God's Never Ending Love

Psalm 138 opens with David giving thanks to the Lord “with my whole heart.” David does not bring God a piece of himself, a divided little slice of worship while holding back money, relationships, desires, or control. The word “whole” presses hard, because real worship asks whether God has the heart in the good times and in the bad, when life feels clean and when the bottom keeps falling out. David’s praise comes from a man who has been through some stuff, and yet he still says the Lord heard him when he called.

David’s thanksgiving stands “before the gods,” meaning his praise is not shaped by what anybody else thinks. God’s steadfast love and faithfulness become the reason David can worship without apology. The Lord is high and lifted up, his name and word exalted above all things, and yet he did not have to do anything for David. Still, God chose to love him, answer him, and strengthen his soul.

David’s line, “On the day I called, you answered me,” reaches deeper than outside appearances. A person can look good on the outside and still be dying inside. David is king, dressed in strength, status, and authority, but his soul still needs help. The text exposes the pride of self-sufficiency, the “I got it” spirit that keeps hurting people from asking for prayer, counseling, healing, or help from the body of Christ. God regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.

David’s life proves that God’s love stays firm in the middle of mess. David sinned deeply with Bathsheba, misused power, tried to cover his sin, suffered painful consequences, and watched family devastation unfold. Still, God’s love did not run out. His steadfast love covered a multitude of sins, and David could still say, “Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.”

Psalm 138 ends with trouble still real, but God still preserving. David says the Lord stretches out his hand against enemies, delivers by his right hand, and fulfills his purpose. The never ending, never giving up, unstopping, always and forever love of God is finally seen in Jesus, who came to sinners, went to the cross, rose from the grave, and sticks and stays until he brings his people home.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Whole-heart worship holds nothing back David’s “whole heart” praise refuses to let God become one piece of life among many. A divided heart can sound spiritual out loud while quietly protecting its favorite corner from surrender. Pain often reveals what has actually held the heart, because the hard season shows whether the soul runs to God or runs somewhere else for satisfaction. [50:36]
• 2. God strengthens the unseen soul David does not say God merely fixed what could be seen on the outside. The king looked strong, but the need was deeper than robes, reputation, or public strength. God’s answer met the inner man, the hidden place where depression, grief, addiction, fear, and weariness often sit without being noticed. [60:39]
• 3. Pride blocks the help God gives The lowly receive regard from the Lord, but the haughty are known from afar. Self-sufficiency may sound like strength, but it can keep a wounded person from prayer, counsel, honesty, and the care of the church. Need is not shameful, because even David the king had to say, “I called,” and God answered. [67:13]
• 4. Steadfast love stays through mess David’s story is not cleaned up or made cute. His sin with Bathsheba, his abuse of power, and the consequences in his house show just how deep human brokenness can go. Yet God’s love stayed firm, not because sin was small, but because covenant mercy is bigger than the mess it redeems. [71:21]
• 5. God fulfills purpose through storms Trouble does not mean God has stopped working. David can say the Lord will fulfill his purpose even while enemies and turmoil remain part of the scene. Faithfulness often becomes visible only after the storm, when the believer can look back and see that God was preserving life, shaping trust, and carrying the story farther than expected. [78:44]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [36:16] - Baptism Invitation and Church Connection
• [37:14] - Reading Psalm 138
• [38:41] - God’s Never Ending Love
• [39:53] - What Is Behind The Smile?
• [45:15] - David’s Thankful Song
• [46:27] - Giving God The Whole Heart
• [51:55] - Praise In Hard Times
• [56:56] - Unapologetic Worship Before God
• [60:00] - God Hears The Call
• [63:47] - The Need For Help
• [67:13] - God Regards The Lowly
• [70:00] - David’s Mess And God’s Mercy
• [73:15] - God Preserves Through Trouble
• [80:00] - The Love Of God In Jesus

Bible Reading

Psalm 138
“I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased. All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth, and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD. For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” [37:37]

2 Corinthians 1:9
“Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” [55:07]

James 4:6
“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'” [01:07:36]

Observation questions

1. In Psalm 138, what reasons does David give for thanking and praising the Lord?
2. What does David say happened “on the day” he called to the Lord, and what part of him was strengthened? [01:00:00]
3. In Psalm 138, what contrast is made between the lowly and the haughty?
4. What kinds of trouble or weakness were named that may not show up on the outside, even when a person looks fine? [01:03:02]

Interpretation questions

1. David says he thanks the Lord “with my whole heart.” What does whole-heart worship mean in real life, and what kinds of things often compete for that kind of surrender? [46:32]
2. David says God increased the “strength of soul.” Why is that different from simply fixing outward circumstances, and why does that matter for people who look strong on the outside? [01:00:39]
3. Psalm 138 says the Lord regards the lowly, while James 4:6 says God opposes the proud. How can pride keep a person from receiving the help God is ready to give? [01:06:55]
4. David’s life included serious sin, painful consequences, and family devastation, yet he still speaks of God’s steadfast love. What does that show about the difference between God’s mercy and God’s approval of sin? [01:11:21]

Application questions

1. What is one area of life where it is tempting to give God only a piece of the heart instead of the whole heart—money, relationships, control, comfort, habits, image, or something else? What would surrender look like there this week? [50:36]
2. When life gets hard, where does the heart usually run first for relief or satisfaction? Does it run to prayer, people, distraction, work, food, entertainment, anger, or something else? [51:55]
3. Many people look strong on the outside while struggling deeply within. What is going on in the soul right now that needs to be brought honestly before God and maybe also before trusted believers? [01:03:47]
4. Need is not shameful. Is there a place right now where help is needed but pride has been getting in the way—prayer, counseling, confession, financial help, healing, or simply telling someone the truth? [01:07:13]
5. God’s steadfast love stays through real mess. Is there any failure, regret, or shame that still feels too heavy to bring into the light? What makes it hard to believe that God’s mercy is still firm there? [01:12:13]
6. “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life.” What trouble feels most present right now, and where can God’s preserving hand already be seen, even if only in a small way? [01:13:15]
7. The Lord will fulfill his purpose. In a stormy season, what would it look like to keep trusting that God is still at work and has not forsaken the work of his hands? [01:18:44]