Psalm 138:3

Psalm 138 is a psalm of wholehearted praise. He praises God for His love and faithfulness. This is the praise of someone who has truly experienced what he is declaring.

Verse 3 says, "In the day that I called, you answered me. You encouraged me with strength in my soul." David is speaking of a lived experience of calling out to God and receiving an answer. Through the experience, David was strengthened from the inside out.

In verses 4 and 5, Psalm 138 moves from personal experience to universal praise, from one man's answered prayer to the greatness of God whom all the earth will one day acknowledge. David envisions the kings of the earth hearing what God has done and giving praise to God.

Then in verses 6 and 7, David declares something that sits at the heart of who God is. Though God is exalted and great, He sees and draws near to those who are lowly. He does not look away from the humble. And when His people walk through trouble, He reaches out to them and helps them. Psalm 138 closes with trust in a God whose love never fails and who will complete what He has begun in each person who calls on Him.

"In the day that I called" (בְּיוֹם קָרָאתִי / beyom karati)

Qara means to call out and to cry for help with urgency. Beyom means in the day or at that time, pointing to a specific moment of genuine need. David is describing the desperate cry of someone who has no other options.

"You answered me" (וַתַּעֲנֵנִי / vata'aneni)

Anah means to answer and to respond directly. The past tense here expresses a completed action. He is giving testimony about what already happened. He called, and God responded to his cry.

"You encouraged me" (תַּרְהִבֵנִי / tarhiveni)

Tarhiveni Tarhiveni comes from the root rahav, which means to make bold or to strengthen. When God answered David, He encouraged him with strength in his soul, giving him boldness to stand and to continue. God's answer was not only a change in David's circumstances but strength in his soul to endure them.

"With strength in my soul" (בְנַפְשִׁי עֹז / venafshi oz)

Nephesh means soul, life, and the core of a person's inner being. Oz means strength, might, and power. God's response reached David at the deepest level of his being and strengthened him from the inside.

I declare that the words of Psalm 138:3 are true in my life.

• • God hears my prayers.
• • When I call Him, God answers me.
• • God provides strength to my soul.

God,

Thank You for answering when I call.

I have at times wondered whether You heard my prayers. I felt discouraged when I had prayed about the same situation for a long time and nothing seemed to change.

Today I hold on to what David declared. He called out to You, and You answered him. You gave him strength in his soul.

When my prayers are not yet answered, I will keep praying and waiting for Your answer. When my circumstances have not yet changed, I trust that You are at work. When I feel discouraged, remind me that You are near to those going through difficult times.

I trust that You hear me and that Your answer will come at the right time.

In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.