Psalms 138:3 Commentary: Strengthened Soul

Psalm 138 belongs to a small collection of Davidic psalms of thanksgiving. The superscription, “By David,” and the references to his enemies (v. 7) suggest a context of political or military distress, possibly the years when Saul pursued him, or later during Absalom’s rebellion. The psalm opens with a vow to praise God “before the gods” (v. 1), a phrase that has been understood as angelic beings, human rulers, or even as “before God” (with ‘Elohim’ as a divine name). Whatever the precise reference, the setting is public worship: David gives thanks in the sanctuary, orienting himself toward the holy temple (v. 2).

Verse 3 forms the pivot of the first strophe. The phrase “in the day that I called” stresses immediacy, God answered without delay. In Israel’s prayer tradition, crying out (qara) was a standard gesture of distress, often paired with God’s “hearing” and “answering” (cf. Psalms 18:6; 34:4, 6). What makes verse 3 distinctive is the verb tarhiveni, which appears only here in the Psalms in the Hiphil stem. It carries the sense of “making bold” or “emboldening,” even “giving a proud consciousness of strength” (Cambridge Bible). The word rahav elsewhere connotes arrogance or stormy behavior (Job 26:12; Psalm 89:10, where it refers to the sea monster Rahab). But here God takes that assertive energy and redirects it: instead of human pride, the psalmist receives a holy boldness.

Literarily, the psalm moves from personal testimony (vv. 1, 3) to a vision of universal praise (vv. 4, 6), then back to personal trust (vv. 7, 8). Verse 3 is the ground for both the public thanksgiving and the future hope. The “strength in my soul” (oz benafshi) echoes the language of Judges 5:21, where the strength of the Lord sweeps away enemies. David’s experience is not merely private comfort; it becomes the basis for a witness that reaches “all the kings of the earth” (v. 4).

The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for Psalm 138:3. The critical apparatus of the Masoretic text is stable; the Septuagint and Vulgate render the verse with similar sense. The primary textual question in the psalm concerns the first line of verse 1, where some manuscripts include “Yahweh” after “I will praise thee”; this does not affect verse 3.

Psalm 138:3 has been used across Christian traditions as a testimony to God’s faithfulness in answering prayer. John Calvin, in his commentary, treats the verse as the experiential basis for David’s public thanksgiving and argues that it demonstrates God’s care for the lowly. Matthew Henry draws from it an encouragement to remember past deliveries. The verse appears in devotional literature as a model of “same-day” answers, inviting believers to recognize God’s immediate work. In the Wesleyan tradition, Adam Clarke sees it as a description of sanctifying grace poured into the soul. The Hebrew term tarhiveni has attracted attention from lexicographers (e.g., Gesenius) for its unique usage. No known hymn or creed centers on this verse specifically, but it is often cited in sermons on prayer and courage.

Three-point outline

1. The crisis that drives us to call: David cried out in the day of trouble. Prayer begins with honest need, not polished performance.
2. The God who answers on the day we call: “You answered me.” The immediacy of God’s response is a recurring testimony in the Psalms, not always delivering from the situation, but always giving himself.
3. The strength that comes within: “You emboldened me with strength in my soul.” God’s answer is not just external rescue; it is internal reinforcement, courage, faith, a quiet confidence that outlasts the trial.

Five-point outline

1. Introduction: The psalmist thanks God for a remembered answer to prayer.
2. The act of calling: In distress, David cried out, a specific, historical moment that he recalls with gratitude.
3. God’s immediate response: “In the day that I called, you answered me.” Not delayed, not distant, present.
4. The nature of the answer: Not merely a change in circumstances, but a strengthening of the soul. The Hebrew verb tarhiveni (“you made me bold”) points to a supernatural infusion of courage.
5. Application: This verse invites believers to remember their own “days of calling” and to trust that the same God who strengthened David strengthens us still.

Illustration hooks

• Before a difficult conversation: A person prays for courage before a confrontation or an honest talk with a loved one. The sense of calm that settles in the moment they speak is like “strength in the soul.”
• Waiting for test results: The hours between a scan and a diagnosis. The prayer “Help” doesn’t change the outcome, but it changes the person facing it.
• A public speaking fear: The moment of standing to speak, dry mouth, racing heart, then inexplicable composure. That is God emboldening the soul.

Questions your congregation is asking

• Why does God sometimes answer immediately and other times seem silent?
• Is inner strength real if my external situation doesn’t change?
• How can I know whether the courage I feel is from God or just my own resolve?

Psalm 138:3 captures a moment of remembered grace. David looks back on a time of distress and recalls that God answered him on the very day he prayed, not with a change in circumstances alone, but with strength poured into his soul. This verse invites us to consider our own history with prayer and to reflect on what it means for God to strengthen us from the inside out.

Discussion questions

1. Read Psalm 138:3 aloud in several translations. What differences do you notice in how they render the verb “encouraged” or “emboldened”? How does this shape your understanding of the verse?
2. David says God answered him “in the day that I called.” Have you experienced an answer to prayer that felt immediate? What was that like? How did it affect your faith?
3. The Hebrew verb tarhiveni (from rahav) can mean “to make bold” or even “to give a proud consciousness of strength” (Cambridge Bible). Why is it significant that God gives boldness rather than just relief?
4. Does this verse describe a purely internal experience (strength in the soul) or does it have practical, visible effects? How do you decide?
5. Compare Psalm 138:3 with Psalm 27:14 (“Wait for Yahweh; be strong, and let your heart take courage”). How is God’s strengthening connected to waiting? To action?
6. Think of a time you prayed in distress and felt a quiet courage or peace that surprised you. In what sense was that an “answer” to prayer, even if the situation didn’t resolve immediately?
7. How might this verse encourage someone who feels weak or afraid right now? What would you say to them about the kind of strength God gives?