Bible Commentaries
Psalms 28

Verses 1-9

The affinity between this psalm and the previous one is evident and its placing by the editor here was in all likelihood due to that fact. InPsalms 27:1-14; Psalms 27:1-14, in true order, praise prepares for, and issues in, prayer, the whole ending in an appeal to "wait on Jehovah." The next psalm opens-Unto Thee, O Jehovah, will I call.

This is not to suggest that the song was written by the same person or immediately. It rather affords an illustration of a song written by one who acted on the principle enjoined. The cry of need is very urgent. The peril is so great that death threatens. Unless Jehovah help there is no help. That the danger arose from enemies is evident from the psalmist's cry to Jehovah for justice.

Suddenly the prayer becomes a song of praise, an act of adoration. The prayer is heard, help is granted, the song begins. That this psalm, with its inverted order of prayer and praise, follows closely that in which the order is praise and prayer is encouraging. The true order is praise and prayer. If the heart is not strong enough for this, let it learn how to praise by speaking first in prayer of its sorrow. The one thing impossible in worship is to compress it within the narrow limits of stated formulas.