Great Is God's Glory (Psalms 138)
by Johnny Ramsey

    Truly, the Bible often puts the spotlight on the praise and adoration we ought to manifest toward our Maker. In Psalms 138 we have a noble example of this marvelous expression of loyalty toward Jehovah:

Yea, they shall sing in the ways
of the Lord: for great is the
glory of the Lord. . .

    Ten sections later, in Psalms 148, we have the basis for the famous hymn we have known since childhood:

Let them praise the name of the
Lord, for His name alone is
excellent; His glory is above the
earth and heaven. Praise ye the Lord!

    We should exalt Deity with our whole heart and not with timidity or hesitation (Jeremiah 29:13). With rich exuberance and not halting apology our sincere gratitude must flow from grateful spirits.

    Today we ardently sing:

To God be the glory,
Great things He hath done;
So loved He the world that
He gave us His Son. . .

    What a debt we owe to such noble and generous giving toward mankind. Where would we be were it not for such beneficent grace? An old hymn reminds us:

Again the Lord of light and life
Awakes the kindling ray,
Unseals the eyelids of the morn,
And pours increasing day.
Let gladness dwell in every heart,
And praise, on every tongue. . .

    Verse six, of Psalms 138, enriches our concepts of what genuine concern by the Creator is all about:

Though the Lord be high, yet hath
He respect unto the lowly: but the
proud He knoweth afar off.

    God is not impressed with arrogance and earthly fame. Truth, humility and sincerity are richly blessed by our Father above. In this beautiful and encouraging Psalm 138 we are told that our sorrow and trouble reaches heaven and touches the heart of Deity. He does indeed see our tears and hear our prayers (Isaiah 38:5). W. H. Clark wrote memorable words in song:

All praise to Him who reigns above
In majesty supreme;
Who gave His Son for man to die
That He might man redeem.

    In the very last verse of this brief Psalm we learn anew that the mercy of the Lord endureth forever. We dare not live in such a manner that we miss such comfort! May we be sustained by the presence of God in our daily walk and loyally pursue the sunlight of divine love.


How can we give glory to the Lord?

    1. Live in such a way as to draw men to Him.

    2. Learn the Bible so thoroughly we can teach it.

    3. Sing praises to Him fervently and joyously.

    4. Strengthen new Christians by noble examples.

    5. Pray in deeper and richer words of meaning.

    6. Bring wayward members back to God.

    7. Convert our neighbors to Jesus!

    Such spiritual endeavors will cause rejoicing in heaven (Luke 15:10). L. O. Sanderson challenged us:

Bring Christ your broken life,
So marred by sin,
He will create anew,
Make whole again. . .

    To God be the glory!