Psalm 28
A Psalm of David.
This psalm is believed to have been drawn from the time of Absalom’s rebellion and demonstrates that David ever looked to the Lord in danger even as he responded to that danger by taking practical actions for his own safety.
Seemingly his situation was quite desperate and the likelihood of his physical survival would have been in serious doubt had Absalom succeeded in establishing his rule and defeating David’s army.
The Psalm divides into two sections. Vs. 1-5 are an agonizing petition and then 6-9 voices worshipful thanks and expressed concern for the people of God. Their future was very much in danger from a rule by Absalom for he showed openly what disdain he has for his father. That disrespect doubtless
reflected his opinion of his father’s faith.
1 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.
There is an element of pure worship in these words. It is interesting to notice in ourselves that the first victim of anxiety or fear is just that quality of communion with God that is clean and real, concerned more about the Glory of God than the outcome of the situation.
This is a prayer of faith from a man in real and present danger. His cry is to the Lord and the Lord is His firm hope. We notice that he used the YHVH, the secret and special Name of God, and it this LORD Who had revealed Himself on Sinai Who was the abiding Hope of David.
“Be not silent to me,” we should hear as “please hear me.” David was in need of immediate help. The silence of God would guarantee his destruction. And this help he needed was not one of communication but one of action. Without it he will die and yet there is no resentment in his tone nor self-pity, merely the statement of fact.
2 Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.
A prayer to be allowed to pray, a petition that petitions be heard, which demonstrate a total absence of Presumption in the approach to God. His children have been granted access for sure, but they must always remember that it is a gift and is to be treated as such no matter how many times they have done it and been heard. His position upon the throne is never to leave the mind of the believer.
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. 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. 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.
His prayer for the total defeat of his enemies was an absolutely right thing under the format of him being God’s anointed king. Their opposition to him made them the enemies of God. Under the NT economy that level of imprecation is reserved for the forces of darkness while the servant of God is instructed both by the words and examples of Christ, “love your enemies, do good to those who despitefully use you.”
It is almost as if the two parts of the Psalm were written at different times, one before the answer of God and one after. If not, then David has written as if it were so. He was heard in the matter of Absalom’s rebellion and his enemies were defeated and scattered. Little did he realize that the answer
concerning his ‘enemies’ would include the death of his son.
6 Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. 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. 8 The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed. 9 Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.
We see also the element of concern for his people who would have been greatly injured spiritually had
Absalom secured for himself the kingdom. Such is the heart of the man of God.