Psalms 138:8

My Notes

What Does Psalms 138:8 Mean?

David declares confidence in God's completion: "The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me." What God started, He'll finish. What concerns David is God's ongoing project. And the project will reach completion — not because David will manage it well, but because God is committed to it.

The word "perfect" (gamar — to complete, to accomplish, to bring to an end) means God will see it through. The project isn't at risk. The things that concern David — his calling, his kingdom, his life, his legacy — are God's work in progress. And God finishes what He starts.

"Thy mercy endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands" — David grounds his confidence in God's mercy (chesed — eternal lovingkindness) and then makes a request: don't forsake what You've built. The confidence and the plea coexist. David believes God will complete the work AND asks God not to abandon it. Faith and petition in the same breath.

Reflection Questions

• 1.Do you believe God will 'perfect' (complete) what concerns you — or are you trying to finish the project yourself?
• 2.How does 'thy mercy endureth for ever' function as the fuel for the completion of God's work in your life?
• 3.Can you hold confidence (God WILL perfect) and petition (don't forsake) in the same breath — and is that what faith looks like?
• 4.Does Philippians 1:6 ('He who began will perform') strengthen what David declares here — and does it apply to your current situation?

Devotional

The LORD will finish what He started in me. His mercy lasts forever. Don't abandon what Your hands have made.

David's confidence is specific: the things that concern me — my life, my calling, my assignment, my future — are God's project. And God will perfect them. Complete them. Bring them to their intended end. Not because I'll manage them well. Because God finishes what He starts.

The word "perfect" means complete — reach the designed end. God isn't just maintaining your life. He's perfecting it. Working it toward completion. The things that concern you aren't random events happening without direction. They're a project with a designer and a finish line. And the designer is committed to reaching it.

"Thy mercy endureth for ever" — the fuel for the completion. God's mercy doesn't expire. The chesed that started the project sustains the project and will complete the project. The mercy that brought you this far has enough remaining to take you the rest of the way. It endures forever — which means it outlasts every obstacle between here and completion.

"Forsake not the works of thine own hands" — the request inside the confidence. David doesn't just declare and walk away. He asks. The confidence is genuine (God WILL perfect). The request is also genuine (please don't forsake). Both exist in the same prayer. Believing God will finish and asking God not to stop are not contradictions. They're the two hands of mature faith.

You are the work of God's hands. What concerns you concerns Him — because you're His project. And the God who started the work will complete it. His mercy has enough fuel. His hands have enough strength. The perfecting is in progress.

Philippians 1:6 echoes this: "he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." What David declared, Paul confirmed. The project will be completed. By the God who started it.

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture