* as for the proud, he beholds them from afar.

Clearly, David indicates that God is pleased with humility and not pride. But more than that, there is a paradox here: the ones who, by their position, are closest to God and can in fact declare the glory of the Lord are the ones who are low—positionally and in posture of heart who receive help from the Lord.

This reminds me of several places in the Gospels where we see this at work in relation to those around Jesus. The ones who are closest to him, don’t get it. But those who need help the most do get it. Consider, for example, the encounters Mark records (Mark 10: 35–52). Jesus first has an encounter with those closest to him—his disciples. Jesus asks James and John, “What can I do for you?”, and they say “Let each of us sit at your right hand and the other at your left when you come into your glory.” Jesus responds, “But to sit on My right or on My left is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” The scene broadens to the bickering disciples to which Jesus says “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them; and their people in high position exercise authority over them. But it is not this way among you; rather, whoever wants to become [u]prominent among you shall be your servant; and whoever wants to be

first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Immediately Jesus sets out and “a beggar who was blind named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road.” Jesus asks him the exact same question that he asked James and John: “What do you want Me to do for you?” Except this time, Jesus actually fulfills the request: And the man who was blind said to Him, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!” And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.” What is the difference, this stranger to Jesus does not ask to sit with Jesus when He comes into his glory. He presently sits before the one he knows is the Son of David.

With his experience of the Lord’s work in his past, and with his reflection on the proper posture before God, David has confidence in the future. Notice verses 7 and 8:

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, yet shall you refresh me;.

you shall stretch forth your hand upon the furiousness of my enemies, and your right hand shall save me.

The Lord shall make good his loving-kindness toward me;*

your mercy, O Lord, endures for ever; despise not the works of your own hands.

God becomes the active subject here. He is faithful to his word and will accomplish what he sets out to do. 1 Thessalonians “He who has begun a good work in you will carry it out to completion.” God has done it in the past and he can at his will do it in the future.

When I called upon you, you heard me; and gave me increase of strength. The Lord shall make good his loving-kindness toward me;