Psalm 138.
I will praise Thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto Thee.
I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy Word above all Thy Name.
In the day when I cried Thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
All the kings of the earth shall praise Thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of Thy mouth.
Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.
Though the LORD be high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me: Thou shalt stretch forth Thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and Thy right hand shall save me.
The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of Thine own hands.
David was bountiful if praise and thanksiving to the God he served and worshiped all his life. Of course, David didn’t know the story of the self-important Pharisee who praised himself, while the poor man spoke humbly to the Lord. That is the story that came to mind for me when I read v. 6 of this psalm.
In Luke 18:11-12, we read what the Pharisee thought of himself: “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank Thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.”
But in v. 13 we read, “And the publican (tax collector), standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”
Apparently the Pharisee didn’t need God’s approval, since he already thought so highly of himself. The publican, though, was not so self-important, and he is the one that won the regard of Jesus.