Giving thanks in time of trouble (Ps 138)

As we leave behind 2020, many may heave a sigh of relief. For some, who have found it a particular struggle, giving thanks may seem the last thing they want to do. Notice, however, that the psalmist is no masochist and is not praising God for any misery he may have experienced. Rather, he turns his attention to God and His character and thanks Him for His lovingkindness and truth (Ps 138:2). The word translated as ‘lovingkindness’ (Hebrew ḥesed) means covenant commitment and loyal love, while ‘truth’ (Hebrew ’emet) carries associations of stability and steadfastness (the word ‘amen’, affirming the truth of something, is derived from the same root). Our troubles may drive us closer to God and it is often in those hard times that we truly come to see the Lord’s help and presence and that is worth praising Him for.

Not only does the psalmist praise God, he does so in the presence of ‘the gods’ (Ps 138:1). In defiance of all these other ‘gods’, things that people place their trust and hope in for fulfilment, the psalmist publicly acknowledges the Lord as the one who answered and strengthened him (Ps 138:3). He, like us, lives in a world offering alternative options for satisfaction and success and he gives his testimony that in the midst of trouble the Lord can be relied upon. Indeed, the next few verses broaden the picture and envisage a future time when the leaders of the nations will acknowledge God (Ps 138:4-6). It is striking that these pagan kings, leaders with power, recognise a crucial aspect about Almighty God, namely that He does not use power to dismiss the insignificant, but to help them (v.6). How will such transformation of perspective come about for pagans? Isaiah sees the nations streaming to where God’s people are to learn instruction from those who already know Him (Isa 2:3). Although the psalm does not explicitly make the connection, our testimony of God’s character matters not only because it encourages us, but because it provides a chance for others to hear about and come to know the living God.

The end of a calendar year does not necessarily bring a neat closure to challenges, however. Covid is still with us, though NZ suffered much less from its effects than the rest of the world. Apart from that, in our personal lives too, troubles do not magically disappear at the end of a year. In the closing verses of the psalm (Ps 138:7-8), we find out that the psalmist’s thanksgiving does not derive from a situation that is resolved (note that he is walking in the midst of trouble – v.7), but from his trust in God’s faithfulness. His confidence is not in his circumstances but in the Lord, who will ‘accomplish’ (NASB) or finish/complete what He had planned (v.8). All this, once again, is traced back to God’s committed, covenant love. In the background of the psalm’s last line is possibly the image of God as the divine Potter shaping a vessel. The psalmist asks Him not to forsake (literally ‘let go’ or ‘relax’ His hold). Anyone who has seen a potter work knows that it takes a steady hand to shape a vessel. Since the potter’s wheel spins, the slightest wobble in the fingers’ pressure will create a misshapen pot.

As we take stock of the past year and look ahead to a new one, it is important that we remind ourselves of God’s character and acknowledge Him in the midst of any difficulties. He is faithful and will carry us through. Neither will our circumstances stop Him from accomplishing His plans because He began the good work in us and will not abandon it half-way (Phil 1:6). When we get discouraged about our slow progress, we can remember that we are still being shaped and the Lord is not finished with us. As we testify to God’s goodness and faithfulness, whether we speak to ourselves, our friends and family, Christian or not, may our acknowledgement of God lead others to seek and find Him. May this year be one of growth and service for the Lord.

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