All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.
Psalm 138:4 widens David’s praise from one grateful king to all kings of the earth. David has just confessed, “In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul” (v.3). Now he looks beyond his own experience. Jehovah’s words are worthy to be heard by rulers everywhere, and when they are rightly heard, the proper response is praise.
“All the kings of the earth.” David begins with the highest men among nations. Kings possess authority, armies, wealth, honour, counsellors, and influence. Yet none of these place them above God. Earthly rulers remain creatures under the King of heaven. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD” (Proverbs 21:1), and “the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men” (Daniel 4:32).
The phrase is therefore humbling to rulers. Kings may command nations, but they must hear God. Their crowns do not excuse them from His word. Their authority does not make truth subject to them. They are responsible to the One whose kingdom rules over all.
“Shall praise thee.” David looks for something greater than forced submission. He speaks of praise. The King of heaven is worthy to be honoured by earthly kings. Their highest use of office is not self-exaltation, conquest, wealth, or fame, but acknowledgment of Jehovah.
This praise also agrees with the next verse: “Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD” (v.5). They do not merely admit that God exists. They praise Him because His ways and glory have become known to them. Hearing produces understanding; understanding produces praise.
“O LORD.” The praise belongs to Jehovah. LORD in all capital letters is the King James Bible’s usual way of representing the divine name Jehovah, the self-existent, faithful God. David himself is a king, yet he gladly bows beneath a greater King. The glory of Psalm 138 is not David’s throne, but Jehovah’s name, word, mercy, truth, and everlasting purpose.
“When they hear.” Here is the turning point. Praise follows hearing. Kings cannot rightly praise a God they refuse to hear. The ear must first bow before the mouth can bless. This agrees with the repeated command of Scripture: “Hear, O Israel” (Deuteronomy 6:4), and Christ’s warning, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15).
Hearing here must be more than sound reaching the ear. Many heard Christ and remained unbelieving. True hearing receives the words with reverence, understands their authority, and yields to them. The kings praise when the words of God reach them as truth from the King above them.
This gives great importance to the proclamation of God’s word. Kings cannot hear unless the word is spoken, read, taught, or preached. God’s truth must not be hidden because rulers are powerful or hostile. Paul testified before governors and kings. Christ said of Paul, “he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings” (Acts 9:15).
“The words.” The cause of praise is not spectacle, political power, human eloquence, or religious entertainment. It is words. God has chosen to reveal Himself by intelligible speech. His truth comes in words that teach, command, promise, warn, judge, and comfort.
This should greatly honour Scripture in our minds. The world is impressed by armies, wealth, ceremonies, buildings, and influence; David points to “the words.” A king may command thousands, yet one word from God carries infinitely greater authority.
“Of thy mouth.” This gives the words their weight. They are not David’s inventions, Israel’s traditions, or the opinions of religious men. They proceed from God. Elsewhere David spoke of “the word of thy lips” (Psalm 17:4), and the psalmist called Scripture “the law of thy mouth” (Psalm 119:72). God’s written revelation is valuable because it is His speech.
This phrase also creates a beautiful contrast with human mouths. Kings speak laws, decrees, threats, promises, and judgments; but their words are temporary and limited. God’s mouth speaks with final authority. “For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalm 33:9). Earthly kings must eventually hear the words of the heavenly King.
This verse shows the duty of making God’s words known to rulers. Kings cannot praise what they have never heard. God therefore sends His truth to high and low alike, and His servants must speak it plainly and without fear. Paul was appointed to bear Christ’s name “before the Gentiles, and kings” (Acts 9:15). The glory is not in the preacher, but in the words of God that he is charged to declare.
There is also a prophetic greatness in the verse. David’s own kingdom was small compared with all the kings of the earth, yet he looks beyond Israel to rulers everywhere praising Jehovah. This agrees with the larger promise of Scripture that the nations would be brought to acknowledge the God of Israel and His Christ. “Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him” (Psalm 72:11).
Jesus Christ brings this hope into its fullest light. He is the “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16). Kings are not above His command; they are among those summoned to hear Him. Psalm 2 tells kings to be wise, serve the LORD with fear, and kiss the Son (Psalm 2:10-12). Psalm 138:4 shows the blessed alternative to rebellion: hear the words of God and praise Him.
This verse also speaks to every lesser hearer. If kings must hear, none of us is exempt. Wealth, education, office, age, reputation, and experience cannot place a man above God’s mouth. The wisest posture before divine words is humility: hear them, believe them, obey them, and praise the One who spoke them.
Psalm 138:4 therefore gives the right order: God speaks, men hear, and praise follows. Kings may possess great authority, but Jehovah possesses all authority. Let His words reach rulers and common men alike. Let every ear bow to His speech and every mouth answer with praise. The highest honour of an earthly king is to hear the words of Jehovah and bless the King whose glory is great.
All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.
Psalm 138:4 widens David’s praise from one grateful king to all kings of the earth. David has just confessed, “In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul” (v.3). Now he looks beyond his own experience. Jehovah’s words are worthy to be heard by rulers everywhere, and when they are rightly heard, the proper response is praise.
“All the kings of the earth.” David begins with the highest men among nations. Kings possess authority, armies, wealth, honour, counsellors, and influence. Yet none of these place them above God. Earthly rulers remain creatures under the King of heaven. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD” (Proverbs 21:1), and “the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men” (Daniel 4:32).
The phrase is therefore humbling to rulers. Kings may command nations, but they must hear God. Their crowns do not excuse them from His word. Their authority does not make truth subject to them. They are responsible to the One whose kingdom rules over all.
“Shall praise thee.” David looks for something greater than forced submission. He speaks of praise. The King of heaven is worthy to be honoured by earthly kings. Their highest use of office is not self-exaltation, conquest, wealth, or fame, but acknowledgment of Jehovah.
This praise also agrees with the next verse: “Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD” (v.5). They do not merely admit that God exists. They praise Him because His ways and glory have become known to them. Hearing produces understanding; understanding produces praise.
“O LORD.” The praise belongs to Jehovah. LORD in all capital letters is the King James Bible’s usual way of representing the divine name Jehovah, the self-existent, faithful God. David himself is a king, yet he gladly bows beneath a greater King. The glory of Psalm 138 is not David’s throne, but Jehovah’s name, word, mercy, truth, and everlasting purpose.
“When they hear.” Here is the turning point. Praise follows hearing. Kings cannot rightly praise a God they refuse to hear. The ear must first bow before the mouth can bless. This agrees with the repeated command of Scripture: “Hear, O Israel” (Deuteronomy 6:4), and Christ’s warning, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15).
Hearing here must be more than sound reaching the ear. Many heard Christ and remained unbelieving. True hearing receives the words with reverence, understands their authority, and yields to them. The kings praise when the words of God reach them as truth from the King above them.
This gives great importance to the proclamation of God’s word. Kings cannot hear unless the word is spoken, read, taught, or preached. God’s truth must not be hidden because rulers are powerful or hostile. Paul testified before governors and kings. Christ said of Paul, “he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings” (Acts 9:15).
“The words.” The cause of praise is not spectacle, political power, human eloquence, or religious entertainment. It is words. God has chosen to reveal Himself by intelligible speech. His truth comes in words that teach, command, promise, warn, judge, and comfort.
This should greatly honour Scripture in our minds. The world is impressed by armies, wealth, ceremonies, buildings, and influence; David points to “the words.” A king may command thousands, yet one word from God carries infinitely greater authority.
“Of thy mouth.” This gives the words their weight. They are not David’s inventions, Israel’s traditions, or the opinions of religious men. They proceed from God. Elsewhere David spoke of “the word of thy lips” (Psalm 17:4), and the psalmist called Scripture “the law of thy mouth” (Psalm 119:72). God’s written revelation is valuable because it is His speech.
This phrase also creates a beautiful contrast with human mouths. Kings speak laws, decrees, threats, promises, and judgments; but their words are temporary and limited. God’s mouth speaks with final authority. “For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalm 33:9). Earthly kings must eventually hear the words of the heavenly King.
This verse shows the duty of making God’s words known to rulers. Kings cannot praise what they have never heard. God therefore sends His truth to high and low alike, and His servants must speak it plainly and without fear. Paul was appointed to bear Christ’s name “before the Gentiles, and kings” (Acts 9:15). The glory is not in the preacher, but in the words of God that he is charged to declare.
There is also a prophetic greatness in the verse. David’s own kingdom was small compared with all the kings of the earth, yet he looks beyond Israel to rulers everywhere praising Jehovah. This agrees with the larger promise of Scripture that the nations would be brought to acknowledge the God of Israel and His Christ. “Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him” (Psalm 72:11).
Jesus Christ brings this hope into its fullest light. He is the “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16). Kings are not above His command; they are among those summoned to hear Him. Psalm 2 tells kings to be wise, serve the LORD with fear, and kiss the Son (Psalm 2:10-12). Psalm 138:4 shows the blessed alternative to rebellion: hear the words of God and praise Him.
This verse also speaks to every lesser hearer. If kings must hear, none of us is exempt. Wealth, education, office, age, reputation, and experience cannot place a man above God’s mouth. The wisest posture before divine words is humility: hear them, believe them, obey them, and praise the One who spoke them.
Psalm 138:4 therefore gives the right order: God speaks, men hear, and praise follows. Kings may possess great authority, but Jehovah possesses all authority. Let His words reach rulers and common men alike. Let every ear bow to His speech and every mouth answer with praise. The highest honour of an earthly king is to hear the words of Jehovah and bless the King whose glory is great.