Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

As the enemy army was approaching David, the light of Christ was shining brightly beside him caus- ing him to ‘be brave and courageous.’ Even though there is occasion to fear we must speak and act courageously as God has commanded us. We can wait patiently for the Lord, not just patiently, but bravely!

1 Keil & Delitzsch 2 Keil & Delitzsch

PSALM 28: FOREVER IN YOUR ARMS Our Strength in Trying Times

This psalm of David is a companion to Psalms 26 and 27 as it shares the same sense of urgency for deliverance and longing for the sanctuary of the Lord. It is thought to been written after the rebellion of Absalom and emphasizes that suffering often becomes a source of great song. It is foremost a prayer and song of David’s life but hidden in it’s shadows is the Lord Jesus as the ‘anointed one’ (king) in verse 8.

It has four sections:

I. IF YOU ARE SILENT - Prayer of David (1,2) II. SO RICHLY DESERVE - Punishment of the Wicked (3-5) III. SONGS OF THANKSGIVING - Praise from David’s Heart (6,7) IV. SAVE YOUR PEOPLE - Protection of God’s People(8,9)

INTRODUCTION:

“ A Psalm of David ” There is no dispute that this is a composition of the great King of Israel.

I. IF YOU ARE SILENT - Prayer of David- 1,2

“ O Lord, you are my rock of safety. Please help me; don’t refuse to answer me. (do not turn a deaf ear to me. NIV) For if you are silent, I might as well give up and die.”(1)

It is best to start our prayer with a confession of faith as David did here. His former time of fleeing from Saul and hiding in the rocks of the wilderness is now a source of wisdom and salvation as the armies of his son Absalom chase him. “ When David heard that Saul and his men were searching for him, he went even farther into the wilderness to the great rock, and he remained there in the wilderness…”(1 Sam. 23:25) David’s knowledge of the hiding places gained under the persecution from Saul are now being used in his present troubles. This is an urgent cry as if one was drowning and death is but moments away. David pleads with the Lord to not be ‘deaf’ to him as the idols are to their worshippers. Elijah mocked the prophets of Baal as they shouted and called vainly on their god: “ Then they called on the name of Baal all morning, shout- ing, ‘O Baal, answer us!’ But there was no reply of any kind.”(1 Kgs. 18:26) God is not a deaf idol, he hears us in our times of trouble and need.

“ Listen to my prayer for mercy as I cry out to you for help, as I lift my hands toward your holy sanc- tuary.”(2)

Jesus is the only person who can show us the undeserved mercy we need, he hears us from his heavenly sanctuary: “ And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus....And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s people, let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him.” (Heb. 10:19,21,22)

II. SO RICHLY DESERVE - Punishment of the Wicked- 3-5

“ Don’t drag me away with the wicked-with those who do evil-…”(3a)

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