Psalm 28 (World English Bible – WEB)
1 To you, Yahweh, I call.
My rock, don’t be deaf to me,
lest, if you are silent to me,
I would become like those who go down into the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my petitions when I cry to you,
when I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.
3 Don’t draw me away with the wicked,
with the workers of iniquity who speak peace with their neighbors,
but mischief is in their hearts.
4 Give them according to their work, and according to the wickedness of their doings.
Give them according to the operation of their hands.
Bring back on them what they deserve.
5 Because they don’t respect the works of Yahweh,
nor the operation of his hands,
he will break them down and not build them up.
6 Blessed be Yahweh,
because he has heard the voice of my petitions.
7 Yahweh is my strength and my shield.
My heart has trusted in him, and I am helped.
Therefore my heart greatly rejoices.
With my song I will thank him.
8 Yahweh is their strength.
He is a stronghold of salvation to his anointed.
9 Save your people, and bless your inheritance.
Be their shepherd also, and bear them up forever.
Background and Related Details for Psalm 28
Psalm 28 is a psalm of David, classified as a lament with a transition into thanksgiving. David cries out to God in desperation but ends in confident praise, trusting that God has heard his plea.
Key Themes:
- Calling on God for deliverance: David pleads for God to listen and not be silent, fearing the fate of the wicked.
- Contrast between the righteous and the wicked: The psalm emphasizes God’s justice—rewarding the righteous and punishing the wicked.
- Trust in God as protector: David refers to Yahweh as his rock, strength, and shield, a theme found frequently in the Psalms.
- God as the Shepherd of His people: The closing verse echoes shepherd imagery, much like Psalm 23, emphasizing God’s care.
Historical Context:
David likely wrote this psalm during a time of distress, possibly while being pursued by enemies (such as King Saul or during Absalom’s rebellion). The plea for divine justice suggests that he was witnessing corruption and evil prospering around him.
Similar Psalms & Related Scriptures:
- Psalm 27: Also expresses trust in Yahweh amid trouble.
- Psalm 26:9-10: Similar plea to be separated from the wicked.
- Psalm 23:1: The shepherd imagery in verse 9 is reminiscent of this well-known psalm.
- Exodus 15:2: “Yahweh is my strength and my song,” echoes in Psalm 28:7.
A Prayer Inspired by Psalm 28
Heavenly Father, my rock and my refuge,
I cry out to You in my need—do not be silent to me.
Hear my voice as I lift my hands to Your holy presence.
Protect me from the ways of the wicked;
Let me not be counted among those who do evil,
But let my heart trust in You alone.
You are my strength and my shield, O Lord.
I place my confidence in You, knowing You will answer.
My heart rejoices in Your salvation, and I will praise Your name forever.
Shepherd Your people, O Lord, and carry us in Your arms.
Lead us in Your righteousness and bless Your inheritance.
For You alone are our fortress and our King.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
5 Questions to Test Understanding of Psalm 28
- Why does David fear God’s silence in the beginning of the psalm?
- What does David ask God to do to the wicked, and why?
- How does the tone of the psalm shift from verses 1-5 to verses 6-9?
- What metaphors does David use to describe God, and what do they reveal about His character?
- How does the shepherd imagery in verse 9 connect to other parts of Scripture?
Is Psalm 28 Referenced in the New Testament?
Psalm 28 is not explicitly quoted in the New Testament, but several of its themes are echoed:
- Verse 7 (Yahweh as strength and shield) parallels Ephesians 6:16, which speaks of the “shield of faith” in spiritual battle.
- Verse 9 (God as shepherd and protector) aligns with John 10:11, where Jesus calls Himself the “Good Shepherd.”
- The plea for justice against the wicked (verses 3-5) resonates with Romans 12:19, where Paul reminds believers that vengeance belongs to God.
Though the psalm is not directly cited, its themes are deeply embedded in biblical theology, especially in understanding God’s justice, protection, and the role of the Shepherd.