Psalm 138:4–5 speaks of all kings praising God. Is there any historical evidence that surrounding nations’ rulers ever truly honored Israel’s God in this way?

I. Overview of Psalm 138:4–5

Psalm 138:4–5 states, “All the kings of the earth will give You thanks, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth. They will sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.” The immediate question is whether there is historical evidence that rulers of surrounding nations ever truly honored Israel’s God in such a way.

This question arises because the psalm portrays a universal acknowledgment of the Lord’s greatness. While the psalm certainly has a worshipful connotation, it prompts further exploration of whether non-Israelite monarchs in biblical or extrabiblical history offered genuine praise to the God of Israel.

II. Scriptural Examples of Non-Israelite Rulers Praising God

1. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon

In Daniel 4:34–37, following a period of insanity that Daniel had prophesied, Nebuchadnezzar proclaims, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven…” (Daniel 4:37). This is a striking acknowledgment of Israel’s God by one of the most powerful pagan monarchs of the time. Earlier, after the deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace, he had already declared, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” (Daniel 3:28).

2. King Darius of the Medo-Persians

In Daniel 6:26, King Darius issues a decree: “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom men are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.” Though Darius does not become a convert to Israel’s religion, this decree acknowledges God’s power and greatness, effectively speaking praise of Israel’s God throughout his domain.

3. King Cyrus of Persia

Cyrus famously declared that the LORD, the God of heaven, had appointed him to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1–3). Archaeological evidence from the Cyrus Cylinder corroborates aspects of Cyrus’s policies of returning exiled peoples to their homelands, consistent with the biblical record. This decree shows that Cyrus recognized Israel’s God as significant enough to initiate and authorize the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem.

4. Queen of Sheba

Although not described as a “king,” the high-standing Queen of Sheba praised the God of Israel upon witnessing Solomon’s wisdom and prosperity. First Kings 10:9 records her exclamation, “Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel!” While she stops short of professing ongoing worship, her statement remains remarkable praise from a foreign ruler.

5. King Hiram of Tyre

King Hiram, closely allied with David and Solomon, showed reverence toward David’s God by acknowledging the blessings upon Solomon. First Kings 5 does not record explicit “praise,” yet Hiram’s actions and provision of materials for the Temple suggest a respectful recognition of the God who had established David’s line.

III. Ancient Records and Archaeological Insights

1. Cyrus Cylinder

Discovered in Babylon in 1879 and housed in the British Museum, the Cyrus Cylinder describes Cyrus’s general policy of allowing exiles to return and rebuild their sanctuaries. Though it primarily extols Cyrus’s dedication to Marduk (the Babylonian deity), it aligns with Ezra 1:1–4 in showing that Cyrus gave freedom to various peoples, including the Israelites. This supports the biblical account of Cyrus’s favorable stance on Israel’s God.

2. Correspondences in Ancient Near Eastern Texts

While direct praising of the LORD (YHWH) outside biblical texts is rare, various inscriptions show that non-Israelite rulers recognized the power and influence of the God of Israel through diplomatic exchanges and mentions of Israel’s religious devotion.

3. Possible Reflections in Other Cultures

Some scholars propose that the fame of Israel’s God spread, in part, because of extraordinary events such as Hezekiah’s miraculous deliverance from the Assyrians (2 Kings 19:35–36). Although external records, like Sennacherib’s prism, do not overtly praise God, they do corroborate that Sennacherib did not conquer Jerusalem despite subduing other cities. By contrast, the biblical text claims the deliverance was an act of God, which may have lent credibility to the LORD’s power among neighboring nations.

IV. Theological and Literary Context

Psalm 138, attributed to David, exemplifies a confident trust in God’s universal sovereignty. The mention of “all the kings of the earth” (Psalm 138:4) often is understood in two main ways:

1. Immediate and Partial Fulfillment

Certain foreign kings (e.g., Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Darius) offered praise or acknowledgment. While not exhaustive, these historical instances demonstrate that David’s psalm was not entirely idealistic or merely hyperbolic.

2. Eschatological and Ultimate Fulfillment

The psalm is also viewed prophetically, looking ahead to a future time when every ruler and nation will recognize God’s authority (cf. Psalm 2 and Revelation 21). David’s words may point beyond his lifetime to a broader fulfillment.

V. Summary of Historical Evidence

1. Pagan Rulers in the Old Testament

Scriptural narrations record several instances where non-Israelite kings either proclaimed the greatness of Israel’s God or issued decrees in favor of the Judeans’ worship (e.g., Daniel 3:28; 6:25–27; Ezra 1:2–4).

2. Archaeological Corroborations

Key findings such as the Cyrus Cylinder give extrabiblical weight to the notion that powerful monarchs recognized and even furthered the worship of Israel’s God. While these rulers did not typically convert to monotheistic faith as we understand it, their recorded words and edicts stand as historical markers of genuine esteem or deference toward the God of Israel.

3. Fulfillment Across Time

Whether in David’s immediate context, in Daniel’s Babylon, or in the Persian Empire, distinct episodes reveal real-world illustrations that partially fulfill David’s bold statement in Psalm 138:4–5. Additional fulfillments are anticipated when viewed through a wider theological lens.

VI. Conclusion

Psalm 138:4–5 envisions a scenario where earthly rulers acknowledge the power and majesty of the Lord. Although the text’s ultimate fulfillment includes eschatological dimensions, the historical record—particularly in the lives of rulers like Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, and Cyrus—offers evidence of such praise. Archaeological artifacts like the Cyrus Cylinder corroborate these biblical narratives by showcasing how these monarchs permitted worship of the God of Israel and recognized His prominence in the affairs of their empires.

Hence, while it may not be universal in the fullest sense during the eras of the Old Testament, Scripture and ancient documents do trace multiple occasions of genuine acknowledgment of Israel’s God. This provides a foundation to affirm that Psalm 138:4–5 neither stands in isolation nor remains purely symbolic, but rather has tangible historical support from the records of surrounding nations’ rulers.