Psalm 138 is one of the more popular psalms. But why is this? Is it the personal connection we feel to God when reading it? Or maybe an admiration for the poetic combination of words King David was able to put together. By analyzing and comparing Psalm 138 in three different texts, KJV, Septuagint, and The Sidney Psalter, we can hope to uncover the gems within the Psalm as well as some of the key differences between the texts.
While reading Psalm 138, its hard not to get a sense of encouragement no matter which text your reading it from. For example, a particularly encouraging verse is Psalm 138:3, “In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul”-(KJV). What the verse is saying is that when tough times come, you can cry to the Lord and he will strengthen you through encouragement. By looking at the same verse but in The Sidney Psalter, we can get an even better appreciation for the meaning of the verse, “There will I sing, how when my careful cry mounted to thee, my care was straight released, my courage by thee mightily increased”. Reading this definitely gives the verse a more powerful feel through the use of poetry. Perhaps its the use of, “straight released”, it makes it seem as though the prayer/cry was heard and answered immediately. This makes the verse easy to fall in love with because it gives us a place to cast away our burdens and worries by crying to the Lord.
Similarly, verse 7 also gives somewhat of the same feeling, ” Though I should walk in the midst of affliction, you will quicken me; you have stretched forth your hands against the wrath of mine enemies, and your right hand has saved me”-(Septuagint). Even though we may pray that these battles never come, we still some need to go through them sometimes. But with the encouragement from this verse, we know that God is fighting for us and we can put our trust in him and not ourselves. Once again, the poetic changes that The Sidney Psalter makes in this verse convey an even more intimate and personal feel, “On every side though tribulation grieves me, yet shalt thou aid, yet shalt thou still relieve me, from angry foe thy succour shall me save”. Comparing this to the same verse from the Septuagint, it gives more of a feeling that we are in battle and the enemy is closing in, “On every side though tribulation grieves me”, this causes us to think on our own lives and we are likely to think about our personal battles that are closing in on us. This creates a stronger connection and a more powerful meaning to the verse.
Perhaps that best way to read the book of Psalms is by comparison to a variety of versions. Different versions might provide a different personal connection or slightly different meaning depending on the person. However, reading through Psalm 138, its easy to see that it is an encouraging chapter. It ensures us that God is in our corner and he is fighting for us no matter what version your reading it from.
Leave a Reply