Psalm 28

Another Prayer of David

Psalms 28

Have you noticed how many of David’s Psalms are prayers?  Like we talked this morning, it is often the difficulties that we face that drive us to prayer.

I.                   The Prayer of David vv. 1-5

Intensity of his prayer:  “I will cry.”  To me this seems to be more than just a simple calling on the Lord.  He is crying out to the Lord!!

1.      Arguments as to why the Lord should hear him:

When we pray, why do we believe that the Lord will hear us?

1)      Because God is faithful.  He is “my Rock”

My makes it personal

      David had a relationship with the Lord

      David was/had been doing God’s work

      David was personally chosen by God

                  Saul looked the part of king

                  David was looked over for the part of king

Rock points to God’s faithfulness

      A rock is solid or firm, consistent, always there

      Not easily brushed aside. 

2)      If God didn’t answer him then he would soon go down.

He would be without hope, or desperate. 

3)      He went about calling on God the right way v. 2

Pulpit Commentary, “He puts himself into the divinely appointed way to be heard—praying towards the mercy seat between the cherubim.  Did all he knew and could do for being answered.  Have we done that?”

What are some of the things that the Bible say we need to do when we call on the Lord?

ð     Come in the name of Jesus

ð     Come humbly before Him

ð     Come seeking His will to be done

ð     Come without sin in our hearts

Unless we come in this way we cannot expect God to hear our prayers.

4)      God is too just to allow him the same fate as the wicked v. 3

Workers of iniquity:  Those who practice sin and disobedience

Workers of hypocrisy:  Seek peace with their neighbor with evil in their hearts.

2.      The request that he brings in this prayer vv. 4-5

His request involves how the Lord deals with the wicked

1)      What David seeks for the wicked from the Lord v. 4

ð     That they be given according to their deeds

ð     That they be given according to the wickedness of their endeavors.  All their endeavors would have been self-serving

ð     That they be given according to the works of their hands

ð     That they be given what they deserve

2)      Why David seeks this for the wicked v. 5

ð     They do not regard the works of the Lord

ð     They do not regard the operation of His hands

They have ignored all that God has said and all that God is doing, therefore they are enemies of God.

David may well here be speaking of his own enemies, yet he does not refer to them as his enemies, but God’s enemies.

3)      What David sees as the outcome of this prayer v. 5

God will destroy them

Think back to Psalm 1:1-6 contrast between the wicked and righteous. 

II.                 The Praise of David vv. 6-9

1.      Blessed be God who heard my supplications

Find it interesting that David had not answered yet, but already God is being praise for His hearing!!

When we pray I believe that it is a good to begin to see God having already answered even before we see it.

2.      The Lord is my strength and my shield v. 7

Fits well with what we read in Psalm 27:1-3

3.      My heart trusted and I am helped v. 7

      David already considers himself helped!!

4.      My heart rejoices and my song praises Him v. 7b

      Natural response of seeing God’s help!!

Again it is vital to remember that David has not physically seen God’s help yet, he is simply trusting it will come and he is already rejoicing in it!!

5.      The Lord is the strength and refuge of His people v. 8

III.              The final request of David for the people v. 9

1.      Save them

2.      Bless them

3.      Shepherd them

4.      Bear them up:  Picture of carrying them in His arms over rough terrain.