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PSALMS 28

Old Testament Studies
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STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

NASB NKJV NRSV TEV NJB
A Prayer for Help, and Praise For Its Answer Rejoicing in Answered Prayer Prayer for Deliverance From Personal Enemies
(A Lament) 		A Prayer For Help Petition and Thanksgiving
MT Intro
A Psalm of David.		        
28:1-5 28:1-2 28:1-2 28:1-3 28:1
        28:2
  28:3-5 28:3-5   28:3
      28:4-5 28:4
        28:5
28:6-9 28:6-7 28:6-7 28:6-7 28:6
        28:7
  28:8-9 28:8-9 28:8-9 28:8-9

READING CYCLE THREE (see
“Bible
Interpretation Seminar”)

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR’S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which
means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the
light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not
relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare
your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is
the key to following the original author’s intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every
paragraph has one and only one subject.

  1. First paragraph
  2. Second paragraph
  3. Third paragraph, etc.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 28:1-5
 1To
You, O Lord, I call;
 My rock, do not be deaf to me,
 For if You are silent to me,
 I will become like those who go down
to the pit.
 2Hear
the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help,
 When I lift up my hands toward Your
holy sanctuary.
 3Do
not drag me away with the wicked
 And
with those who work iniquity,
 Who
speak peace with their neighbors,
 While
evil is in their hearts.
 4Requite
them according to their work and according to the evil of their practices;
 Requite them according to the deeds
of their hands;
 Repay them
their recompense.
 5Because
they do not regard the works of the Lord
 Nor the deeds of His hands,
 He will tear them down and not build
them up.

28:1-5 There is some disagreement of how to divide the strophes in this Psalm (look at front
page of this chapter). NASB has Ps. 28:1-5, 6-9, so I will use it. The first strophe is a lament
and the second a psalm of thanksgiving.

The psalmist prays for

  1. YHWH to hear him when he prays
  2. YHWH not to drag him away like the wicked

In Ps. 28:4 he uses three IMPERATIVES to describe what God should
do to the wicked.

  1. give them (BDB 678, KB 733, Qal IMPERATIVE) according to their
    deeds (cf. Job 34:11; Ps. 62:12; Pro. 24:12; Eccl. 12:14; Jer. 17:10; 32:19; Matt. 16:27;
    25:31-46; Rom. 2:6; 14:12; 1 Cor. 3:8; 2 Cor. 5:10; Gal. 6:7-10; 2 Tim. 4:14; 1 Pet. 1:17;
    Rev. 2:23; 20:12; 22:12)
  2. give them according to their evil practices (VERB assumed from #1)
  3. give them (same verb as #1) according to their actions
    (lit. “work of their hands”)
  4. reward (BDB 996, KB 1427, Hiphil IMPERATIVE) them dire reward
    (lit. “dealings,” BDB 168)

28:1 “My rock” This imagery speaks of permanence, strength, stability, protection
(see full note at Ps. 18:2).

▣ “do not. . .” These are two IMPERFECTS used in a
JUSSIVE sense.

  1. Ps. 28:1 ‒ do not be deaf, BDB 361 II, cf. Ps. 35:22; 39:12; 83:1; 109:1 (parallel
    to “silent,” BDB 364)
  2. Ps. 28:3 ‒ do not drag me away, BDB 604 (i.e., possibly like an animal or a prisoner of war)

▣ “the pit” The term (BDB 92, cf. Ps. 88:4; 143:7; Pro. 28:17) is a synonym
for Sheol. See
SPECIAL TOPIC: WHERE
ARE THE DEAD? It probably related to

  1. a dug grave (cf. Isa. 14:9; Ezek. 32:25)
  2. a hole in the hill for burial
  3. an opening which goes into Sheol (cf. Ps. 30:3; Pro. 1:12; Isa. 14:15; 38:18;
    Ezek. 26:20)

28:2 “When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary” This gesture has several
connotations.

  1. an act of blessing after a sacrifice by a priest ‒ Lev. 9:22 (i.e., some sacrifices
    were lifted up to YHWH)
  2. an act on the part of a worshiper after a sacrifice of incense ‒ Ps. 141:2
  3. a gesture toward the sanctuary ‒ Ps. 134:2
  4. a posture of prayer, hands raised, cf. Exod. 9:29 (Moses); 1 Kgs. 8:22 (Solomon);
    Lam. 2:19; 3:41 (Israel); Luke 24:50 (Jesus); 1 Tim. 2:8 (believers)
  5. a posture for praise, adoration, or public confession ‒ Ps. 63:4
  6. a way to show YHWH’s power as His staff was lifted up in Moses’ hands (cf. Exod. 17:8-12)

Here it is meant to symbolize a clean life (cf. 1 Tim. 2:8), open to God and a life that
recognizes its need to receive from God (see negative usage in Ps. 44:20).

▣
NASB   ”toward Your holy sanctuary”
NASB margin, NKJV footnote   ”the innermost place”
NJB   ”Holy of Holies”
JPSOA   ”inner sanctuary”
LXX   ”court”
REB   ”shrine”

This Hebrew term (BDB 184 I) basically means “back part,”
“innermost.” In 1 Kings 6:16,19,20,21, 22,23,31; 7:49; 8:6,8 it refers to the Holy of
Holies (cf. Exod. 26:31-35), where the ark of the covenant stood between Solomon’s giant cherubim.

Faithful followers in the Old Covenant faced the temple (cf. 1 Kings 8, Solomon’s great
prayer at the dedication of the Temple) when they prayed because it was there that YHWH dwelt between
the wings of the cherubim. It was where heaven and earth met. The ark of the covenant was YHWH’s
footstool.

However, in the New Covenant, God is present in all places (cf. John 4:20-24). The new
temple is Jesus (cf. John 2:19,21)!

28:3,5 “Because. . .” Verses 3 and 5 list the activities and attitudes of the
wicked (i.e., practical atheists).

  1. who work iniquity, Ps. 28:3
  2. who speak peace to their neighbor but have evil in their hearts (see
    SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HEART)
  3. who do not regard the works of God, Ps. 28:5 (God’s people must “regard” who He is
    by what He has done, cf. Deut. 32:7; Ps. 107:43; Hos. 14:9)
  4. who do not regard the deeds of God (parallel), Ps. 28:5, cf. Isa. 5:12

28:5 The last line of Ps. 28:5 tells what God will do to them (compare Jer. 1:10).

  1. tear them down ‒ BDB 248, KB 256, Qal IMPERFECT, Ps. 28:5
  2. not build them up ‒ BDB 124, KB 139, Qal IMPERFECT, negated, Ps. 28:5

The three IMPERFECTS of Ps. 28:5 denote the continuous actions of the
wicked. Their lives are characterized by ignoring God and hurting others, therefore, God’s judgments
are also ongoing (i.e., perennial destruction, cf. Isa. 6:9-10; Jer. 1:10).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 28:6-9
 6Blessed
be the Lord,
 Because
He has heard the voice of my supplication.
 7The Lord
is my strength and my shield;
 My
heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;
 Therefore
my heart exults,
 And with
my song I shall thank Him.
 8The
Lord is their strength,
 And He is a saving defense to His
anointed.
 9Save
Your people and bless Your inheritance;
 Be
their shepherd also, and carry them forever.

28:6-9 A radical mood swing occurs at verse 6. This strophe spells out the reasons why YHWH
is to be blessed (Ps. 28:6a).

  1. He hears his prayer
  2. He is both his strength and shield
  3. He is his refuge

In verses 8 and 9 the focus changes from the King (i.e., “His anointed”) to His
covenant people. As YHWH saved the King, may he now save His people! This fluidity between the
SINGULAR and PLURAL is common in the Psalms.

▣ “Blessed be the Lord“ This is a recurrent theme
in the Psalms. He is blessed by His faithful followers for many reasons, but all of them come back
to who He is and what He has done! This phrase became a liturgical formula (cf. Ps.18:46; 28:6; 31:21;
41:13; 66:20; 68:35; 72:18; 89:52; 106:48; 119:12; 124:6; 135:21; 144:1). Let all that has breath
praise the Lord!

28:7 As Ps. 28:3 and 5 describe the wicked, Ps. 28:7 describes the faithful follower.

  1. his heart trusts in Him ‒ BDB 105, KB 1200, Qal PERFECT, cf. Ps. 112:7
    (note the theological connection between human’s trust and divine deliverance/salvation,
    cf. Ps. 22:4-5; 25:1-3; 28:7; 31:14-15; 86:2; see note at NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 646)
  2. he is helped by God ‒ BDB 740, KB 810, Niphal PERFECT
  3. his heart exults ‒ BDB 759, KB 831, Qal IMPERFECT with waw
  4. he thanks Him with song ‒ BDB 392, KB 389, Hiphil IMPERFECT
    (continual praise)

Just a brief comment about the MT verses the LXX. There was probably a more ancient
Hebrew text behind both of them. There are MSS in the DSS that follow the MT and others follow the
LXX. The early church used the LXX almost exclusively. Psalm 28:7 is a good example of their
translating a different Hebrew text. The LXX has (see note in AB, p. 173).

“The Lord is my helper and my protector; in him my heart hoped,

And I was helped and my flesh revived, and from my will I shall acknowledge him.”

▣ “shield” See note at Ps. 3:3-6.

28:8 “their” The UBS Text Project (p. 208) gives “to His people”
a “C” rating (i.e., considerable doubt).

  1. to them ‒ למו (NKJV, JPSOA)
  2. to His people ‒ לעמו (NRSV, TEV, NJB, REB)

The Septuagint uses #2, as do some Hebrew manuscripts. Apparently one Hebrew letter
has fallen out of the MT.

▣ “His anointed” See similar usage in Ps. 18:50. See
SPECIAL TOPIC: MESSIAH.

28:9 There is a series of IMPERATIVE directed in prayer to YHWH, beseeching
Him to act on behalf of the covenant people.

  1. save ‒ BDB 446, KB 448, Hiphil IMPERATIVE, cf. Ps. 106:47, see
    SPECIAL
    TOPIC: SALVATION (OT)
  2. bless ‒ BDB 138, KB 159, Piel IMPERATIVE, see
    SPECIAL
    TOPIC: BLESSED (OT)
  3. shepherd ‒ BDB 944, KB 1258, Qal IMPERATIVE (The NASB Study
    Bible [p. 765] makes the comment that “shepherd” links up with Psalm 23 and
    probably marks off Psalm 23-28 as a collection of psalms linked by several common themes)
  4. carry (i.e., “lift up”), Piel IMPERATIVE, cf. Isa. 40:11; 63:9

Several Psalms close with a corporate focus (i.e., Ps. 3:8; 14:7; 25:22; 29:11; 51:18-19; 130:8).

▣ “Your inheritance” YHWH gave a land allotment to all the nations (cf. Deut. 32:9),
but the descendants of Abraham were His special people (cf. Exod. 19:5-6; 1 Kgs. 8:51; Ps. 33:12). He
showed this by His promised exodus out of Egypt (cf. Gen. 15:12-21). He displayed His power and love
(cf. Deut. 9:29). Moses beseeched YHWH not to judge His sinful people because the pagan nations would
not understand (cf. Deut. 9:26-29). His people were meant to reveal His character to all nations (see
SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH’S ETERNAL
REDEMPTIVE PLAN). But if they continued in sin and idolatry there was rejection (cf. Ps. 106:40;
Ezek. 36:22-23).

▣ “forever” See
SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER (‘OLAM)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own
interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation.
You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

 

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of
the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

  1. What is the OT view of death?
  2. Is Ps. 28:4 the same truth as Gal. 6:7?
  3. Is Ps. 28:5c related to Isa. 6:9-10 or Jer. 1:10?
  4. Why do psalms that reflect an individual’s thoughts and situation end in communal
    IMPERATIVES?

 

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Lessons International

 

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