On Psalm 28

(Ps 28:1) Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.

The Lord does not always answer prayer right away, as stated also in Lk 18:1-5. The Lord spoke the parable of Lk 18:2-5 to teach "that one must always pray and not lose heart" (Lk 18:1)^EMTV.

In Ps 28:1 we read "lest ... I become like them that go down into the pit". Those who go down into the pit are lost people. Indeed, in Is 38:18 we read that "those who go down to the pit do not hope for your faithfulness"^ESV. Thus, the words "lest ... I become like them that go down into the pit" are part of a request to be treated differently, not as God treats the lost. We read about this also in verse 3.

(Ps 28:2) Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.

Ps 28:2 may remind us that sometimes there is no sign that God has heard a prayer request. The believer has to persevere (Lk 18:1). Now, the word translated "oracle" denotes the innermost room of the temple, the Holy of Holies. As we read in Heb 8:5 and Heb 9:23, the tabernacle and the temple were copies and shadows of heavenly things. We have access to the heavenly things themselves by the blood of Jesus (Heb 10:19).

(Ps 28:3) Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.

Ps 28:3 indicates that believers may face the same kind of troubles as the wicked. Jesus himself, though without sin, was "numbered with the transgressors" (Is 53:12) and was crucified with two robbers.

(Ps 28:4)^MKJV Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their practices, give them according to the work of their hands; give them what they deserve.

Verse 4 refers to the workers of iniquity and the wicked people mentioned earlier in verse 3. In view of verse 5, it is apparent that though truth was revealed to them, they are unwilling to repent.

(Ps 28:5) Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.

A more literal translation of the end of verse 5 is "He will break them down and not build them up"^ASV. Here, "to break down" is the opposite of "to build up". This could remind us of Ps 107, where we read about people who repent when they are broken down.

(Ps 28:6) Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.

In the context of requests, when the original-language text states that one has heard the voice of another, the implication is that he has agreed to do that which was requested (such as in Ge 16:2, Ex 3:18, and Ex 13:24). So also in verse 6 the Lord is praised for answering prayer. In the context of the previous verses, verse 6 could be understood as expressing the confidence of the believer that the Lord will answer. The Lord hears prayer even when he does not show it plainly, for "the prayer of the upright is his delight" (Pr 15:8). "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them" (Mk 11:24).

(Ps 28:7) The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

Since verse 7 is in the same psalm as verses 1 and 2, it is very obvious that the believer should have the attitude described in verse 7 even when the Lord does not respond right away. For example, "Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God" (Ac 16:25) at a time when they were imprisoned with "their feet fast in the stocks" (Ac 16:24).

(Ps 28:8) The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.
(Ps 28:9) Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.