Psalms 28

Of David.

1 To you, LORD, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit.

2 Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.

3 Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts.

4 Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work; repay them for what their hands have done and bring back on them what they deserve.

5 Because they have no regard for the deeds of the LORDand what his hands have done, he will tear them down and never build them up again.

6 Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy.

7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

8 The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

9 Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Psalms 28 Commentary

Chapter 28

A prayer in distress. (1-5) Thanksgiving for deliverance. (6-9)

Verses 1-5 David is very earnest in prayer. Observe his faith in prayer; God is my rock, on whom I build my hope. Believers should not rest till they have received some token that their prayers are heard. He prays that he may not be numbered with the wicked. Save me from being entangled in the snares they have laid for me. Save me from being infected with their sins, and from doing as they do. Lord, never leave me to use such arts of deceit and treachery for my safety, as they use for my ruin. Believers dread the way of sinners; the best are sensible of the danger they are in of being drawn aside: we should all pray earnestly to God for his grace to keep us. Those who are careful not to partake with sinners in their sins, have reason to hope that they shall not receive their plagues. He speaks of the just judgments of the Lord on the workers of iniquity, ver. Verse 4 . This is not the language of passion or revenge. It is a prophecy that there will certainly come a day, when God will punish every man who persists in his evil deeds. Sinners shall be reckoned with, not only for the mischief they have done, but for the mischief they designed, and did what they could to effect. Disregard of the works of the Lord, is the cause of the sin of sinners, and becomes the cause of their ruin.

Verses 6-9 Has God heard our supplications? Let us then bless his name. The Lord is my strength, to support me, and carry me on through all my services and sufferings. The heart that truly believes, shall in due time greatly rejoice: we are to expect joy and peace in believing. God shall have the praise of it: thus must we express our gratitude. The saints rejoice in others' comfort as well as their own: we have the less benefit from the light of the sun, nor from the light of God's countenance, for others' sharing therein. The psalmist concludes with a short, but comprehensive prayer. God's people are his inheritance, and precious in his eyes. He prays that God would save them; that he would bless them with all good, especially the plenty of his ordinances, which are food to the soul. And direct their actions and overrule their affairs for good. Also, lift them up for ever; not only those of that age, but his people in every age to come; lift them up as high as heaven. There, and there only, will saints be lifted up for ever, never more to sink, or be depressed. Save us, Lord Jesus, from our sins; bless us, thou Son of Abraham, with the blessing of righteousness; feed us, thou good Shepherd of the sheep, and lift us up for ever from the dust, O thou, who art the Resurrection and the Life.

Cross References

• 1. S Deuteronomy 1:45
• 2. S Esther 4:14; Psalms 83:1
• 3. S Job 33:18; Psalms 88:4
• 4. Psalms 17:1; Psalms 61:1; Psalms 116:1; Psalms 130:2; Psalms 142:1; Psalms 143:1; Psalms 138:2; Psalms 140:6
• 5. S Ezra 9:5; Psalms 63:4; Psalms 141:2; Lamentations 2:19; 1 Timothy 2:8
• 6. Psalms 5:7; Psalms 11:4
• 7. Psalms 12:2; S Psalms 26:4; Psalms 55:21; Psalms 26:9; Jeremiah 9:8
• 8. Psalms 62:12; 2 Timothy 4:14; Revelation 22:12
• 9. Lamentations 3:64; Revelation 18:6
• 10. Isaiah 5:12
• 11. S Genesis 24:27; 2 Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 1:3; 1 Peter 1:3
• 12. ver 2
• 13. S Psalms 18:1
• 14. Psalms 13:5; Psalms 112:7; Isaiah 26:3
• 15. S Deuteronomy 16:15; S Psalms 16:9
• 16. Psalms 33:3; Psalms 40:3; Psalms 69:30; Psalms 144:9; Psalms 149:1
• 17. Psalms 18:1
• 18. S Exodus 15:2; Psalms 27:1; Habakkuk 3:13
• 19. S Psalms 20:6
• 20. 1 Chronicles 16:35; Psalms 106:47; Psalms 118:25
• 21. S Exodus 34:9; Deuteronomy 9:29; Ezra 1:4
• 22. 1 Chronicles 11:2; S Psalms 23:1; Psalms 78:52,71; Psalms 80:1; Isaiah 40:11; Jeremiah 31:10; Eze 34:12-16,23,31; Micah 7:14
• 23. S Deuteronomy 1:31; Deuteronomy 32:11; Isaiah 46:3; Isaiah 63:9

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 28

\\<<[A Psalm] of David>>\\. This psalm, Aben Ezra says, David either composed himself, or one of the singers for him; the former seems most likely; and it might be made by him when he was persecuted by Saul, or when delivered from him; or at least when he had faith and hope that he should be delivered: the psalm consists of two parts, petitions and thanksgivings.