What are some of the things that David gives thanks to God for in this psalm?

Why do you think that David specifies that he gives thanks to the Lord before the other gods?  (138:1)

Why do you think that it is so important to God that we only worship Him?  And that we don’t worship any other gods (or any other thing) alongside him?

Why do you think that David mentions the temple?  (138:2)  What was significant about the temple in the Old Covenant?  What happened there?

How does the Christ’s death on the cross enable us to come into the presence of God and worship him?  Why is the former (Christ’s death) necessary for the latter (our worship of God)?

David mentions that God has exalted his name and his word above all things.  (138:2)  What does it mean for God to exalt his name?  What does it mean for God to exalt his word?  Why are these significant?

David says that God regards the lowly, but that he only knows the haughty from a distance.  (138:6)  Why is this significant?  What does this tell us about the heart of God?  How does this reality inform how we relate to God?

David says that God preserves his life, even in the midst of trouble.  (138:7)  Have you seen this prove to be true in your life, or in the lives of people around you?  If so, how?  How might God be calling us to respond to suffering in our lives, in light of this theological reality?

David says that God will fulfill his purposes in his life, and not forsake him.  (138:8)  What does this tell us about the character of God?  What does this tell us about the nature of the Christian life?