“All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth.”
All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth. The eschatological vision includes universal acknowledgment of God by earthly rulers, all hearing and responding to God's utterance. This verse suggests that God's demonstration of power (described in preceding verses) will eventually elicit universal recognition. Kings represent the pinnacle of human authority; their praise of God acknowledges His supremacy over all earthly power. The hearing of God's words suggests both communication and persuasive effect; encountering God's utterance produces conviction. This verse begins the psalm's movement toward eschatological universalism.
Church Fathers on Psalms 138:4
1. The title of this Psalm is brief and simple, and need not detain us; since we know whose resemblance David wore, and since in him we recognise ourselves also, for we too are members of that Body. The whole title is, “To David himself.” Let us see then, what is to David himself. The title of the Psalm is wont to tell us what is treated of within it: but in this, since the title informs us not of this, but tells us only to Whom it is chanted, the first verse tells us what is…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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