FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

Scripture Reference: Psalms 27-28

Psalm 28 begins with David’s lament, connecting it to verse 7 of Psalm 27, where we see he started his lament crying, “Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice!” and in Psalm 28:1 he emphatically cries out, “To You I will cry, O Lord . . .” Both verses express David’s dependence on God. David continues to express his dependence on God by calling Him “my Rock.” God is his rock who gives him strength and sustenance just as He did the children of Israel from the rock in the wilderness (see Numbers 20:11). The apostle Paul indicates Jesus Christ was the spiritual Rock with His people in the Old Testament.

God’s silence troubles David immensely and I’m sure he is fearful God may not intervene on his behalf. The Lord’s silence is unbearable, and David feels like he is going to die. The “pit” is synonymous with Sheol, the place for the dead. David lifts his hands as he pleads for God’s help. His empty hands show utter dependence on God indicating nothing of his own can save him. As he prays toward the holy sanctuary, the place of God’s mercy seat, David is relying wholly on God’s mercy to save him.

If you look back at Psalm 26:9, you can see that David asks the Lord not to treat him as if he were one of the wicked who hypocritically hide malice in their hearts. Instead, David entreats the Lord to be just, to repay the wicked for their evil ways, turning their own deeds upon them. Why should God deprive them of mercy? It is because they have disregarded what the Lord has done. To disregard what the Lord has done is to disregard the Lord Himself. Therefore, like a conquering king, God “shall destroy them, and not build them up” ever again.

Again, in continuing verses, we can assume that David realizes the Lord has heard his prayer. He begins saying, “Blessed be the Lord.” To pray for God’s blessing means asking for His favor, help, and strength, but what does it mean to bless the Lord since He certainly doesn’t need one’s favor or any help or added strength? Simply put, to bless the Lord means to express one’s admiration of Him and gratitude to Him. Consequently, David exclaims the Lord is his strength and protector. When David trusts in God, David receives His help. Therefore, David celebrates and sings to the Lord a song of thanksgiving.

David ends the 28^th Psalm as he began the 27^th, declaring that the Lord is a “strength” and a “shield.” God is the strength and the refuge of salvation for His people. David recognizes that what God is doing is not all about an individual but about a people. Therefore, David prays for the salvation of the people of God, for the Lord to show favor to those who belong to Him. To “shepherd them” means to provide for them, to guide and protect them. To “bear them up” recognizes their weakness and inability to stand or walk on their own and their need for the Lord to carry them where He would have them go for eternity.

These two Psalms remind us that when our enemies, the world, the flesh, and the devil threaten us, we have a stronghold, a refuge, and a shield, in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our source of deliverance and salvation. When we put our trust in Him and pray, He hears our prayers and helps us. These psalms remind us of how important it is for believers always to seek God’s face and faithfully to worship Him with other believers. These are the ways God helps us with our struggling perspectives. As we seek the Lord’s face and join in corporate worship, we are better equipped to set our “mind on things above” (Colossians 3:2).

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture Reference: Psalms 27-28

It’s not totally understood the occasion in which David wrote these psalms, but these two Psalms express confidence in the Lord’s salvation and justice as David’s enemies harass him. These two Psalms are very similar to the previous Psalm 26. They ultimately refer to worship in the Lord’s sanctuary, express dependence on the Lord and trust in His deliverance. Additionally, these two share a literary connection. The structure of Psalm 28 is the opposite of Psalm 27. This is like a mirrored reflection of each other and is a common technique found in the Psalms. Psalm 27 begins with David confidently praising God followed by David’s lament; then Psalm 28 begins with David’s lament followed by his praising of God as his savior.

The 27^th Psalm commences with a declaration of David’s confidence in the Lord as he asserts that the Lord is his “light,” “salvation,” and “strength of [his] life.” As David’s light, the Lord vanquishes the powers of darkness, as David’s salvation the Lord is his deliverer, and as David’s strength and shield, the Lord is his guardian. How can David be afraid of his enemies when the Lord is his protector? The Lord who has rescued David from enemies with violent intent in the past will surely defend him now and in the future. No matter how colossal the enemy threat may be, David will be confident because of his God.

Therefore, David expresses but one longing: “[to] dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.” David articulates that this has been his desire and it will continue to be his desire. Why? David yearns to gaze on “the beauty of the Lord,” to witness the wonders he performs for His people. Also, David wishes to seek the Lord’s instruction and guidance. Moreover, David recognizes no place is more secure for him. Being in the Lord’s sanctuary positively affects David’s perspective. There he knows the Lord will conceal him from his enemies and set him on a high rock where his enemies cannot reach him. In his secure position, David anticipates looking down at his distant enemies and vows to worship the Lord with loud songs of joy and praise.

In continuing verses, David’s tone changes as he cries out to God to hear his voice and deliver him from his adversaries. The emphasis is on the Lord’s “face.” David’s innermost longing is to seek God’s face. To seek the Lord’s face is to seek His presence and the grace of God that comes with His presence. As David indicated, being in God’s presence gives David a right perspective on his situation. We also need to remember that while it is true that God is always present with His people, believers sometimes have difficulty recognizing God’s presence because of their fallen nature or difficult circumstances. David realized God has been his “Helper” and that he would be doomed without God. Nonetheless, in his anguish, David knows the Lord cares for him. Therefore, because of his adversaries David asks the Lord to show him what is right and lead him to do what is right. David also asks the Lord to deliver him from his enemies who lie about him and seek to harm him.

David concludes Psalm 27 with a declaration of his confidence in the Lord. He is convinced of God’s goodness and that he will experience His salvation. Hence, with strength and courage, he is determined to wait on the Lord who will not disappoint him.

To Be Continued

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.