Psalm 138:5 Study Bible: Yes, they will sing of the ways of the LORD; for great is the LORD's glory.

◄ Psalm 138:5 ►

They will sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.

They will sing
The phrase "They will sing" suggests a future action of praise and worship. In the Hebrew text, the verb used here is "yashir," which implies a joyful and vocal expression of adoration. Singing has been a central part of worship in the Jewish tradition, as seen throughout the Psalms. Historically, singing was a communal activity, often accompanied by instruments, and it served as a means to unite the people in their devotion to God. This phrase indicates a collective response to God's greatness, emphasizing the importance of community in worship.

of the ways
The term "ways" in Hebrew is "derek," which can refer to a path, journey, or manner of life. In the biblical context, it often denotes the moral and ethical paths that God sets before His people. The "ways" of the Lord are His commandments, statutes, and the divine order He has established. This phrase highlights the importance of understanding and following God's guidance, as His ways lead to righteousness and life. It also suggests that the knowledge of God's ways is a cause for celebration and proclamation.

of the LORD
The name "LORD" in all capital letters is a translation of the Hebrew "YHWH," the sacred and personal name of God revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). This name signifies God's eternal, self-existent nature and His covenant relationship with His people. By singing of the "ways of the LORD," the psalmist acknowledges God's sovereignty and faithfulness. It is a reminder of the intimate relationship between God and His people, and the reverence due to His holy name.

for great is the glory
The word "great" in Hebrew is "gadol," which conveys magnitude and importance. The "glory" of God, "kavod" in Hebrew, refers to His weighty presence, honor, and majesty. This phrase underscores the overwhelming and awe-inspiring nature of God's glory. In the biblical narrative, God's glory is often associated with His presence, as seen in the tabernacle and the temple. The greatness of God's glory is a central theme in worship, as it reflects His supreme power and holiness.

of the LORD
Reiterating the sacred name "LORD" emphasizes the source of the glory being sung about. The repetition serves to focus the worshipper's attention on the divine nature and attributes of God. It is a call to recognize that all glory belongs to Him alone, and it is His presence and actions that inspire the praise of His people. This closing phrase in the verse encapsulates the central message of the psalm: the acknowledgment and celebration of God's unparalleled greatness and the rightful response of worship from His creation.

Persons / Places / Events

1. David
Traditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 138, David was the second king of Israel, known for his deep relationship with God and his role in establishing Jerusalem as the center of worship.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal existence and faithfulness to His promises.

3. The Nations
Refers to the peoples of the earth who will recognize and praise the greatness of God, as mentioned in the broader context of the psalm.

Teaching Points

The Universality of God's Glory
God's glory is not limited to Israel but is recognized by all nations. This calls us to share the knowledge of God with others, emphasizing His greatness and deeds.

The Importance of Worship
Singing of the ways of the LORD is an act of worship. We are encouraged to incorporate worship into our daily lives, acknowledging God's greatness in all circumstances.

God's Ways as a Testimony
The ways of the LORD serve as a testimony to His character and deeds. As believers, we should strive to understand and follow God's ways, allowing our lives to reflect His glory.

The Role of Praise in Evangelism
When we praise God openly, it can serve as a powerful witness to those around us, drawing others to recognize and honor God's greatness.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the recognition of God's glory by the nations in Psalm 138:5 inspire you to share your faith with others?

2. In what ways can you incorporate singing and worship into your daily routine to acknowledge the greatness of God?

3. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's greatness in your life. How can this testimony be shared with others to encourage them?

4. How do the themes in Psalm 138:5 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20, and what practical steps can you take to fulfill this commission?

5. Consider the role of worship in your local church. How can you contribute to making worship a more integral part of your community's life and outreach?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Psalm 86:9
This verse speaks of all nations coming to worship before God, similar to the theme in Psalm 138:5 where the nations sing of God's ways.

Isaiah 2:3
This passage describes a future time when many peoples will come to learn God's ways, aligning with the idea of the nations acknowledging God's greatness.

Revelation 15:4
This verse echoes the theme of all nations worshiping God, recognizing His righteous acts and glory.

Sermons

Singing in the Ways of the Lord		Psalm 138:5
The Joy of Believers in the Way of Obedience	W. Jay.	Psalm 138:5
Courage in Praising God		Psalm 138:1-8
Exultation in God	S. Conway	Psalm 138:1-8
Moral Features of a Good Man's Life	Homilist	Psalm 138:1-8
Open Praise and Public Confession		Psalm 138:1-8
Whole-Hearted Praise Before the World		Psalm 138:1-8

People

David, Psalmist

Places

Jerusalem

Topics

Glory, Honour, Sing, Songs, Yea, Yes

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Psalm 138:5

8608 prayer, and worship

Psalm 138:1-5

8352 thankfulness

Library

Faith in Perfection
In the opening, I must remark that this is not the heritage of all mankind. The word, "me," in the text, cannot be appropriated by any man, unless he, in some respects, resembles the character of David, who penned this psalm. The text, however, itself, is its own guard. If you look at it, you will see that there is in its bowels a full description of a true Christian. I will ask you three questions suggested by the words themselves, and according to your answer to these three questions, shall be …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859

Question of the Contemplative Life
I. Is the Contemplative Life wholly confined to the Intellect, or does the Will enter into it? S. Thomas, On the Beatific Vision, I., xii. 7 ad 3m II. Do the Moral Virtues pertain to the Contemplative Life? S. Augustine, Of the City of God, xix. 19 III. Does the Contemplative Life comprise many Acts? S. Augustine, Of the Perfection of Human Righteousness, viii. 18 " Ep., cxxx. ad probam IV. Does the Contemplative Life consist solely in the Contemplation of God, or in the Consideration …
St. Thomas Aquinas—On Prayer and The Contemplative Life

Epistle Xlvii. To Dominicus, Bishop.
To Dominicus, Bishop. Gregory to Dominicus, Bishop of Carthage [1454] . We have received with the utmost gratification the letters of your Fraternity, which have reached us somewhat late by the hands of Donatus and Quodvultdeus, our most reverend brethren and fellow-bishops, and also Victor the deacon with Agilegius the notary. And though we thought that we had suffered loss from the tardiness of their coming, yet we find gain from their more abundant charity; seeing that from this delay in point …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

The Coming Revival
"Wilt Thou not revive us again: that Thy people may rejoice in Thee?"--PS. lxxxv. 6. "O Lord, revive Thy work in the midst of the years."--HAB. iii. 2. "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me: Thy right hand shall save me."--PS. cxxxviii. 7. "I dwell with him that is of a humble and contrite heart, to revive the heart of the contrite ones."--ISA. lvii. 15. "Come, and let us return to the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will heal us. He will revive us."--HOS. vi. 1, 2. The Coming …
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

Forasmuch as Each Man is a Part of the Human Race...
1. Forasmuch as each man is a part of the human race, and human nature is something social, and hath for a great and natural good, the power also of friendship; on this account God willed to create all men out of one, in order that they might be held in their society not only by likeness of kind, but also by bond of kindred. Therefore the first natural bond of human society is man and wife. Nor did God create these each by himself, and join them together as alien by birth: but He created the one …
St. Augustine—On the Good of Marriage

Prayer Out of the Deep.
Hear my prayer, O God; and hide not Thyself from my petition. Take heed unto me and hear me; how I mourn in my prayer and am vexed.--Psalm iv. 1, 2. In my trouble I will call upon the Lord, and complain unto my God; so shall He hear my voice out of His holy temple, and my complaint shall come before Him; it shall enter even into His ears.--Ps. xviii. 5, 6. The Lord is nigh unto them that call upon Him; He also will hear their cry, and will help them.--Psalm cxlv. 18, 19. In the day when I cried …
Charles Kingsley—Out of the Deep

Wherefore a Few Witnesses, which the Lord Deigns to Suggest to My Mind...
32. Wherefore a few witnesses, which the Lord deigns to suggest to my mind, I proceed to mention, from out the teaching of Christ concerning humility, such as perhaps may be enough for my purpose. His discourse, the first which He delivered to His disciples at greater length, began from this. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." [2105] And these without all controversy we take to be humble. The faith of that Centurion He on this account chiefly praised, and said …
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

Letter Xliii a Consolatory Letter to the Parents of Geoffrey.
A Consolatory Letter to the Parents of Geoffrey. There is no reason to mourn a son as lost who is a religious, still less to fear for his delicacy of constitution. 1. If God makes your son His son also, what do you lose or what does he himself lose? Being rich he becomes richer; being already high born, of still nobler lineage; being illustrious, he gains greater renown; and--what is more than all--once a sinner he is now a saint. He must be prepared for the Kingdom that has been prepared for him …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

That the Ruler Should be Always Chief in Action.
The ruler should always be chief in action, that by his living he may point out the way of life to those that are put under him, and that the flock, which follows the voice and manners of the shepherd, may learn how to walk better through example than through words. For he who is required by the necessity of his position to speak the highest things is compelled by the same necessity to exhibit the highest things. For that voice more readily penetrates the hearer's heart, which the speaker's life …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

How those that are at Variance and those that are at Peace are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 23.) Differently to be admonished are those that are at variance and those that are at peace. For those that are at variance are to be admonished to know most certainly that, in whatever virtues they may abound, they can by no means become spiritual if they neglect becoming united to their neighbours by concord. For it is written, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace (Gal. v. 22). He then that has no care to keep peace refuses to bear the fruit of the Spirit. Hence Paul …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Sense in Which, and End for which all Things were Delivered to the Incarnate Son.
For whereas man sinned, and is fallen, and by his fall all things are in confusion: death prevailed from Adam to Moses (cf. Rom. v. 14), the earth was cursed, Hades was opened, Paradise shut, Heaven offended, man, lastly, corrupted and brutalised (cf. Ps. xlix. 12), while the devil was exulting against us;--then God, in His loving-kindness, not willing man made in His own image to perish, said, Whom shall I send, and who will go?' (Isa. vi. 8). But while all held their peace, the Son [441] said, …
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

Covenant Duties.
It is here proposed to show, that every incumbent duty ought, in suitable circumstances, to be engaged to in the exercise of Covenanting. The law and covenant of God are co-extensive; and what is enjoined in the one is confirmed in the other. The proposals of that Covenant include its promises and its duties. The former are made and fulfilled by its glorious Originator; the latter are enjoined and obligatory on man. The duties of that Covenant are God's law; and the demands of the law are all made …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Introduction. Chapter i. --The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of Poitiers.
St. Hilary of Poitiers is one of the greatest, yet least studied, of the Fathers of the Western Church. He has suffered thus, partly from a certain obscurity in his style of writing, partly from the difficulty of the thoughts which he attempted to convey. But there are other reasons for the comparative neglect into which he has fallen. He learnt his theology, as we shall see, from Eastern authorities, and was not content to carry on and develop the traditional teaching of the West; and the disciple …
St. Hilary of Poitiers—The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of Poitiers

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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