The Bible reading for today is Exodus 25-26, Psalm 28, and Matthew 28. Our Bible devotional is from Psalm 28.

Have you experienced the loneliness of suffering or the sadness of rejection?  Have you felt the sting of betrayal or the sorrow of an injustice?  Have you prayed when it seemed God was far away and heaven was silent?

In Psalm 28 we find David crying out to the LORD.  Anxieties had overtaken his heart and in desperation David pleaded to the LORD to hear his prayer (note – brackets mark this pastor’s amplification of key words).

Psalm 28:1-2 – “Unto thee will I cry, O LORD [Jehovah; Eternal God] my rock [refuge; i.e. hiding place]; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down [descend; fall; sink down] into the pit [hole; prison]. 2 Hear [hearken unto] the voice of my supplications [earnest prayer], when I cry [cry out for help] unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy [hallow; sacred; consecrated] oracle [innermost part of the sanctuary; the holy of holies].

“O LORD my rock…Hear the voice of my supplications”(28:1a, 2a) reveals David’s focus was the LORD when he felt overwhelmed.   

Where do you turn in a crisis? When you feel slighted or emotions run amok, where do you express your fears and anxieties?

Judging from social media posts, I am afraid many believers posts moaning and groanings on Facebook before they pray or give the LORD time to answer prayer.   Are we guilty of looking for understanding and sympathy from our peers when we should focus on the LORD?

Beginning with verse 4, David’s prayer takes an imprecatory tone toward his enemies.

Psalm 28:4 – “Give [deliver; put] them [the wicked; adversaries] according to their deeds [work; acts], and according to the wickedness [evil; bad] of their endeavours [work; doings; deeds]: give them after the work [deeds] of their hands; render to them their desert [reward; recompense].

Notice the provocation of David’s prayer for God’s judgment was not the slights he had suffered, but the offenses the wicked had committed against the LORD (28:5).

Psalm 28:5 – “Because they regard [understand; consider] not the works [labor; deeds] of the LORD, nor the operation [acts] of his hands, he [the LORD] shall destroy [overthrow; ruin] them, and not build them up [repair; rebuild].”

Rather than focusing on his troubles, David’s prayer reveals his thoughts and meditations were on the character of the LORD (28:6-7).   

Psalm 28:6-7 – “Blessed be the LORD [Jehovah; Eternal God], because he hath heard [listened to]the voice [call; cry] of my supplications [prayer]7 The LORD is my strength [might; power] and my shield [small shield; buckler]; my heart [mind; understanding] trusted [secure; confident] in him, and I am helped [protected; assisted]: therefore my heart [mind; understanding] greatly rejoiceth [exults; jumps for joy]; and with my song [music] will I praise [give thanks] him.”

Psalm 28:8-9 –”The LORD is their strength [might; power], and he is the saving [salvation; deliverer] strength [fortress; defense] of his anointed [Messiah; i.e. Christ].  9  Save [help; deliver; preserve] thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed [shepherd; keep; tend] them also, and lift them up [bear up; take up] for ever [evermore].”

David closes Psalm 28 encouraging God’s people to put their faith in the LORD (28:8) knowing He is their Strength, Savior, and Fortress in times of trouble (28:9).

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Copyright 2019 – Travis D. Smith