Psalms 28:1-9

INTRODUCTION
The Lord Is My Strength and My Shield
Psa 28:1 A Psalm of David. 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.
Psa 28:2 Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I
lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.
Psa 28:3 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.
Psa 28:4 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.
Psa 28:5 Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation
of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.
Psa 28:6 Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my
supplications.
Psa 28:7 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.
Psa 28:8 The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his
anointed.
Psa 28:9 Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and
lift them up for ever.

Hitsig and others have assigned this psalm to Jeremiah, but there does not
seem to be thy sufficient reason for questioning the traditional title which
gives it to David. It may have been composed before he became king in
Jerusalem, or at the time of Absalom’s rebellion. It consists of two divisions.
After earnestly pleading audience (Psa_28:1-2), the psalmist prays that he
may not be confounded( especially to express anger or annoyance.) with the wicked in
their just punishment (Psa_28:3-5). He then gives thanks for anticipated
deliverance, and ends with a prayer for the blessing of God upon all His
people (Psa_28:6-9). There are points of resemblance between this psalm
and the two preceding.
 THE INSTINCTS OF THE HEART
This psalm may be held to express the deepest feelings of the heart.
I. The sense of dependence upon God (Psa_28:1)
Psa 28:1 A Psalm of David. 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. .
This “cry” is common. It expresses dependence. It is founded on the
relation of the soul to God. The creature cries to the Creator, the subject
cries to the sovereign, the sinner cries to the Saviour. In want and peril;
when burdened with sorrow, and when bowed to the dust under the
sense of sin and the fear of death, the soul instinctively, turns to God for
relief.
This "cry" is quite common. It expresses reliance. It is based on the
soul's relationship with God (Spiritual status/Walking beside Him or Afar
of). The creature begs the Creator, the subject begs the sovereign, and
the sinner begs the Saviour. When in need and peril, when burdened with
sorrow, and when bowed to the dust by the sense of sin and the fear of
death, the soul instinctively seeks relief from God.

“My Rock” (cf. Psa_18:2; Psa_31:2; Psa_42:9).

Psa 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress (a military stronghold,
especially a strongly fortified town fit for a large garrison.), and my deliverer; my God, my
strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and
my high tower.
Psa 31:2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my
strong rock, for an house of defense to save me.
Psa 42:9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why
go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
There is everything in God to meet the needs of His people. If they are
weak, with Him is everlasting strength. If all things “under the sun” are
liable to change, He is “the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.” How
sweet it is to say unto God “my Rock.” This gives confidence in life and in
death. Said a dying saint (the Rev. John Rees), “Christ in His person, Christ
in the love of His heart, and Christ in the power of His arm, is the rock on
which I rest; and now” (reclining his head gently on the pillow), “Death,
strike.”
 God has everything necessary to address the needs of His people. If they
are feeble, they will find everlasting strength in Him. If everything "under
the sun" is subject to change, He is "the same yesterday, today, and
forever." How beautiful it is to call God "my Rock," which brings assurance in
both life and death.
II. Craving for fellowship with God.
The more we love a friend, the more strongly we seek his presence, and the
more deeply do we deplore his estrangement and silence.
Here,
1. God’s silence is deprecated as the greatest evil.
a. Many feel no concern whether their prayers are heard or not.
Mere formalists. Not so the psalmist. For God to be silent to him,
was terrible. It left him without resource and hope; it seemed
the closing in upon him of the “blackness of darkness,” of the
grave or of hell. He shrinks from such a doom, as an
unspeakable horror. Hence his passionate cry, “Be not silent to
me,” &c. (“the pit” cf. Psa_22:29; Psa_30:3; Isa_14:19,
Eze_26:20).
Psa 22:29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and
worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him:
and none can keep alive his own soul.
Psa 30:3 O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the
grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the
pit.
Isa 14:19 But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable
branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust
through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a
carcase trodden under feet.
Eze 26:20 When I shall bring thee down with them that
descend into the pit, with the people of old time, and shall set
thee in the low parts of the earth, in places desolate of old, with
them that go down to the pit, that thou be not inhabited; and I
shall set glory in the land of the living;
b. Many people are unconcerned about whether or not their prayers
are heard. Simply formalists. Not so, according to the psalmist.
It was horrible for God to be silent to him. It left him without
resources or hope; it appeared to be the "blackness of
darkness," the grave, or hell closing in on him. He shrinks from
such a fate as an unfathomable nightmare. As a result of his
 fervent cry, "Be not silent to me,"
2. God’s fellowship sought as the greatest good (Psa_28:2).
a. Humbly. The lifting up of the hands is the symbolism of prayer
(Exo_9:29, 1Ki_8:22). It expresses the desire of the humble, the
reaching forth of the heart to God.
i. Humbly. The raising of the hands represents prayer (Exo
9:29, 1Ki 8:22). It expresses the humble's aspiration, the
reaching out of the heart to God.
Exo 9:29 And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out
of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and
the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail;
that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD'S.
1Ki 8:22 And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in
the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth
his hands toward heaven:
b. Earnestly(Sincere). “The earnestness of the cry is to be
measured, not only by the greatness of the peril which is
threatened, but by the faith which cleaves to God, knowing that
in Him only is there help.”—Perowne. “When I cry,” that is now,
at once, while I am speaking. Importunately. It is a matter of life
and death. “Supplications.” This word, being in the plural, shows
the persistence and constancy of the good in prayer.
i. Earnestly(Sincere). According to Perowne, "The
seriousness of the cry is to be assessed, not only by the
magnitude of the danger that is presented, but also by the
confidence that clings to God, knowing that there is help in
Him alone." "When I cry," that would be right now, as I'm
talking. Importunately. It is a life-or-death situation. The
plural form of the term "supplications" demonstrates the
tenacity and consistency of the good in prayer.
c. Through faith in the mercy of God. “Holy Oracle,” “This is the
Holy of Holies, where the mercy seat stood;” for the “Oracle” is,
in Hebrew, the spot where Jehovah spoke to men, referring
probably to His promise in Exo_25:22, “There will I meet thee,
and commune with thee.”—Bonar. “To this, as the depositary of
the ark and the earthly residence of God, the ancient saints
looked, as we look now to Christ, in whom the idea of the Mosaic
sanctuary has been realised.”—Alexander. “We stretch out
empty hands, for we are beggars; we lift them up, for we seek
heavenly supplies; we lift them towards the mercy-seat of Jesus,
 for there our expectation dwells.”—Spurgeon. God’s fellowship is
the life and joy of the soul. We want, not so much what He
gives, as Himself.
i. by having confidence in God's mercy. The Hebrew word for
"Oracle" refers to the place where Jehovah spoke to men,
most likely relating to His promise in Exo 25:22, "There
will I meet thee, and communicate with thee." —Bonar.
ii. The ancient saints looked to this as the repository of the
ark and the earthly abode of God, just as we do to Christ
today, in whom the concept of the Mosaic sanctuary has
been realized. —Alexander
iii. We extend them toward Jesus' mercy seat because that is
where our anticipation resides: "We reach out empty
hands, for we are beggars; we lift them up, for we want
heavenly supplies." —Spurgeon
Exo 25:22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune
with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two
cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things
which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of
Israel.
III.Confidence in the eternal justice of God. This world is not left to
chance, or blind fate, or mere arbitrary will. It is governed by a power that
maketh for righteousness. This has been the faith of the good in all ages.
a. This world is not left to chance, irrational(Unreasonable) will, or
blind fate. It is ruled by a force that promotes righteousness.
This has always been the good people's religion.
Hence, there is room for prayer (Psa_28:3-5).
First, deliverance is sought from the doom of the wicked.
“Draw me not away,” i.e., to destruction with them ( Job_24:22;
Psa_26:9). “The wicked, the workers of iniquity, and the deceivers, are
three terms for the unrighteous, referring to the heart, the hand, and
the tongue.”—Murphy. The good man shrinks from such company. He
appeals confidently to God, not to confound the just with the unjust.
Job 24:22 He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up,
and no man is sure of life.
Psa 26:9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody
men:
"Do not draw me away," referring to their annihilation (Exo
32:20; Job 24:22; Psa 26:9). According to Murphy, the expressions
"the wicked," "the workers of iniquity," and "the deceivers" all relate to
the heart, the hand, and the tongue of the unjust. The moral man
avoids such company. He boldly asks God not to mix together the
good with the bad.
Next, Retribution(Vengance/Revenge/Payback) is craved (Psa_28:4).
This implies their obstinate impenitency. Reason, conscience,
and revelation proclaim that for such there can be no escape. There
may be delay, there may be seeming inequality and failure, but
retribution must come in the end, to the uttermost. The faith of the
psalmist rises to prophetic certainty. There is nothing of mere human
passion and animosity. “The reason why God’s judgments should
overtake the wicked, is not their malice against the psalmist, but their
disregard of the Most High.”—Perowne.
This implies their stubborn (persistent) impenitence(not feeling
shame or regret about one's actions or attitudes.). Reason, conscience, and
revelation all declare that there is no escape for them. There may be
delay, apparent unfairness, and failure, but retribution must come in
the end, to the fullest extent possible. The psalmist's faith grows to
prophetic certainty. There is nothing of mere human rage and hostility.
"The cause for God's judgements falling on the wicked is not their
animosity against the psalmist, but their disrespect for the Most
High."—Perowne.
IV. Gratitude for the Goodness of God. Prayer leads to praise. The full
heart bursts into song. “Blessed be the Lord!”
For answered prayers (Psa_28:6). Perhaps the very thing asked was
granted, or something better given instead. Answered prayers demand
acknowledgment.
Perhaps the request was granted, or something better was
provided in its place. Answered prayers must be acknowledged. Be thankful
For assistance in time of need (Psa_28:7). “My strength,” internal. “My
shield,” external. The former includes all needful grace to enlighten, renew,
and sanctify. The latter implies help and defence against every foe. How
complete is the security of the people of God!
"My inner strength," she says. "My shield," said the outsider. The
former consists of all necessary grace to illuminate, rejuvenate, and sanctify.
The latter means assistance and defense against all enemies. How complete
the security of God's people!
For assurance of hope. “The certainty that prayer is heard anticipates
visible fulfilment.”—Perowne. “My heart trusteth in Him.” This flows from the
“strength,” and wins the “shield.” Twice over he says “my heart,” not only
showing the sincerity, but the strength and intensity of his gratitude. “With
(lit. ‘out of’) my song,” the song being, as it were, the source and the
occasion of his praise (Psa_22:25). “He who enjoys aught without
thanksgiving, is as though he robbed God.”—Talmud.
"The assurance that prayer has been heard predicts apparent
fulfillment."—Perowne "My heart trusteth in Him," which springs from the
"strength," wins the "shield." He adds "my heart" twice, demonstrating not
just sincerity, but also the depth and intensity of his appreciation. "With (lit.
'out of') my song," as if the song were both the source and the occasion of
his adoration (Psa 22:25). "He who enjoys anything without showing thanks
is as if he has plundered God."—Talmud
V. Exulting Joy in the Saving Strength of God (Psa_28:8). Every
believer is, like Paul, “a pattern.” What God does for one, He is able to do for
all. The attention is fixed upon Him as an Almighty and All-Merciful Saviour.
“The Lord is their strength,” i.e., of yonder ones, of such as possess the
character already described (cf. Psa_119:9-11; Isa_33:2).
“He is the saving strength of His anointed.” “First the people, then Himself
their monarch, but not David the man, but David the king as anointed of
God, and chosen to feed His people.”—Perowne. Strength that is rightly
used, to help and not to oppress, to save and not to destroy, commands
admiration. Here is the glory of the gospel. It is the power of God unto
salvation. Christ came not to condemn the world, but that the world through
Him might be saved. “Let the children of Zion be joyful in their king.”
"He is the salvation power of his anointed one." The strength properly used to help not
oppress, to save the call of praise without destroying it. This is the glory of the gospel. It is God's
power to salvation. Christ did not come to blame the world, but the world may be saved through
him. "Pleasing the children of Zion their king."
VI. Trust in the ultimate triumph and blessedness of God’s people
(Psa_28:9). “It is impossible not to see, in these tender loving words, ‘feed
them, and bear them,’ the heart of the Shepherd-King. Feed them, O Thou
true Shepherd of Israel (Psa_80:1); bear them, carry them in Thine arms
(Isa_63:9; Isa_40:11). Perhaps the reference may be to Deu_1:31;
Deu_32:11.”—Perowne.
Mark, as to the good.
1. Their character. “Thy people.”
2. Their privilege. “Thine inheritance” (Deu_4:20; Eph_1:16).
3. Their destiny. “Save” from sin. “Bless” with the fruits of righteousness.
“Feed” with the bread of life. “Lift” with the arm of the Lord to the dignity
and blessedness of heaven. This prayer breathes throughout the most spirit.
It is like to that of Paul (Eph_3:14-19).
This prayer expresses also the most delightful confidence. It looks to the future with hope. It sees a good
time coming, and is glad, with foretaste of the joy. What an inspiration to all who pray and work.
This prayer also represents the most glorious self-confidence. Looking to the future with hope. It
rejoices with a premonition of joy when it sees a good time. What an inspiration for everyone
who prays and works.