Psalm 138 is one of thankfulness and praise. David begins, “I will give thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart.” The “whole heart” is one which is fully dedicated, committed to the Lord; it is one which vigilantly resists all temptations of sin and diligently defends the truth of the Gospel. It is not a heart that speaks well of the Lord on one day and fulfills selfish passions the next; it is not one which knows “Christian language” yet lives in sinful choices. To be thankful with the “whole heart” is to recognize the truth of the Lord of glory; to admit that all we are and all we have is given to us from the Lord’s gracious hand; to choose to believe His Word and to walk in harmony with His Word in all things and at all times. It is realizing that all things are sovereignly designed by God for our good and for His eternal glory.
David concludes this Psalm in testifying, “The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever…” Knowing this, our thanks to the Lord can overflow with joy and peace. In ever instance of our lives the Lord has been fulfilling His purpose for us. There may have been difficult times we have faced, heart-wrenching trials, tiring temptations, but the Lord has worked through all of them to prepare us for this day and days to come. The LORD is now fulfilling His purpose for us. Therefore, we can rest in whatever our situation is of this day, our Lord is at work. We may not understand the “why” of today’s events or begin to understand “how” they can possibly be for good when they may seem so bad from our perspective. But, we can have the absolute confidence that our Lord is now fulfilling His purpose in our lives, and that it is always good. Also, we can walk through this day knowing the Lord will fulfill His purpose in our lives throughout our future. We can plan for our future days and hope for our dreams to be fulfilled. But, whatever happens, we can know our Lord is fulfilling His purpose for us, and that it will ever be good and will bring glory to His Name. Therefore, may we now “give thanks” with our “whole heart” to our Lord and Savior.
Sovereign Ruler of the skies.
Ever gracious, ever wise;
All my times are in they hand,
All events at thy command.
His decree who formed the earth
Fixed my first and second birth;
Parents, native place and time,
All appointed were by him.
He that formed me in the womb,
He shall guide me to the tomb;
All my times shall ever be
Ordered by his wise decree.
Times of sickness; times of health;
Times of penury and wealth;
Times of trial and of grief;
Times of triumph and relief;
Times the tempter’s power to prove;
Times to taste the Saviour’s love;
All must come, and last, and end,
As shall please my heavenly friend.
Plagues and deaths around me fly;
Till he bids, I cannot die;
Not a single shaft can hit,
Till the God of love sees fit.
John Ryland
Trusting in the Lord’s purpose – we have much to be thankful for –
Terry Burlingame
My Morning Desk 