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Psalm 138:8 and the Other Verses of Psalm 138

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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”

Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively.  Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior.  Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This webpage could be periodically updated.  If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated.  Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.  

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Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.  

When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:  

“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Note:  The heart refers to the mind.  

It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:  

“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”

It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:  

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”

A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned.  In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher.  Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:  

If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship:  whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living.  As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.

Note:  Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites.  Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM].  The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges.  The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity.  The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness.  In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human.  When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god.  Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.  

The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind.  In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:  

Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession.  Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram.  Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:  

Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.

The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:  

Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.  Also, it is still much more evident:  that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life.  Indeed, it is attested:  “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”

Note:  The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah.  Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body.  The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.  

Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest.  In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family.  Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:  

However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE.  You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Note:  Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people.  In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people.  The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23.  In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.  

Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Put succinctly:  itʼs the message rather than the messenger.  In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:  

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that.  I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book.  Worship God.”

*Note:  The word says is in the Greek historical present tense.  By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.  

Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated.  That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:  

The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews.  Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.  Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.

Note:  The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”  

Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday.  The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies.  Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies.  While it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur on a day other than the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah.  Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah, one can be prepared for that day because of already being in the habit of being prepared.  Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life.  Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.  

Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:  

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.  Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52

Behold, I tell you a mystery:  we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.

After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation.  The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation.  1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic.  In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.  

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night.  While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.  However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day.  We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober.  Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.  However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.  Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Note:  In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent.  In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context.  Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!”  In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness.  The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture.  In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation.  Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored.  The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1.  Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30.  In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit.  Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.  

The verse of the day for June 29th is Psalm 138:8.  Because it is useful to study verses that share the same context, below is content related to Psalm 138.  

Psalm 138:1

A Psalm of David.

I give You thanks / I praise You with all my heart.  I sing praises to You before the gods / angels / human rulers or judges / 'Elohiym [el-oh-HEEM] (the Godhead).

Note:  The heart refers to the mind.  The term Godhead refers to the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit].  Also, the letters i.e. are in the below note.  The letters i.e. are used to represent the phrase that is.  The two letters are an abbreviation for the Latin words id est, which mean “that is.”  When one reads those two letters, one can either say, “eye ee” or “that is.”  If one is reading out loud, and if any hearers of that reading are unaware of what the letters i.e. represent, it is best to say “that is.”  Also, the letters i.e. need to be followed by a comma.  

In this verse, the word translated as “gods” with a lowercase g, “angels,” “human rulers or judges,” or “'Elohiym” is אֱלֹהִים [pronounced el-oh-HEEM and can be transliterated as 'elohiym or 'Elohiym], which is an inflected form of the root word אֱלֹהִים [pronounced el-oh-HEEM and can be transliterated as 'elohiym or 'Elohiym].  (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.)  Depending on the context, אֱלֹהִים could refer to false gods, to angels, to human rulers or judges, or to the Godhead [i.e., the Trinity].  The context for Psalm 138:1 is such that it is indeterminable whether אֱלֹהִים in this verse refers to false gods, to angels, to human rulers or judges, or to the Godhead.  Nonetheless, we can still benefit from this verse.  David is thanking God the Father and singing praises to Him.  The Hebrew word translated as “before” in this verse is נֶגֶד [pronounced NEH-ghed and transliterated as neged].  That word means “before” as in “in front of.”  This is the usage of before in the sense of space rather than in the sense of time.  

David is indicating in Psalm 138:1 that he sings praises to God the Father in front of the 'elohiym or 'Elohiym.  If the usage is 'elohiym and referring to false gods, then in this psalm, David is indicating his reverence for God the Father and Davidʼs disdain for nonexistent deities.  If the usage is 'elohiym and referring to angels, then in this psalm, David is indicating his reverence for God the Father, David is indicating his awareness that God the Father is worthy of worship rather than angels being worthy of that, and David might also be indicating that David is functioning as an example for angels to see.  If the usage is 'elohiym and referring to human rulers or judges, then in this psalm, David is indicating his reverence for God the Father, David is indicating his awareness that God the Father is worthy of worship rather than human rulers or judges being worthy of that, and David might also be indicating that David is functioning as an example for human rulers or judges to see.  If the usage is 'Elohiym and therefore referring to the Godhead, then in this psalm, David is indicating his reverence for God the Father while at the same time acknowledging the other two Members of the Trinity:  God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  

How can a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ apply the content of Psalm 138:1 to that believerʼs own life?  Regardless of whether the Hebrew word used in this verse is 'elohiym or 'Elohiym, and regardless of whether the word refers to false gods, to angels, to human rulers or judges, or to the Godhead, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should sing praises to God the Father when that believer can, and that believer should thank God the Father.  Also, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should worship God the Father, and a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from worshiping false gods, angels, or human rulers or judges.  Regarding human rulers or judges, the word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness.  In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human.  With that in mind, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from worshiping humans who are mighty.  This includes athletes, actors, actresses, musicians, other celebrities, wealthy people in general, and any other humans who are or seem to be more powerful or more talented than the believer.  

Indeed, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from worshiping any humans other than the Lord Jesus Christ.  Refraining from worshiping humans other than the Lord Jesus Christ includes refraining from idolizing humans.  Likewise, a believer should refrain from wanting others to worship or idolize that believer.  It is worth noticing that David indicates in Psalm 138:1 that he is singing praises to God the Father.  David refrains from praising himself and from attempting to get others to praise him.  

Psalm 138:2

I bow down toward Your holy Temple and give thanks to / praise Your name/reputation for Your khesed / hesed / חֶסֶד / lovingkindness / mercy / unfailing love / loyal love and Your truth/faithfulness, for You have magnified Your utterance / word / promise / command / 'imrah [im-RAH] / אִמְרָה according to / together with all Your name/reputation.

Note:  In this verse, the word Temple refers either to Heaven (also known as the Third Heaven or Third Heavens) or to a structure that is the Temple in Heaven because while the Tabernacle existed during the time of David, the first earthly Temple was built after the time of David.  The word translated as “Temple” in this verse is הֵיכַל [pronounced hay-KAWL and can be transliterated as heykal], which is an inflected form of the root word הֵיכָל [pronounced hay-KAWL and can be transliterated as heykal].  (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.)  That word can be used to refer to a large building, such as a palace or temple.  

Regarding the word heaven, below is a summary of the different usages for that word.  

• The first heaven (also known as [aka] first heavens):  the atmosphere of earth

• The second heaven (aka second heavens):  outer space

• The Third Heaven (aka Third Heavens or simply as Heaven):  the location of the throne room of God the Father

There is an absence of many specific details about the Third Heaven in the Bible.  The absence of details includes the size of the Third Heaven.  Also, regarding David bowing down toward the holy Temple, there is an absence of details as to whether David knew in what direction it was located in relation to Davidʼs location on earth.  There is also an absence of detail about whether Davidʼs bowing down was literal bowing.  The word translated as “bow down” could also be translated as “prostrate myself.”  To prostrate oneself means to lie flat on the ground face downward as an act of revering someone or submitting to someone.  Whether Davidʼs bowing down / lying down was literal or metaphorical, what we can learn from Psalm 138:2 is that David was reverential and submissive toward God the Father.  There is an absence in the New Testament of any command specifying that a believer in the Lord Jesus Christʼs praying should be done while bowing down or lying down; therefore, what we can learn from Psalm 138:2 is that we should be reverential and submissive in our attitude toward God the Father when we pray to Him.  Indeed, we should be reverential and submissive toward God the Father all of the time.  

Psalm 138:3

On the day I have called, You answer me; You make me bold with strength in my soul.

Note:  The use of a present tense of the verb answer references what has occurred in the past.  Such a use of a present tense has a rhetorical effect.  In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the past can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine past events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.  

The use of a present tense of the verb make might also reference what has occurred in the past, or it might reference what continues to occur.  Regardless of whether David was using the verb make to reference what has occurred in the past or to reference what continues to occur, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ can have strength in his or her soul.  In order for a believer to have strength in his or her soul, the believer must learn the Word of God while in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and then apply the Word of God while in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit.  In that regard, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored.  The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1.  Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30.  In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit.  Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again, in fellowship with the Trinity again, and ready to learn and obey the Word of God again.  

Psalm 138:4

All the kings of the earth give thanks to You, O Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, when they have heard the words of Your mouth

Note:  The use of a present tense in a verb in this verse is a reference to what will occur in the future.  Such a use of a present tense has a rhetorical effect.  In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the future can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine future events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.  

The reference to the kings of the earth might be a reference to rulers who will be believers in the Lord Jesus Christ at the time of the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ, which will occur at the end of the seven-year Tribulation that follows the Rapture of Church Age believers.  Also, that reference might be a reference to believers who will become rulers after the Millennium has started.  With regard to the Church Age, Rapture, Tribulation, Second Advent, and Millennium, below is a synopsis of human history as categorized into time periods known as dispensations.  In the below synopsis, there is the term hypostatic union [high-PUH-stat-ick YOON-yuhn].  This refers to the Lord Jesus Christ being 100% Deity and 100% humanity.  The English word hypostatic is derived from the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek word ὑπόστασις [pronounced hoo-PAH-stah-sees and transliterated as hypostasis].  After the Lord Jesus Christ was judged for the sins of humanity, His body was in the grave for three days and three nights.  He was then resurrected, and He was on the earth for forty days after He was resurrected.  He then ascended to Heaven, and ten days after that, the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst] occurred.  The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Church Age.  The word Pentecost is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντηκοστή [pronounced pen-tay-kah-STAY and transliterated as pentēkostē].  That word is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντήκοντα [pronounced pen-TAY-kahn-tah and transliterated as pentēkonta], which means “fifty.”  Therefore, the word Pentecost is derived from the fact that that day occurred fifty days after the Lord was resurrected.  In that regard, the Church Age began fifty days after the Lord was resurrected.  The Church Age will end with the Rapture.  The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies.  Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies.  Absent from the Bible is anything specifically indicating the precise date and time when the Rapture will occur, although it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026.  

Regarding the word judgment, the proper way to spell that word is without an e between the dg and the m.  In that regard, the e of the root word judge is dropped when the suffix ment is added to that root word.  The formation of the word judgment is shown below.  

judge −e +ment

= judg +ment

= judgment

Another way to categorize human history is by means of civilizations.  Civilizations begin only with believers.  Regarding the timing of civilizations and dispensations, the first civilization began with Adam and ended on the occasion of the Great Flood (also known as the Flood).  That civilization is known as the antediluvian civilization and the predulivian civilization.  In that regard, the prefixes ante and pre mean “before.”  Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time before the Flood.  Those spellings include antediluvian, ante-diluvian, prediluvian, and pre-diluvian.  

After the Flood, there were only eight believers on the earth:  Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their sonsʼ wives.  With the removal of the unbelievers from the earth on the occasion of the Flood, a new civilization was started.  That civilization is known as the postdiluvian civilization (also known as the postdiluvial civilization).  Regarding the terminology, the prefix post means “after,” and the adjectives diluvian and diluvial mean “having to do with a flood.”  Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time after the Flood.  Those spellings include postdiluvian, post-diluvian, postdiluvial, and post-diluvial.  The postdiluvian civilization will end on the occasion of the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ.  On the occasion of the Second Advent, the Lord will remove all unbelievers from the earth.  Their removal will be by means of physical death just as the removal of all unbelievers was by means of physical death on the occasion of the Flood.  This is called the Baptism of Fire, which is either a metaphorical description because fire can be used to represent judgment or a literal reference to the use of fire in the judgment of unbelievers on the occasion of the Second Advent.  The Baptism of Fire is referenced in Matthew 3:11–12; Luke 3:15–17; and 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9.  

Just as a new civilization started after the Flood, so also a new civilization will start after the Baptism of Fire.  That civilization is called the Millennium.  The Millennium is both a civilization and a dispensation.  The Eternal State is also both a civilization and a dispensation.  

The content of Psalm 138:4 is repeated below for reference.  

Psalm 138:4

All the kings of the earth give thanks to You, O Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, when they have heard the words of Your mouth

Psalm 138:5

and they sing of the ways of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, for great is the glory of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.

Note:  As with verse 4, the use of a present tense in a verb in this verse is a reference to what will occur in the future.  Such a use of a present tense has a rhetorical effect.  In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the future can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine future events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.  

Psalm 138:6

Certainly, though Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One is exalted, yet He regards the lowly, but the haughty/proud He knows from afar.

Note:  This verse calls attention to the fact that God the Father cares about those believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who obey His Word regularly.  The word translated as “lowly” in Psalm 138:6 can also be translated as “humble” or “humiliated.”  Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who obey Godʼs Word regularly are unselfish; therefore, they have humility.  People who have humility are truly humble (there are some selfish people who pretend to be humble).  Also, people who are poor in terms of material wealth can be referred to as having humble circumstances.  Whether the usage in Psalm 138:6 is referring to a believer who has humility or to a believer in humble circumstances, what we can learn from this verse is that if a believer obeys the Word of God regularly, God the Father cares for him or her, regardless of that believerʼs circumstances.  In contrast, God the Father regards the haughty or proud person from afar, which means that God the Fatherʼs interaction with such a person is the opposite of a close relationship.  Instead, God the Fatherʼs interaction with such a person is metaphorically distant.  

Psalm 138:7

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You revive me / keep me alive; You stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand saves/delivers me.

Note:  The reference to a hand is an anthropomorphism [an-thruh-puh-MOR-fiz-uhm].  An anthropomorphism is a usage of terminology involving a physical characteristic to describe a characteristic of the essence of the Trinity.  The anthropomorphism involving a hand in Psalm 138:7 is a metaphor that calls attention to the power of God the Father.  The second reference to a hand includes the use of the word right.  Because the right hand is typically the stronger hand for most people, it is possible that the usage of the term right hand is an intensified emphasis that emphatically calls attention to the omnipotence [all-powerfulness] of God the Father.  Also, the context of Psalm 138:7 is the deliverance from trouble and from enemies.  David had been involved in quite a bit of combat during his life.  

Psalm 138:8

Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One accomplishes what concerns me; Your khesed / hesed / חֶסֶד / lovingkindness / mercy / unfailing love / loyal love, O Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, is everlasting.  Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

Note:  In Psalm 138:8, the works of God the Fatherʼs hands to which David refers involve another anthropomorphism.  The reference to the works of God the Fatherʼs hands refers to God the Fatherʼs plan.  In this verse, David is indicating his willingness to submit to God the Fatherʼs plan, and David is asking God the Father to bring that plan to completion.  Rather than being focused on any plans that David has, David is instead focused on God the Fatherʼs plan.  

Sincerely,

John