You Came Down to my Level – Praise Beyond Expectation

Pastor Don Carpenter

Praise Eruption / Psalm 138:6–8

 William Barclay told of a bright young woman who contracted a crippling disease that left her partially paralyzed. She had been an outdoor person, loving sunshine and sports, but now her world had turned into shadows. One day a friend brought her a book on the theme of Christian joy, written in a vivid, radiant style. As the girl took the book in her gnarled fingers, she spoke quietly, “Certainly, I know this book.”

 Her friend replied, “Have you read it before?”

 “Yes,” replied the cripple. “You see, I wrote it.”

Jones, G. C. (1986). 1000 illustrations for preaching and teaching (p. 277). Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Welcome to the final sermon on Psalm 138: “Praise Eruption”. This God inspired song was written as an explosive emotional response to the ever increasing amount of skeptics, heathen, and doubters that plagued the Psalmist on a regular basis. As we reflect on this Psalm, we can learn from David. We saw his initial response to the opposition was a bold declaration of intent to praise. As he moved from that we say him give a detailed personal account of God’s hearing, answering, and delivering during an evil day. Last week we saw how the psalmist who was also a prophet, reflected upon a day when all the kings would be believing kings. He told of a day yet to come when every knee would bow and every tongue would sing praise. Today as this song reaches a climatic end, David focuses on a compare and contrast device. He tells us about the reasons that hope and praise would be unlikely, but shows that God comes through anyway. Many of us can echo this same sentiment back to God with a heart erupting with praise… Oh God You Came Down to My Level! We can offer an anthem of praise beyond expectation!

Even Though God Is High…

 Psalm 138:6 (KJV)

 Though the LORD be high…

Psalm 113:5 KJV

Who is like unto the LORD our God, Who dwelleth on high,

Isaiah 6:1 KJV

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

Yet He Has Respect to the Lowly

 Psalm 138:6 (KJV)

 Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: 

John Phillips in his commentary makes this observation:

 “Though the Lord be high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly: but the proud He knoweth afar off.” How high He is. “I saw … the Lord … high and lifted up,” said Isaiah. He is higher than the highest heaven, His throne is exalted above the stars. Between Him and the highest archangel of glory is a gulf so vast as to be infinite.

 How lowly we are. When Isaiah saw the Lord he became aware at once of his own despicable condition. “Woe is me,” he said, “I am undone.” Prophet that he was, gifted man that he was, confident before kings as he was, one glimpse of the Lord and Isaiah was filled with a sense of his unworthiness and shame. Even his lips, the words he spoke, horrified him. Yet the Lord had respect for him and lifted him up.1

1 Phillips, J. (2012). Exploring Psalms 89–150: An Expository Commentary (Vol. 2, Ps 138:6). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp

Isaiah 57:15 KJV

For thus saith the high and lofty One That inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, With him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

James 4:6 KJV

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

1 Peter 5:6 KJV

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

He Still Sees What the Proud Are Up To

 Psalm 138:6 (KJV)

 Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: But the proud he knoweth afar off.

But the proud. Those of lofty rank, and of lofty feelings;—the haughty.

 He knoweth afar off. From afar. Though he is exalted,—though he is in heaven,—yet he is not so far removed but that he sees them, and knows them altogether. Distance from him is no protection for them; nor can the wicked hope to escape notice from the fact that God reigns over distant worlds.1

1 Barnes, A. (1870–1872). Notes on the Old Testament: Psalms (Vol. 3, p. 289). Blackie & Son.

Psalm 1:6 KJV

For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Even Though I Walk In The Middle of Trouble…

 • David turns his words back to addressing God personally in praise.

 Psalm 138:7 (KJV)

 Though I walk in the midst of trouble…

But the proud. Those of lofty rank, and of lofty feelings;—the haughty.

He knoweth afar off. From afar. Though he is exalted,—though he is in heaven,—yet he is not so far removed but that he sees them, and knows them altogether. Distance from him is no protection for them; nor can the wicked hope to escape notice from the fact that God reigns over distant worlds.1

1 Barnes, A. (1870–1872). Notes on the Old Testament: Psalms (Vol. 3, p. 289). Blackie & Son.

 • I know how this will turn out- a declaration of worship directed to God himself.

You (God) will revive me

Psalm 119:50 KJV

This is my comfort in my affliction: For thy word hath quickened me.

He has nothing to worry about. His despondency and despair will be banished the moment he sees the situation in the light of God’s omnipotence and omniscience. No matter that he walks in the midst of trouble—an all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving God is with Him.1

1 Phillips, J. (2012). Exploring Psalms 89–150: An Expository Commentary (Vol. 2, Ps 138:7a). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.

You (God) Will Rescue Me

 Psalm 138:7 (KJV)

 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: Thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies…  

Psalm 91:2 KJV

I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God; in him will I trust.

God will stretch out His hand against the wrath of His enemies. The stretching forth of God’s hand is a well-known Old Testament synonym for judgment. No power in the universe can withstand the stretching out of God’s hand.

It was stretched out in the days of Daniel, when proud Belshazzar mocked the living God by using the sacred vessels of the temple for a drunken feast. What a display of pomp and world power was manifested in the palace that night. Everyone who was anyone was there: the great of the land, lords and ladies, the chiefs of the military. What a feast! What revelry! What ribald mocking of Jehovah! What scenes of debauchery! Then suddenly, silently, out of the sleeve of the night came the outstretched hand of God. Across the palace wall that hand moved, leaving behind it a message none could read. That was all it took to reduce proud Belshazzar’s pride. God is able to humble the haughtiest of persons.1

1 Phillips, J. (2012). Exploring Psalms 89–150: An Expository Commentary (Vol. 2, Ps 138:7a–b). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.

Your (God’s) Right Hand Will Save Me.

 Psalm 138:7 (KJV)

 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: Thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, And thy right hand shall save me.

Matthew 25:41 KJV

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Psalm 20:6 KJV

Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; He will hear him from his holy heaven With the saving strength of his right hand.

Even Though I am Flawed…

Psalm 138:8 KJV

The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: Forsake not the works of thine own hands.

Isaiah 42:16 KJV

And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, And crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

Here is the ultimate secret of God’s seeming delays in delivering us from the apparent triumph of the enemy: He is working on us. He uses adverse circumstances to perfect us, to accomplish some wise and wonderful purpose He has in mind for us.11 Phillips, J. (2012). Exploring Psalms 89–150: An Expository Commentary (Vol. 2, Ps 138:8)

You (God) will Finish the Work You Started In Me.

 Psalm 138:8 (KJV)

 The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: Forsake not the works of thine own hands.

Philippians 1:6 KJV

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

1 Peter 5:10 KJV

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me. He will complete what he has begun. He will not begin to interpose in my behalf, and then abandon me. He will not promise to save me, and then fail to fulfil his promise. He will not encourage me, and then cast me off. So of us. He will complete what he begins. He will not convert a soul, and then leave it to perish. “Grace will complete what grace begins.” See Notes on Phil 1:6.11 Barnes, A. (1870–1872). Notes on the Old Testament: Psalms (Vol. 3, p. 289). Blackie & Son.

Your (God’s) Mercy Endures Forever

 Psalm 138:8 (KJV)

 The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: Forsake not the works of thine own hands.

Psalm 136:1 KJV

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: For his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 100:5 KJV

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; And his truth endureth to all generations.

Jeremiah 32:40 KJV

And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

We Are the Work of Your (God’s) Hands

 Psalm 138:8 (KJV)

 The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: Forsake not the works of thine own hands.

 • Therefore the prayer that reveals frail faith will not only be tolerated, but answered in the affirmative.

Prayer is one of the means—and an essential means—by which the saints are to be kept unto salvation. The doctrine of the “perseverance of the saints,” is not inconsistent with prayer, but rather prompts to it; and he who professes to rely on that doctrine, and feels so safe that he does not need to pray, and does not pray, gives certain evidence that he has never been converted, and has no true religion.11 Barnes, A. (1870–1872). Notes on the Old Testament: Psalms (Vol. 3, p. 290). Blackie & Son.

Psalm 100:3 KJV

Know ye that the LORD he is God: It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Psalm 64:8 KJV

So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: All that see them shall flee away.

Psalm 119:49 KJV

ZAIN. Remember the word unto thy servant, Upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

Ephesians 2:10 KJV

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Isaiah 64:8 KJV

But now, O LORD, thou art our father; We are the clay, and thou our potter; And we all are the work of thy hand.

Pastor John Phillips tells the following story:

Years ago I met a potter who made his home in Bethlehem. His little place was on a side road off the beaten track where he had found a field of suitable clay. I went in and there he was with a piece of clay in his hands. He was working it over, holding it first in this hand, then in that, as he punched and pounded it. It was cold, hard, stiff, and he was making it warm, soft, malleable.

Next he put that piece of clay on his wheel, drew up his stool, moistened his hands, and went to work. For awhile he exerted pressure on that clay with his hands from the outside, and that outside pressure made it grow. The clay grew taller and taller as he kept the pressure on. Without that pressure it would have remained a shapeless lump, but with it the clay grew.

Then he moistened his hands again and with his thumb made a hollow in the top of that clay cylinder. As soon as the hollow was deep enough he began pressing inward and downward with his fingers until he could get his whole hand inside the cavity. He was now putting pressure on the inside. That inside pressure gave the clay shape and form and capacity. Without it, it would have remained a cylinder of clay, incapable of holding anything.

The potter then took his vessel off the wheel and put it in the furnace, a very primitive furnace, fired by pieces of wood. I didn’t stay for the whole process, but for hour after hour that clay was there, in the furnace and the heat. All the time the potter was there, feeding the furnace, knowing just how hot to keep it. He never allowed it to get too hot or too cold. At last it was finished. The potter took out the finished piece and put it on display on a shelf outside his shop—a tribute to the skillful-ness of his hands. All through that process the potter was perfecting his work; now it was on display. That is what David discovered: “Thou wilt perfect that which concerneth me; Thy mercy, O Lord, endures for ever. Forsake not the works of Thine hands.” – John Phillips

It is true, this world is no friend of the truth or of the real God. Our response that opposition must be like King David… let us make a declaration of intent to praise. Let us tell the story of our day of deliverance. Let us remember that one day every knee will bow and every king shall sing praises. Let our hearts burst with praise when we realize that the High God came down to our level and gave us a reason to praise beyond expectation.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 1:52 PM February 23, 2023.

World Wide Praise

Pastor Don Carpenter

Praise Eruption / Psalm 138:4–5

 A little five-year-old girl had been attending the church kindergarten. Each day before the children were dismissed, the teacher had them sing the Doxology, which the little five-year-old loved to sing, but in her own words. “Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures, here we go!”

—Christian Parent

1 Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 244). Bible Communications, Inc

It is good to teach the children to praise, even if they do not fully understand. Bible believers are faced with skepticism and opposition on every side. The Biblical response is to PTLA! Praise the Lord Anyway! God manifests His presence in praise! 

 God reaches the world as His people open up and passionately praise Him!

Welcome to the third message in our series through Psalm 138 entitled “Praise Eruption!” So far we have seen David’s response to the doubt, paganism, and idolatry of his day first by making a bold declaration of intent to praise. This praise would be so clear and passionate as to serve notice to all the false gods who the real God really is.  

Psalm 138:1–2 KJV

I will praise thee with my whole heart: Before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. 

I will worship toward thy holy temple, And praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

David’s next response was to recount his experience during the Evil Day. He cried out to God, God answered, and God strengthened his very soul. 

Psalm 138:3 KJV

In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, And strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

This morning we will discover that in the next layer of David’s praise eruption, the sweet psalmist told of a time, yet in the future, when the world’s leadership would someday praise God along with the rest of the believers. Think of that my friends. As the Gospel spreads, both the lowly and the affluent are won to the truth. Everyone that encounters faith in Christ bows the knee and the ground is level at the foot of the cross.

All the Kings Will Praise God

 Psalm 138:4 (KJV)

 All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, When they hear the words of thy mouth.

Psalm 72:11 KJV

Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: All nations shall serve him.

Psalm 102:15 KJV

So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, And all the kings of the earth thy glory.

Albert Barns makes this observation:

 All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, etc. That is, kings, princes, and rulers shall learn the words of promise; shall be made acquainted with the words which thou hast graciously spoken, and with their fulfilment, and shall be led to praise thee. This refers to a time, of which frequent prophetic mention is made in the Scriptures, when kings and rulers shall be converted to the true religion, and when they shall act an important part, by their example and influence, in maintaining and diffusing it. Comp. Ps. 68:31, 32; Isa. 49:23.11 Barnes, A. (1870–1872). Notes on the Old Testament: Psalms (Vol. 3, p. 288). Blackie & Son.

The great preacher, Charles Spurgeon, preached these words about this passage:

 According to the connection this is spoken of kings. “All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord.” It will be a novel spectacle to see kings singing in the ways of the Lord. As a rule they have not much troubled themselves therewith, but they have often troubled those who love the ways of God, and opposed them, both by their laws and by their example. There will be another order of things in the earth yet. These days will be shortened for the elect’s sake, and the time shall come when kings shall fall down before the King of kings, and all people shall call Jesus blessed. Oh that the time may speedily arrive when a choir of kings shall with loud voice magnify the name of the Lord.11 Spurgeon, C. H. (1881). Singing in the Ways of the Lord. In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons (Vol. 27, p. 473). Passmore & Alabaster.

The Kings Will Praise In Response to Hearing God’s Word

 Psalm 138:4 (KJV)

 All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, When they hear the words of thy mouth.

 37 The power of the word is not in people’s ability to summarize the message they’ve heard. Rather it is the power of God’s word piercing the soul.

 R. C. Sproul

 Saved from What? (2002)

Malachi 1:11 KJV

For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same My name shall be great among the Gentiles; And in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: For my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

Pastor John Phillips said this in his commentary about this verse:

 The kings of the earth will hear the words of His mouth, as David says. They will say, “Never man spake like this man.” They will come, like the queen of Sheba, from the ends of the earth to see Him, to listen to Him. Each will return saying, “Behold, the half was never told me.”11 Phillips, J. (2012). Exploring Psalms 89–150: An Expository Commentary (Vol. 2, Ps 138:4–5). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.

Psalm 102:15–16 KJV

So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, And all the kings of the earth thy glory. 

When the LORD shall build up Zion, He shall appear in his glory.

The Kings Will Sing In Response to God’s Revealed Glory

Psalm 138:5 KJV

Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: For great is the glory of the LORD.

 God’s glory is and must forever remain the Christian’s true point of departure. Anything that begins anywhere else, whatever it is, is certainly not New Testament Christianity.1

 A. W. Tozer

 • There is coming a Day when all will turn to THE KING

Isaiah 57:15 KJV

For thus saith the high and lofty One That inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, With him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

This is looking forward to a time when Jesus reigns as King of Kings and the whole world will acknowledge it!

Philippians 2:9–11 KJV

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

John Phillips masterfully captured the thought of this verse:

 And they will sing! When the rulers of the world meet in conference now, they do not open their sessions with song. They neither sing nor pray. There is not much to sing about and most of them do not believe in prayer. The rulers and delegates of the nations meet to discuss the storm clouds that hang, now here, now there, over the world, or to discuss this crisis or that outrage or this famine or that economic woe. What with the hostilities, rivalries, and jealousies of both superpowers and lesser powers, there is not much to sing about (though there is plenty to pray about) when the nations convene in conference. They squabble now. They will sing then.11 Phillips, J. (2012). Exploring Psalms 89–150: An Expository Commentary (Vol. 2, Ps 138:4–5). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.

 • They will respond to the revealed Glory of King Jesus.

For great is the glory of the Lord. Great is his character; great his dignity; great his honour; and all this will be seen to be so when those of most exalted rank thus worship and adore him. The most lofty on earth shall acknowledge that there is one who is more exalted than they are, and their own dignity and splendour shall thus contribute to deepen the impression of the honour and glory of God.11 Barnes, A. (1870–1872). Notes on the Old Testament: Psalms (Vol. 3, p. 289). Blackie & Son.

 • By lifting up the name of the Lord in praise, and testimony, even the high and lofty of this world will hear our voices and see the glory of God, and turn to Him in the midst of our praise. Charles Spurgeon preached this admonition over 150 years ago:

 Well, dear brethren, that time has not come yet, and therefore let us sing all the more. If the kings have not begun to sing, let us sing. And well we may. We have full permission to do it, for the next verse encourages us—“Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly.” He will be just as pleased with the song of the peasant as with that of the prince, with the psalm of the workman as with that of the monarch. We, too, may come, though obscure and unknown, and we may bring our two mites which make a farthing; and if they are all the praise our soul can give, the Lord will count that we have not given less than kings themselves. Let us make up for royal silence.

11 Spurgeon, C. H. (1881). Singing in the Ways of the Lord. In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons (Vol. 27, p. 473). Passmore & Alabaster.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 1:38 PM February 16, 2023.