Praying Psalm 28

"Listen"

What is the title of Psalm 28? of David.

Read Psalm 28:1-2

1 To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit.
² Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary.

What does the psalmist ask?

Hear – answer my prayer

IF you don’t… what is this saying about my relationships with God? I'm going down to the pit??

Read Psalm 28:3-5

³ Do not drag me off with the wicked, with the workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts.
⁴ Give to them according to their work and according to the evil of their deeds; give to them according to the work of their hands; render them their due reward.
⁵ Because they do not regard the works of the Lord or the work of his hands, he will tear them down and build them up no more.

What is the problem?

Scared to be lumped in with the wicked.

THEY look like this: speak peace, evil in heart, evil deeds, don’t consider God.

Read 28:6-7

⁶ Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
⁷ The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

NOW, how has the tone changed?

It's PERSONAL: He has heard me. MY prayer is answered. He has helped me. I thank Him.

Read 28:6-7

⁸ The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
⁹ Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

What does the psalmist proclaim to the people?

He is THEIR strength, too – The Lord will lead & carry them.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?

Proclaim personal confidence

Teach others to trust

How does Christ pray this psalm?

He, like David, points to his own salvation. This is a great act of God, for the people to see and trust. He went through the trials of being swept away with the evil ones (death on a cross) but his prayers were heard! YHWH raised him and gave him victory.

How can we pray this?

Because of this trust Christ has experienced, we can hope for that great act of salvation to happen to us too. This is why the OT stories of God’s people are so great. They teach us WHO our God is by his actions in history. Then we hope for that same God to save us in the future!

 

WE PRAY:  

Thy kingdom come.

What does this mean? The kingdom of God comes indeed without our prayer, of itself; but we pray in this petition that it may come unto us also.

How is this done? When our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead a godly life here in time and yonder in eternity.