Psalms 28

Psalms 28:1-9

a Prayer and Its Answer Psalms 28:1-9 This psalm also probably belongs to the time of Absalom’ s rebellion. Psalms 28:2-3 resemble Psalms 26:8-9. God is silent sometimes because He loves us unspeakably, Zephaniah 3:17, r.v., margin; sometimes to test our faith, Matthew 15:23; sometimes because He has already spoken and we have not listened, Matthew 26:62. But let us never go elsewhere for help, 1 Samuel 28:6-7. Let us wait and pray, lifting up our hands in the dark to touch His hands. These prayers for the punishment of the wicked should be read as predictions. Do not be afraid of evil or of evil-doers. God is “ a consuming fire” and destroys all evil. He causes the enemy to be still as a stone until His redeemed have passed over. Therefore there breaks in on the psalmist the ray of hope which finds expression in Psalms 28:6-7. Faith cries, I am helped! Let us rejoice even before the jailer comes to tell us that we are free, Acts 16:25; and let us send out our prayers for all the Church, Psalms 28:9.

Unto Thee Will I Cry!This Psalm also probably belongs to the time of Absalom’s rebellion. Psalms 28:2-3 closely resembles Psalms 26:8-9.

Psalms 28:1-2 If Thou be silent. What a thought is suggested in the silence of God! Sometimes He is silent because He loves (Zephaniah 3:17, marg.). Sometimes to test our faith and stir up our zeal (Matthew 15:23). Sometimes because He has already spoken, and we have not heeded his words (Matthew 26:62). But if a period of silence befall us, let us not have recourse to any unhallowed source of help (1 Samuel 28:6-7). Let us rather pray and wait, lifting up our hands for help towards God’s oracle.

Psalms 28:3-5 The workers of iniquity. The world is so made that wickedness is doomed to failure. The righteous man is glad when God’s righteous government of the world is thus approved. We must look at the punishment of wrong-doing not only from man’s standpoint, but from God’s

Psalms 28:6-7 He hath heard!The answer has already begun to steal into the Psalmist’s soul. Some stray flowers of hope piercing the sod tell of coming spring. The quick ear can tell the approach of the Highlanders, though foes engirdle the beleaguered city. “I am helped.”

Psalms 28:8-9 The Lord is my strength. Note the contrast between my strength (Psalms 28:7) and their strength (Psalms 28:8). Trust is contagious as , well as panic. All who have experienced God’s help long that others may know the blessed help and salvation of God! Feed them (Psalms 81:10-16). Bear them (R.V.; Isaiah 63:9; Isaiah 40:11).

It is thus that prayer clears itself in its utterance and changes its note to praise, and as a rising lark breaks into songs as it soars.