Psalm 28

Psa 28:1

SUPERSCRIPTION: "OF DAVID".

HISTORICAL SETTING: Prob Absalom's rebellion.

V 1: David's prayer in his sickness: cp Psa 41:1-5. The last phrase is very significant here -- this very fate overtook Absalom: 2Sa 18:17.

DO NOT TURN A DEAF EAR TO ME: It is not everyone who dreads the misery of a silent God: ct Psa 14:1/53:1; 10:11.

I WILL BE LIKE: Heb idiom: 'Lest they speak of me proverbially as....'

PIT: "Bor", either well or sepulchre, parallel to Sheol or the grave in Psa 30:3; 88:4. NEB has, poetically, "abyss".

I WILL BE LIKE THOSE WHO HAVE GONE DOWN TO THE PIT: The words imply the possibility of failure on Christ's part!

Psa 28:2

I LIFT UP MY HANDS TOWARD YOUR MOST HOLY PLACE: Heb "debir" means the inner part of the sanctuary, the Holy of Holies (Mat 27:51). Lit, the speaking place: From here, God addressed Israel (Exo 25:22; Num 7:89). The Scriptures are now the oracles (ie the speaking place of God): Act 7:38; Rom 3:2; Heb 5:12; 1Pe 4:11. See also Psa 26:6; 1Ki 6:16-19; 2Ch 4:20; 5:7,9. This may be linked with David's flight from Jerusalem: 2Sa 15:24-29; 16:23. As did Moses to ensure Joshua's victory: Exo 17:9-12. (NT) Cp also the lifting of Christ's hands in crucifixion. And see also 1Ti 2:8.

Other instances of uplifted hands in prayer: Exo 9:29,33; 2Ch 6:12; Ezra 9:5; Job 11:13; Psa 44:20; 68:31; 88:9; 134:2; 141:2; 143:6; Isa 1:15. Also, instances of praying toward the Most Holy place: Dan 6:10; 1Ki 8:44,48; 2Ch 6:34; Psa 5:7; 138:2; Jon 2:4.

Psa 28:3

DO NOT DRAG ME AWAY: The verb implies: 'with cords or a net'. Cp also Psa 10:9. 'Do not allow me to succumb to the temptation to match scheming with scheming' (Psa 55:21; Mat 22:16-33).

WHO SPEAK CORDIALLY WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS BUT HARBOR MALICE IN THEIR HEARTS: The rebels, and esp the wily Ahithophel: Psa 41:6,7; 55:21; 120:7.

Psa 28:4

REPAY THEM FOR THEIR DEEDS: Quoted in Lam 3:64; 2Ti 4:14. "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Gal 6:7,8). (NT) See also Luk 19:24-27; Joh 11:48,50: "If we let him thus alone, the Romans will come and take away both our place (the temple) and our nation" -- so they did not let him alone, yet the Romans did precisely this. "One man should die for the people, and the whole nation perish not" -- so this one man did die (for the people, too!), yet the whole nation, as a nation, perished.

FOR THEIR EVIL WORK: "Endeavours" (AV). Always a bad word, in Heb. Note the emphasis on their deeds, their endeavors, the work of their hands; and then see the ct in v 5: the work of the Lord, the operation of His hands.

Psa 28:5

THEY SHOW NO REGARD FOR THE WORKS OF THE LORD: In bringing David to the throne and making such a great promise to him. Quoted in Isa 5:12.

HE WILL TEAR THEM DOWN: The Heb word describes the throwing down of a wall or a city: Mat 24:2; cp Jer 1:10; 18:7-10; 42:10.

Psa 28:6

Vv 6-9: Added after the collapse of the rebellion.

Psa 28:8

SALVATION FOR HIS ANOINTED ONE: The Heb text (maoz yeshua mashiach) is very close to: the strength of Jesus his Christ; cp Psa 18:50 (deliverance... anointed). God is the strength of Jesus Christ -- His Son could achieve salvation (for himself and for us in prospect) only because he trusted perfectly in his Father's strength. Eph 3:16 appears to look back to this: "to be strengthened with might by his Spirit".

Psa 28:9

BLESS YOUR INHERITANCE: In the first place, Israel is described as God's inheritance (Deu 4:20; 32:9), ie, His most treasured possession (cp Exo 19:5; Mal 3:16,17). Secondly, the saints are likewise described (Eph 1:11,18). Not only are the righteous God's special inheritance or heritage, but He is theirs (Psa 16:5,6; 73:26; Lam 3:22-24)!

BLESS: Often means the forgiveness of sins: eg Gen 22:18; Act 3:25,26.

BE THEIR SHEPHERD: "Feed" (AV) really means "to shepherd" (RSV, NEB, NIV): Psa 78:71; Joh 21:15; Isa 40:11; Eze 34:2,3,10,13-16,23; Rev 7:17. God is the Shepherd of Israel (Psa 23:1,2; 80:1).

CARRY THEM: "Lift them up" (AV) means bear them, or "carry them" (RSV, NEB, NIV), as in Isa 40:11; 46:3; 63:9; Luk 15:5.