Bible Commentaries
Psalms 28

Verses 1-9

Psalms 28

DAVID’S STRENGTH AT ABSALOMS REBELLION

Verses 1-9.

Verse 1 is a direct Davidic cry -to the Lord as his rock of immovable faithfulness or trust, Psalms 18:2; Psalms 19:14. He asks that the Lord be not silent or deaf to his petition, or silent, still, or unresponsive to his plea, lest without His help he would go down into the pit, fail of life, go into the reign of death, Isaiah 14:15; Isaiah 14:19; Psalms 30:3.

Verse 2 continues to beseech the Lord to give attentive response to the vocal cry of David’s supplication, as he lifted up his hands toward His holy oracles, for supernatural help, from the most holy part of the tabernacle or temple, 1 Kings 6:16-19. From there God responded first to Moses, later through the high priests, Exodus 25:22; Numbers 7:8-9. See also Exodus 9:29; 1 Timothy 2:8. As the whole tabernacle was the holy place for all the people, where God met all Israel, so the innermost chamber was His audience chamber, Exodus 33:7; Psalms 138:2.

Verse 3 asks that the Lord not permit him to be drawn away with the wicked and continual workers of iniquity, as one entrapped and drawn away in a net, Psalms 26:9. He did not want to be consigned to the common destruction of and with the wicked, Job 21:33; Job 24:22; Ezekiel 32:2; Psalms 10:9; Genesis 18:23. This wickedness was that of hypocritical dissemblers (trouble makers) who whispered peace to their neighbors but held destructive mischief in their hearts, like Absalom and his band, 2 Samuel 15:7-8; Psalms 15:3.

Verse 4 is an imprecatory prayer that the Lord may grant these hypocrites judgment in harmony with, to the degree of, their premeditated murderous deeds, as they had plotted against him and others who were innocent, Matthew 7:2; See the Haman case, Ezra 7:10. He desired that God vindicate him by rendering judgment-in-­kind to his enemies, 2 Timothy 4:14; Revelation 18:6; Galatians 6:7-8.

Verse 5 adds that these ungodly traitors of David. Israel and God should be and would be destroyed, not built up; Because they had no regard for (respect for) the "works of the Lord" or "operation of his hands." David prayed only for the kind of justice that God’s righteousness requires He execute upon those who despised His word and ways, as expressed Job 34:27; Psalms 92:5-6; Isaiah 5:12; Romans 2:4-9; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9.

Verse 6 praises the Lord because He has heard the voice o’ David’s supplication, as in his prayer v.2. Note the inseparable connection between a proper prayer of faith and the certain answer, 1 John 5:14.

Verse 7 continues the testimony of David that the Lord is (exists as) his strength and shield, as often stated Psalms 18:2; Psalms 19:14; Psalms 46:1; Isaiah 12:2; Isaiah 45:24; Ephesians 6:10; he added that his heart trusted or confided in the Lord and he Was helped. Therefore he greatly rejoiced in heart, and praised the Lord in song for His help, protection and deliverance, Psalms 13:5; Psalms 22:4; Psalms 32:10; Psalms 56:3-4; Hebrews 11:39.

Verse 8 states that the Lord is the strength of the trusting soul, the saving, delivering strength of His anointed, David, His anointed King, and Israel His anointed nation, Proverbs 5:3-5. He is also the strength of His anointed and empowered church and people today, Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-2; Luke 24:49; John 14:16-17. In saving His anointed king in Israel He was also saving His people over whom He had anointed David, Psalms 18:50. It is also true that in saving our Lord from death and the grave our God preserved His New Covenant order of service and worship, even His church. Matthew 16:18; Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 3:21.

Verse 9 concludes "save thy people and bless thine inheritance," even Israel, Deuteronomy 9:29; he asked the Lord to feed (or rule) them also and "lift them up forever," in honor, on high, far above their enemies. Such would be to fulfill His promise as set forth, 2 Samuel 7:16; 2 Samuel 7:29; Ezra 3:1.