Psalms 28

An urgent cry for audience (Psalms 28:1-2) is followed by a prayer that the Psalmist may be delivered from sharing the fate of evil-doers and hypocrites, and that they may receive the retribution which is the fitting punishment of their blind disbelief (Psalms 28:3-5). Suddenly the Psalmist breaks into joyous thanksgiving. His prayer is answered, or faith guarantees that it will be answered (Psalms 28:6-7); and the Psalm concludes with an intercession for the people (Psalms 28:8-9). The Psalm is a companion to Psalms 26. The circumstances are similar, but here the danger is yet more pressing. Cp. Psalms 28:3 with Psalms 26:9-10. The Psalmist is in imminent peril of death. He fears that he may share the fate of the godless. Was there a pestilence raging, which threatened to sweep away righteous and wicked without distinction? There he pleads his own integrity, here the iniquity and the godlessness of the wicked, as the reason for discriminating. Jehovah will manifest His justice alike in sparing the righteous and punishing the wicked. The Psalm is however commonly thought to have been written by David during his flight from Absalom, Psalms 28:3 then alludes to the character of the treacherous conspirators, and Psalms 28:5 refers to their obstinate refusal to recognise the hand of Jehovah in David’s choice and elevation to the throne; while the concluding prayer is such as the king might well offer for a people torn by intestine quarrels.

Psalms 28:1-2

1, 2. Introductory appeal for a hearing, emphasising the urgency of the need.

Psalms 28:2

2. The first line recurs in Psalms 31:22. when I cry] A stronger word than that in Psalms 28:1, meaning to cry for help. when I lift up my hands] The attitude of prayer (Psalms 63:4; 1 Timothy 2:8), the outward symbol of an uplifted heart (Psalms 25:1). toward thy holy oracle] Lit., as R.V. marg., toward the innermost place of thy sanctuary, i.e. the most holy place, where the Ark, the symbol of God’s Presence among His people, was. See 1 Kings 6:16 ff; 1 Kings 8:6. The rendering oracle, following Jerome’s oraculum, rests upon a wrong derivation. The word does not in itself denote the place where God answers. It is used elsewhere only in the accounts of the building of the Temple (1 Kings 6-8; 2 Chronicles 3-5). The worshipper naturally turns as he prays towards Jehovah’s dwelling-place in heaven (1 Kings 8:22), or its earthly counterpart (1 Kings 8:30 ff.). Cp. Psalms 5:7.

Psalms 28:3-5

3–5. The Psalmist’s prayer that he may be distinguished from the wicked, and that they may be judged as they deserve.

Psalms 28:4

4. Give them according to their work, And according to the evil of their doings: Give them according to the operation of their hands. This is not a vindictive craving for personal revenge, but a solemn prayer that Jehovah will openly convict false and wicked men by manifesting His righteous judgements upon them, and punishing them as they deserve. See Introd. p. xc. Give] Of a judicial sentence. Cp. Hosea 9:14; Jeremiah 32:19. their desert] The word denotes an action either good or bad, and its fitting reward.

Psalms 28:5

5. Atheists in practice if not in profession, they deny that Jehovah governs the world, and refuse to discern His working in creation, in providence, and in judgement. Unbelief lies at the root of all their sin. The works of the Lord and the operation of his hands stand in strong contrast to their work and the operation of their hands in Psalms 28:4. Compare the parallels to this and Psalms 28:4 in Isaiah 1:16; Isaiah 3:8-11; Isaiah 5:12; Isaiah 5:19; Isaiah 22:11. he shall destroy them] Better with P.B.V. and R.V., he shall break them down. Cp. Jeremiah 24:6.

Psalms 28:6-7

6, 7. Thanksgiving succeeds to prayer. Are we to suppose that faith realises the answer to its prayer as already granted, and can give thanks accordingly? or that this conclusion was added by the Psalmist subsequently as a grateful memorial of his deliverance? Either alternative is possible; but here and in Psalms 31:21-24 we seem to have a record of actual deliverance, Psalms 6:8 ff. is somewhat different.

Psalms 28:7

7. my strength] Cp. Exodus 15:2. my shield] See note on Psalms 3:3. trusted] Better as R.V., hath trusted. greatly rejoiceth] Exulteth. Cp. Psalms 5:11; 1 Samuel 2:1.

Psalms 28:8-9

8, 9. Concluding intercession for the people. Cf. Psalms 3:8.

Psalms 28:9

9. thine inheritance] Israel. Cp. Deuteronomy 4:20. feed them] Lit. shepherd them. Cp. Psalms 23:1; 2 Samuel 7:7. Govern them in the adaptation of this verse in the Te Deum is from the Vulg. rege. lift them up] Exalt them; as the word is used in 2 Samuel 5:12. But we should probably render as in R.V., bear them up; either as a shepherd carries his sheep (Isaiah 40:11), continuing the idea of the preceding word; or as a father carries his child, a figure often applied to Jehovah’s care for Israel. See Deuteronomy 1:31; Isaiah 46:3-4; Isaiah 63:9. Cp. too Exodus 19:4; Deuteronomy 32:11.