This verse encourages all who trust in the Lord to give Him thanks and rest in His protection.
Surely the righteous will give thanks to Your name; The upright will dwell in Your presence. (v.13)
In Psalm 140:13, traditionally attributed to David, he proclaims confidence that those who live in right standing before the Lord will respond with gratitude and praise. The verse says the “righteous” will thank God for His protection and deliverance, which is a repeated theme in many psalms (as in Psalm 31 and Psalm 100). David—who ruled Israel around 1010-970 BC and is recognized in biblical history for his wholehearted devotion to the Lord—had numerous experiences fleeing danger and witnessing divine intervention. In this particular Psalm, he trusts that God will bring justice upon the wicked and preserve those who humbly rely on Him. By stating that “the upright will dwell in Your presence,”David alludes to the Lord’s intention to draw near to people of integrity, reminding us that being in God’s holy presence is an act of pure grace. This verse also looks toward the ultimate hope believers possess: to faithfully praise God and dwell with Him, a foreshadowing of the New Testament’s reassurances that those who have been redeemed will someday abide with Jesus forever (John 14:2-3, not italicized).
Just as David recognized God’s presence in the ancient land of Israel, believers throughout history have echoed the same assurance. In the fullness of the biblical narrative, Jesus exemplified perfect righteousness and promised He would dwell with those who follow Him. That idea is repeated in Jesus’s words, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). This verse in Psalm 140 ultimately captures the confidence believers have that when we walk uprightly—loving God and seeking His ways—we will abide in His presence to praise Him.
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Psalms 140:13 meaning
Surely the righteous will give thanks to Your name; The upright will dwell in Your presence. (v.13)
In Psalm 140:13, traditionally attributed to David, he proclaims confidence that those who live in right standing before the Lord will respond with gratitude and praise. The verse says the “righteous” will thank God for His protection and deliverance, which is a repeated theme in many psalms (as in Psalm 31 and Psalm 100). David—who ruled Israel around 1010-970 BC and is recognized in biblical history for his wholehearted devotion to the Lord—had numerous experiences fleeing danger and witnessing divine intervention. In this particular Psalm, he trusts that God will bring justice upon the wicked and preserve those who humbly rely on Him. By stating that “the upright will dwell in Your presence,” David alludes to the Lord’s intention to draw near to people of integrity, reminding us that being in God’s holy presence is an act of pure grace. This verse also looks toward the ultimate hope believers possess: to faithfully praise God and dwell with Him, a foreshadowing of the New Testament’s reassurances that those who have been redeemed will someday abide with Jesus forever (John 14:2-3, not italicized).
Just as David recognized God’s presence in the ancient land of Israel, believers throughout history have echoed the same assurance. In the fullness of the biblical narrative, Jesus exemplified perfect righteousness and promised He would dwell with those who follow Him. That idea is repeated in Jesus’s words, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). This verse in Psalm 140 ultimately captures the confidence believers have that when we walk uprightly—loving God and seeking His ways—we will abide in His presence to praise Him.