Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.
Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.
Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.
Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.
Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.
Blessed be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.
Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.
Psalms 28 is a powerful blend of desperate supplication and heartfelt thanksgiving. While the author isn't explicitly named, many scholars attribute it to David, a shepherd, warrior, and king intimately familiar with both danger and divine deliverance. This psalm, resonating with the themes found in Psalms 26 and 27, reveals David in a precarious situation, surrounded by enemies, yet firmly anchored in his trust in the Lord.
A Cry for Deliverance (Psalms 28:1-5)
The psalm opens with an urgent cry for God's attention. David pleads, "To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me" (Psalms 28:1). He recognizes God as his "rock," a symbol of steadfastness and refuge. David fears that silence from God would equate to destruction, a fate he associates with the wicked. He implores God not to "drag me off with the wicked, with those who are workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts" (Psalms 28:3).
David paints a vivid picture of his adversaries: they are "workers of evil," "deceptive," and ultimately "unbelieving." They feign peace while harboring malicious intentions. David is confident that he does not share in their wicked deeds, and therefore he is confident God will not judge him as he judges them. He prays that God will repay them according to their deeds and the evil of their practices (Psalms 28:4), a just recompense for their wickedness.
David emphasizes that the wicked "do not regard the works of the Lord or the work of his hands" (Psalms 28:5). They are willingly blind to God's power and presence, evident both in creation and in miraculous interventions. This deliberate disregard leaves them without excuse, inviting God's judgment, as Paul explains in Romans 1:18-23.
Praise for Answered Prayer (Psalms 28:6-9)
The tone shifts dramatically as David transitions from supplication to exuberant praise. "Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy" (Psalms 28:6). God's attentiveness to David's cry transforms his fear into joy. He proclaims, "The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him" (Psalms 28:7).
David, the warrior, understood the importance of a shield for protection (Psalms 144:1). He recognizes God as his ultimate protector, providing both security and unwavering confidence. This resonates with the idea of God's protection over His people, particularly His plan to bring the Messiah into the world. David states, "The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed" (Psalms 28:8).
The psalm concludes with a heartfelt plea for God's continued care for His people. Drawing on his experience as a shepherd (1 Samuel 17:34), David prays, "Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever" (Psalms 28:9). He recognizes God as the ultimate shepherd, entrusting the well-being of Israel to His loving care. David asks God to shepherd his people and carry them through their trials.
Application
Psalms 28 offers timeless lessons for believers today. It reminds us of the importance of:
- Persistent Prayer: Like David, we should bring our anxieties and fears to God in prayer, trusting in His faithfulness to hear and respond.
- Discernment: We must be discerning, recognizing the presence of evil and refusing to participate in wicked schemes.
- Gratitude: When God answers our prayers and delivers us from difficult situations, we should respond with heartfelt praise and thanksgiving. When God provides some form of deliverance in our circumstances, it ought to prompt fresh praise for his shield of covering amid the evil that surrounds us.
- Intercession: We are called to intercede for others, praying for God's protection and blessing upon His people.
Psalms 28 encourages us to trust in God as our strength, shield, and shepherd, knowing that He will guide and protect us through every challenge we face.
Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.
Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.
Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.
Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.
Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.
Blessed be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.
Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.
Psalms 28 is a powerful blend of desperate supplication and heartfelt thanksgiving. While the author isn't explicitly named, many scholars attribute it to David, a shepherd, warrior, and king intimately familiar with both danger and divine deliverance. This psalm, resonating with the themes found in Psalms 26 and 27, reveals David in a precarious situation, surrounded by enemies, yet firmly anchored in his trust in the Lord.
A Cry for Deliverance (Psalms 28:1-5)
The psalm opens with an urgent cry for God's attention. David pleads, "To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me" (Psalms 28:1). He recognizes God as his "rock," a symbol of steadfastness and refuge. David fears that silence from God would equate to destruction, a fate he associates with the wicked. He implores God not to "drag me off with the wicked, with those who are workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts" (Psalms 28:3).
David paints a vivid picture of his adversaries: they are "workers of evil," "deceptive," and ultimately "unbelieving." They feign peace while harboring malicious intentions. David is confident that he does not share in their wicked deeds, and therefore he is confident God will not judge him as he judges them. He prays that God will repay them according to their deeds and the evil of their practices (Psalms 28:4), a just recompense for their wickedness.
David emphasizes that the wicked "do not regard the works of the Lord or the work of his hands" (Psalms 28:5). They are willingly blind to God's power and presence, evident both in creation and in miraculous interventions. This deliberate disregard leaves them without excuse, inviting God's judgment, as Paul explains in Romans 1:18-23.
Praise for Answered Prayer (Psalms 28:6-9)
The tone shifts dramatically as David transitions from supplication to exuberant praise. "Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy" (Psalms 28:6). God's attentiveness to David's cry transforms his fear into joy. He proclaims, "The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him" (Psalms 28:7).
David, the warrior, understood the importance of a shield for protection (Psalms 144:1). He recognizes God as his ultimate protector, providing both security and unwavering confidence. This resonates with the idea of God's protection over His people, particularly His plan to bring the Messiah into the world. David states, "The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed" (Psalms 28:8).
The psalm concludes with a heartfelt plea for God's continued care for His people. Drawing on his experience as a shepherd (1 Samuel 17:34), David prays, "Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever" (Psalms 28:9). He recognizes God as the ultimate shepherd, entrusting the well-being of Israel to His loving care. David asks God to shepherd his people and carry them through their trials.
Application
Psalms 28 offers timeless lessons for believers today. It reminds us of the importance of:
- Persistent Prayer: Like David, we should bring our anxieties and fears to God in prayer, trusting in His faithfulness to hear and respond.
- Discernment: We must be discerning, recognizing the presence of evil and refusing to participate in wicked schemes.
- Gratitude: When God answers our prayers and delivers us from difficult situations, we should respond with heartfelt praise and thanksgiving. When God provides some form of deliverance in our circumstances, it ought to prompt fresh praise for his shield of covering amid the evil that surrounds us.
- Intercession: We are called to intercede for others, praying for God's protection and blessing upon His people.
Psalms 28 encourages us to trust in God as our strength, shield, and shepherd, knowing that He will guide and protect us through every challenge we face.