◄ Psalm 138:3 ►
On the day I called, You answered me; You emboldened me and strengthened my soul.
Study Bible
On the day I called
This phrase emphasizes the immediacy and personal nature of the psalmist's communication with God. The Hebrew root for "called" is קָרָא (qara), which conveys a sense of crying out or summoning. This reflects the psalmist's urgent need for divine intervention. Historically, calling upon God in times of distress was a common practice among the Israelites, demonstrating their reliance on God's faithfulness and readiness to respond.

You answered me
The assurance of God's response is central to this verse. The Hebrew root עָנָה (anah) means to answer or respond, indicating a dialogue between the psalmist and God. This interaction underscores the personal relationship believers have with God, who is attentive and responsive to their prayers. The historical context of Israel's covenant relationship with God reinforces the expectation of divine response to their calls.

You made me bold
The transformation from fear to boldness is a testament to the empowering presence of God. The Hebrew word חָזַק (chazaq) means to strengthen or make firm. This suggests that God's response not only addresses the immediate need but also fortifies the psalmist's spirit. In a broader scriptural context, this boldness is often associated with the courage to face adversities, rooted in the confidence of God's support.

and stouthearted
The term "stouthearted" conveys a sense of inner strength and resilience. The Hebrew word אָמֵץ (amets) implies being strong, courageous, or resolute. This transformation is a result of divine intervention, illustrating how God's presence can instill a profound sense of security and determination. Throughout the Bible, a stout heart is often linked to unwavering faith and trust in God's promises.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
Traditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 138, David is expressing his personal experience of God's faithfulness and strength.

2. God
The central figure in this verse, God is depicted as responsive and empowering, answering David's call and providing strength.

3. The Day of Calling
This refers to a specific time of need or distress when David called upon the Lord for help.
Teaching Points
God's Immediate Response
When we call upon God, He hears and answers us. This assurance should encourage us to turn to Him in every situation.

Divine Empowerment
God not only answers but also empowers us with boldness and strength. This empowerment is crucial for facing life's challenges with confidence.

Strengthening the Soul
The strengthening of the soul implies an inner fortitude that God provides, enabling us to endure and overcome difficulties.

The Importance of Prayer
David's experience underscores the importance of prayer as a means of communication with God, inviting His intervention and support.

Trust in God's Faithfulness
Trusting in God's faithfulness is essential. Just as He answered David, He is faithful to answer us, reinforcing our trust in His promises.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does David's experience of calling on God and receiving an answer encourage you in your own prayer life?

2. In what ways have you experienced God making you bold and strengthening your soul in times of need?

3. How can the assurance of God's response to our prayers influence our daily walk with Him?

4. What other biblical examples can you think of where God answered someone’s call and provided strength or boldness?

5. How can you apply the principle of calling on God in your current life situation, and what steps can you take to trust in His faithfulness more deeply?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 34:4
This verse also speaks of God answering when called upon, emphasizing His faithfulness to deliver from fears.

Isaiah 41:10
This passage reassures believers of God's presence and strength, similar to how God strengthens David's soul.

Philippians 4:6-7
These verses encourage believers to present their requests to God, promising peace and strength in return.

2 Timothy 1:7
This verse highlights the spirit of power and boldness given by God, aligning with the boldness mentioned in Psalm 138:3.
Sermons
Recognized Answer to PrayerR. Tuck Psalm 138:3
Successful PrayerJ. Burns, D. D.Psalm 138:3
The Provision of Inward StrengthR. Tuck Psalm 138:3
Valiant for the LordS. Conway Psalm 138:1-3
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
Answeredst, Bold, Cried, Cry, Ears, Encourage, Encouraged, Increase, Soul, Stouthearted, Strength, Strengthen, Strengthenedst
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 138:3

     8136   knowing God, effects
     8202   boldness
     8215   confidence, results
     8614   prayer, answers

Psalm 138:1-5

     8352   thankfulness

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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