◄ Psalm 138:6 ►
Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.
Study Bible
Though the LORD is on high
This phrase acknowledges the supreme and exalted position of the LORD. The Hebrew word for "LORD" here is "Yahweh," the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal and self-existent nature. "On high" suggests His sovereignty and majesty, indicating that God is above all creation, ruling with authority and power. This reflects the biblical theme of God's transcendence, as seen throughout Scripture, where He is depicted as enthroned above the heavens (Isaiah 6:1, Psalm 113:5).

He attends to the lowly
The Hebrew root for "attends" is "ra'ah," which can mean to see, perceive, or regard. This implies that God, despite His exalted status, is intimately aware of and concerned with those who are humble or lowly. The "lowly" refers to those who are humble in spirit, often marginalized or oppressed in society. This reflects the biblical principle that God values humility and is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). It is a profound reminder of God's immanence, His nearness to those who seek Him with a humble heart.

but the proud He knows from afar
The word "proud" comes from the Hebrew "gā'ah," which denotes arrogance or haughtiness. This phrase suggests that while God is aware of the proud, His relationship with them is distant. The "afar" indicates a separation due to their pride, which is often condemned in Scripture as it leads to self-reliance and a rejection of God's authority (Proverbs 16:18). This serves as a warning that pride creates a barrier between individuals and God, contrasting with the closeness He offers to the humble. It underscores the biblical teaching that humility is essential for a right relationship with God (James 4:6).

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal existence and His relationship with His people. In this verse, He is depicted as exalted yet attentive to the humble.

2. The Lowly
Those who are humble in spirit, often marginalized or oppressed, whom God regards with care and attention.

3. The Proud
Individuals who are self-reliant and arrogant, whom God perceives from a distance, indicating a lack of intimate relationship.
Teaching Points
God's Transcendence and Immanence
God is exalted above all creation, yet He is intimately involved with those who are humble. This duality should encourage believers to approach God with reverence and humility.

The Value of Humility
Humility is a key virtue in the Christian life. It opens the door to God's grace and attention. Believers are encouraged to cultivate a humble heart to draw near to God.

The Danger of Pride
Pride creates a barrier between individuals and God. It leads to spiritual distance and hinders one's relationship with the Lord. Christians should be vigilant against prideful attitudes.

God's Justice and Fairness
God’s attention to the lowly and His distance from the proud reflect His just nature. He does not show favoritism but responds to the heart's condition.

Living in God's Presence
To live in God's presence, believers must adopt a posture of humility, recognizing their dependence on Him and seeking His guidance in all aspects of life.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding God's transcendence and immanence affect your daily walk with Him?

2. In what ways can you cultivate humility in your life to ensure you are drawing near to God?

3. Reflect on a time when pride may have created distance between you and God. How can you address this in the future?

4. How do the themes in Psalm 138:6 relate to the teachings of Jesus in the Beatitudes, particularly regarding the "poor in spirit"?

5. Considering the connections to other scriptures, how does the Bible consistently portray God's attitude towards the humble and the proud? How can this understanding shape your interactions with others?
Connections to Other Scriptures
James 4:6
This verse echoes the theme of God giving grace to the humble but opposing the proud, reinforcing the idea that humility is valued by God.

Isaiah 57:15
This passage highlights God's transcendence and His dwelling with the contrite and lowly in spirit, similar to the message in Psalm 138:6.

Proverbs 3:34
This proverb also speaks of God’s favor towards the humble and His opposition to the proud, aligning with the themes of divine attention and distance.
Sermons
God's Greatness and CondescensionJohn Pike.Psalm 138:6
HumilityW. Moodie, D. D.Psalm 138:6
The Divine Regard for the LowlyR. Tuck Psalm 138:6
Courage in Praising GodPsalm 138:1-8
Exultation in GodS. Conway Psalm 138:1-8
Moral Features of a Good Man's LifeHomilistPsalm 138:1-8
Open Praise and Public ConfessionPsalm 138:1-8
Whole-Hearted Praise Before the WorldPsalm 138:1-8
People
David, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Afar, Exalted, Haughty, Knoweth, Lifted, Looks, Low, Lowly, Proud, Regardeth, Regards, Respect, Sees, Though, Yet
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 138:6

     8276   humility
     8803   pride, evil of

Library
Faith in Perfection
In the opening, I must remark that this is not the heritage of all mankind. The word, "me," in the text, cannot be appropriated by any man, unless he, in some respects, resembles the character of David, who penned this psalm. The text, however, itself, is its own guard. If you look at it, you will see that there is in its bowels a full description of a true Christian. I will ask you three questions suggested by the words themselves, and according to your answer to these three questions, shall be …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859

Question of the Contemplative Life
I. Is the Contemplative Life wholly confined to the Intellect, or does the Will enter into it? S. Thomas, On the Beatific Vision, I., xii. 7 ad 3m II. Do the Moral Virtues pertain to the Contemplative Life? S. Augustine, Of the City of God, xix. 19 III. Does the Contemplative Life comprise many Acts? S. Augustine, Of the Perfection of Human Righteousness, viii. 18 " Ep., cxxx. ad probam IV. Does the Contemplative Life consist solely in the Contemplation of God, or in the Consideration …
St. Thomas Aquinas—On Prayer and The Contemplative Life

Epistle Xlvii. To Dominicus, Bishop.
To Dominicus, Bishop. Gregory to Dominicus, Bishop of Carthage [1454] . We have received with the utmost gratification the letters of your Fraternity, which have reached us somewhat late by the hands of Donatus and Quodvultdeus, our most reverend brethren and fellow-bishops, and also Victor the deacon with Agilegius the notary. And though we thought that we had suffered loss from the tardiness of their coming, yet we find gain from their more abundant charity; seeing that from this delay in point …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

The Coming Revival
"Wilt Thou not revive us again: that Thy people may rejoice in Thee?"--PS. lxxxv. 6. "O Lord, revive Thy work in the midst of the years."--HAB. iii. 2. "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me: Thy right hand shall save me."--PS. cxxxviii. 7. "I dwell with him that is of a humble and contrite heart, to revive the heart of the contrite ones."--ISA. lvii. 15. "Come, and let us return to the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will heal us. He will revive us."--HOS. vi. 1, 2. The Coming …
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

Forasmuch as Each Man is a Part of the Human Race...
1. Forasmuch as each man is a part of the human race, and human nature is something social, and hath for a great and natural good, the power also of friendship; on this account God willed to create all men out of one, in order that they might be held in their society not only by likeness of kind, but also by bond of kindred. Therefore the first natural bond of human society is man and wife. Nor did God create these each by himself, and join them together as alien by birth: but He created the one …
St. Augustine—On the Good of Marriage

Prayer Out of the Deep.
Hear my prayer, O God; and hide not Thyself from my petition. Take heed unto me and hear me; how I mourn in my prayer and am vexed.--Psalm iv. 1, 2. In my trouble I will call upon the Lord, and complain unto my God; so shall He hear my voice out of His holy temple, and my complaint shall come before Him; it shall enter even into His ears.--Ps. xviii. 5, 6. The Lord is nigh unto them that call upon Him; He also will hear their cry, and will help them.--Psalm cxlv. 18, 19. In the day when I cried …
Charles Kingsley—Out of the Deep

Wherefore a Few Witnesses, which the Lord Deigns to Suggest to My Mind...
32. Wherefore a few witnesses, which the Lord deigns to suggest to my mind, I proceed to mention, from out the teaching of Christ concerning humility, such as perhaps may be enough for my purpose. His discourse, the first which He delivered to His disciples at greater length, began from this. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." [2105] And these without all controversy we take to be humble. The faith of that Centurion He on this account chiefly praised, and said …
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

Letter Xliii a Consolatory Letter to the Parents of Geoffrey.
A Consolatory Letter to the Parents of Geoffrey. There is no reason to mourn a son as lost who is a religious, still less to fear for his delicacy of constitution. 1. If God makes your son His son also, what do you lose or what does he himself lose? Being rich he becomes richer; being already high born, of still nobler lineage; being illustrious, he gains greater renown; and--what is more than all--once a sinner he is now a saint. He must be prepared for the Kingdom that has been prepared for him …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

That the Ruler Should be Always Chief in Action.
The ruler should always be chief in action, that by his living he may point out the way of life to those that are put under him, and that the flock, which follows the voice and manners of the shepherd, may learn how to walk better through example than through words. For he who is required by the necessity of his position to speak the highest things is compelled by the same necessity to exhibit the highest things. For that voice more readily penetrates the hearer's heart, which the speaker's life …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

How those that are at Variance and those that are at Peace are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 23.) Differently to be admonished are those that are at variance and those that are at peace. For those that are at variance are to be admonished to know most certainly that, in whatever virtues they may abound, they can by no means become spiritual if they neglect becoming united to their neighbours by concord. For it is written, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace (Gal. v. 22). He then that has no care to keep peace refuses to bear the fruit of the Spirit. Hence Paul …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Sense in Which, and End for which all Things were Delivered to the Incarnate Son.
For whereas man sinned, and is fallen, and by his fall all things are in confusion: death prevailed from Adam to Moses (cf. Rom. v. 14), the earth was cursed, Hades was opened, Paradise shut, Heaven offended, man, lastly, corrupted and brutalised (cf. Ps. xlix. 12), while the devil was exulting against us;--then God, in His loving-kindness, not willing man made in His own image to perish, said, Whom shall I send, and who will go?' (Isa. vi. 8). But while all held their peace, the Son [441] said, …
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

Covenant Duties.
It is here proposed to show, that every incumbent duty ought, in suitable circumstances, to be engaged to in the exercise of Covenanting. The law and covenant of God are co-extensive; and what is enjoined in the one is confirmed in the other. The proposals of that Covenant include its promises and its duties. The former are made and fulfilled by its glorious Originator; the latter are enjoined and obligatory on man. The duties of that Covenant are God's law; and the demands of the law are all made …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Introduction. Chapter i. --The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of Poitiers.
St. Hilary of Poitiers is one of the greatest, yet least studied, of the Fathers of the Western Church. He has suffered thus, partly from a certain obscurity in his style of writing, partly from the difficulty of the thoughts which he attempted to convey. But there are other reasons for the comparative neglect into which he has fallen. He learnt his theology, as we shall see, from Eastern authorities, and was not content to carry on and develop the traditional teaching of the West; and the disciple …
St. Hilary of Poitiers—The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of Poitiers

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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