1 Of David. I will give you thanks with all my heart; before the gods I will make music to you.
Jerome · AD 420 I will confess to you, O Lord, with my whole heart. As the wounds are, so too is the poultice. For just as the body has various wounds, so too the soul has its passions and its wounds; and against sin we ought to perform a corresponding repentance. If someone confesses for all his sins, that man confesses to the Lord with his whole heart.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 The title of this Psalm is brief and simple, and need not detain us; since we know whose resemblance David wore, and since in him we recognise ourselves also, for we too are members of that Body. The whole title is, "To David himself." Let us see then, what is to David himself.
Bede · AD 735 It is no secret that angels are frequently present, invisibly, at the side of the elect, in order to defend them from the snares of the cunning enemy and uphold them by the great gift of heavenly desire.
A Thankful Heart 2 I will bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your loyal love and for your faithfulness, for you have magnified your saying above all your name.
Jerome · AD 420 Upon your mercy and your truth. Let the sinner hear "mercy," but let the just and proud man hear "truth."
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "I will worship toward Your holy Temple" [Psalm 138:2]. What holy Temple? That where we shall dwell, where we shall worship. For we hasten that we may adore. Our heart is pregnant and comes to the birth, and seeks where it may bring forth.
3 In the day I called, you answered me; you made me bold with strength in my soul.
Jerome · AD 420 You will multiply strength in my soul. You will multiply: that is, that the soul is subject to many anxieties.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "In what day soever I call upon Thee, do Thou quickly hear me" (ver. 3). Wherefore, "quickly"? Because Thou hast said, "While yet thou art speaking I will say, Lo, here I am." Wherefore, "quickly"? Because now I seek not earthly happiness, I have learnt holy longings from the New Testament.
4 All the kings of the earth will give you thanks, LORD, for they have heard the sayings of your mouth.
Jerome · AD 420 Let all the kings of the earth confess to you, O Lord. The kings of the earth are those who reign in sin. Therefore let those very ones confess, who reign in sin. For he is not speaking of the kings of this world. For it is written: "The heart of the king is in the hand of God." Do you suppose that the heart of the most impious Julian was in the hand of God? God forbid.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "Let all the kings of the earth confess to Thee, O Lord" (ver. 4). So shall it be, and so it is, and that daily; and it is shown that it was not said in vain, save that it was future. But neither let them, when they confess to Thee, when they praise Thee, desire earthly things of Thee. For what shall the kings of the earth desire? Have they not already sovereignty?
5 And they will sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.
Jerome · AD 420 And let them sing in the ways of the Lord. The philosophers of this world did not sing in the ways of the Lord, but we sing in the ways of the Lord, that is, in Moses and Isaiah and Jeremiah: and from these ways we come to that way which says, "I am the way."
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "And let them sing in the paths of the Lord, that great is the glory of the Lord" [Psalm 138:5]. Let all the kings of the earth sing in the paths of the Lord. In what paths? Those that are spoken of above, "in Your mercy and Your truth." Let not then the kings of the earth be proud, let them be humble.
6 For the LORD is high, yet he sees the lowly, and the haughty he knows from afar.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 Perhaps because [the psalm] said, "The Lord is sublime and observes lowly things," you say to yourself, "Then he does not observe me." What could be more unfortunate than you, if he does not observe you but ignores you? Observing indicates compassion; ignoring indicates contempt.
Caesarius of Arles · AD 542 Today we are keeping the solemn festival of the ascension. If, therefore, we celebrate the Lord's ascension in a manner that is right, holy, faithful, devout and pious, we must ascend with him and lift up our hearts. Now as we ascend, let us not be lifted up with pride or presume on our merits as if they were our own.
7 Though I walk in the midst of distress, you give me life; against the anger of my enemies you stretch out your hand, and your right hand saves me.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "If I walk in the midst of tribulation, You shall revive me" [Psalm 138:7]. True it is: whatsoever tribulation you are in, confess, call on Him; He frees you, He revives you....Love the other life, and you shall see that this life is tribulation, whatever prosperity it shine with, whatever delights it abound and overflow with; since not yet have we that joy most safe and free f…
8 The LORD will complete what concerns me. LORD, your loyal love is forever; do not let go of the works of your hands.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "Thou, Lord, shalt recompense for me" (ver. 8). I recompense not: Thou shalt recompense. Let mine enemies rage their full: Thou shall recompense what I cannot.