May 18, 2026 -Just Praise Him

Psalms 138:1-8

2 Samuel 4:1-12

2 Samuel 5:1-25

Bible in a Year Through Song - Day 138 of 365

Psalms 138:1-8 NIV

[1] I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing your praise. [2] I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness, for you have so exalted your solemn decree that it surpasses your fame. [3] When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me. [4] May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord, when they hear what you have decreed. [5] May they sing of the ways of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord is great. [6] Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar. [7] Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me. [8] The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands.

As we are also reading in 2 Samuel about Davids coming into power. How he is seeking guidance from God as to who to attack and when. As he is becoming the king that he had been anointed to be. It is good to read one of his Psalms of praise. He says in this Psalm "When I called you answered me; you greatly emboldened me."

2 Samuel 5:18-19 NIV

[18] Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; [19] so David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?” The Lord answered him, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.”

2 Samuel 5:22-25 NIV

[22] Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; [23] so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. [24] As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” [25] So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

David called out to God and the answer he was given emboldened him to go and fight against the Philistines. He went boldly into battle because he had God on his side. He sings in his Psalms "You stretched out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you saved me." He knows that the Lord is who wins the battle and know how great His love is and asks Him to continue. "The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord endures forever - do not abandon the work of your hands."

I don't know when this particular Psalm was written. David's life had the things that he has written about happening over and over again. And we see these same statements repeated in other Psalms.

What a great reminder to us. Praise God acknowledging what He has done. Give Him thanks and remember what He has done. Do it the first time He does something in your life then do it again and again as He continues to do things in your life. Praise Him when you remember. Praise Him and remember when you are feeling lost and alone. Praise Him when you have an opportunity to tell others about what He has done.

Just Praise Him.