Read Psalm 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 Lord
and 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.
Go Deeper
Psalm 28 is another one of David’s laments. As you were reading, did you notice the change in tone between the two sections of this chapter? It almost feels like this chapter is missing some verses! In the first half of Psalm 28, David is desperate for the Lord to act. Then in the last four verses, David is declaring the praises of his God. What is interesting about this, is that it seems like nothing has changed! While David’s tone moves dramatically from verse 5 to 6, it doesn’t appear that his situation has been fixed. We don’t read about how God destroyed David’s enemies or even spoke directly to David. All we read is that David went from distraught to delight.
While we can’t know for sure, it appears that the only thing that changed David was time in God’s presence. When he was talking with God, he began to feel joy, protection, and salvation. The simple act of being with his Heavenly Father shifted his mood.
Most of us have a laundry list of things we’d like to change about our life: our kids, our income, our looks, our relationships. But if we got all that we wanted, it wouldn’t fix what we really need. We don’t need a better situation in order to feel more joy, we need to spend more time with our Savior. When we authentically encounter His presence, the Holy Spirit will often work in ways we can’t really describe. Our mood will change even when our situation doesn’t. So spend time with the Lord throughout your day and ask him to switch your frame of mind. Then watch him do exactly what he did for David in between verses 5 to 6. He delights in turning your pressure into praise, your jealousy into joy, and your doubt into dependence.
Questions
- What sticks out to you about David’s mindset in this passage?
- Verse 7 connects our trust in God with our joy. Have you seen that true in your own life?
- Do you feel like your prayers are as honest as David’s? How can you become more honest with God?
Pray This
God, I bring my full, honest self to you today. I reach out to you desperate that you to reach out to me. I admit that many times I believe I need better circumstances in order to have a better mindset. Would you remind me that I don’t need a new situation, but instead a fresh look at my Savior? God, would you also allow my heart to trust you more so that I might experience the deep joy that David described? I want to encounter your strength and salvation all throughout my day today. Finally, would you quickly carry me back into your presence whenever I stray away? Thank you for being the satisfaction of my soul. Amen.
4 thoughts on “Individual Laments: Psalm 28”
I like the change and progression of emotions David displays in this psalm and all of his psalms. Showing us that We still have a range of emotions we need to experience and bring to God. Society today tells us we should skip past all the “bad” feelings and be happy all the time but God wants us to express and share all of our feelings with those close to us and with him. Emotions are gifts from God meant to help us grow through our lives and to help us become more Christ like. And he is always there with us giving us eternal joy knowing we are never alone or without purpose. Praise the Lord! King of Kings! Praise his Creation and his might works! Praise be to our Shepard and Father, always loving and faithful!
In the midst of his struggle David models how we, too, can navigate through suffering. He pled his case in prayer with cries and lifting up his hands. His posture was one of humility. In his despair he informs his heart of the unchanging nature of God:
•rock of safety
•hears our cries
•strength and shield
•helper
•protector
•victorious
•shepherd
In the lament, David’s shift in perspective settles and calms his heart. Yesterday we read of being engraved on the palm of his hands, today this Psalm ends with a reminder that as his special possession we are carried in the arms of the Good Shepherd, close to his heart.
The Rock
I am not that. God is THE ROCK. He is firm foundation on which we/I stand. When our world becomes crumbly, the sand shifting out from under our feet, we look for stabiity. God is that.
God thank You for Your stabilizing presence in my life. God when the sorrow of th .is world continually rushes in, I am so thankful for Your stabiity of being that Rock, that presence in my time of need, desire, repentence, temptation. Thank You God that I can repent, and turn back,that my sins my be blotted out, that my time of refreshing comes from the presence of You, O God. (Acts 2: 19-20). Thank You God for restoring , healing, and leading me in my purpose for the minutes of this day. God I give You glory, honor, thanksgiving, and all of my heart. God thank You for being my Rock in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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.
When the hardships of life are loud and present, I am reminded that my God is also present. He comforts my soul in all situations and my heart is full of joy.