Psalms 138:8

8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Psalms 138:8 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 138:8

The Lord will perfect [that which] concerneth me
Or "will", or "may the Lord perform for me" F24: all things in providence; all that he had appointed for him, that would be for his good and his own glory, ( Psalms 57:2 ) ; and particularly what concerned him as a king. He had made him king over the house of Judah; he had begun to fulfil his promise concerning the kingdom; and he would perfect it, by setting him over all the tribes of Israel. Also he believed he would perfect what concerned him as a saint, even the good work of grace upon his heart; which is but a begun work, is imperfect, is gradually carried on, and will be completed; God is able to do it, and none can hinder him; he has promised to do it, and he is faithful who will do it; and his glory is concerned in it; and it may be depended on it will be finished; he is a rock, and his work is perfect; see ( Philippians 1:6 ) ;

thy mercy, O Lord, [endureth] for ever;
a phrase often used by the psalmist, with which his heart was affected; and here used, both as an argument by which he concluded God would perfect his begun work, and as an encouragement to make the following request:

forsake not the works of thine own hands;
as are all the works of providence and grace: the work of grace upon the heart may be expressed in the plural number, because of the several branches of it; which are all so many works, as the work of faith, labour, of love ( 1 Thessalonians 1:3 ) ; and which is the Lord's handiwork; and a curious work it is, a new creation work, a work of almighty power; and which he will never cease from, or be remiss in, as the word F25 signifies, until he has accomplished it, ( 2 Thessalonians 1:11 ) . It is a prayer of faith, and may be most confidently believed: and some indeed render it as an expression of faith, "thou wilt not forsake the works of thine hands" F26; David himself was the work of God's hands, as Kimchi observes, as a creature, as a king, and as a saint; and so are all the people of God, ( Isaiah 45:11 ) ; and whom he will never leave nor forsake; for they are his church, his chosen, his children, his portion and inheritance, ( Psalms 94:14 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F24 (ydeb rmgy) "perficiet pro me", Montanus, Musculus; "perficiat pro me", Junius & Tremellius.
F25 (Prt la) "ne dimittas", Pagninus, Montanus.
F26 "Non deseres", Musculus, Piscator.

Psalms 138:8 In-Context

6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly; but the haughty he perceives from far away.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me.
8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.