For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Psalm 28

1 To you, Lord, I call;
    you are my Rock,
    do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you remain silent,
    I shall be like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear my cry for mercy
    as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
    towards your Most Holy Place.

3 Do not drag me away with the wicked,
    with those who do evil,
who speak cordially with their neighbours
    but harbour malice in their hearts.
4 Repay them for their deeds
    and for their evil work;
repay them for what their hands have done
    and bring back on them what they deserve.

5 Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord
    and what his hands have done,
he will tear them down
    and never build them up again.

6 Praise be to the Lord,
    for he has heard my cry for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise him.

8 The Lord is the strength of his people,
    a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
9 Save your people and bless your inheritance;
    be their shepherd and carry them for ever.

A. Find Out:

1. What is David feeling and so what does he do? v.1,2
2. What does he not want to happen? v.3
3. What does he feel about the wicked? v.4,5
4. Then what sense does he have? v.6
5. What is he able to declare about himself? v.7
6. What is he able to declare about Israel ? v.8,9

B. Think:

1. What was David’s fear that he was addressing through prayer?
2. How does he seem to get an answer?
3. In what does that result?

C. Comment:

  Initially David seems to fear getting swept away with all the rest of the wicked people. It seems as if the Lord is not noticing him and because he is aware that the Lord deals with the wicked, he is afraid that the Lord will just deal with him in the same way. For a moment he seems to lack assurance of his relationship with the Lord. Does that sound familiar? So he cries to the Lord (v.1,2), aware of the ways that God will deal with the wicked (v.3-5).

  Suddenly there comes assurance! (v.6). That is how it is in prayer isn’t it? So often as we pray, it seems, the answer comes. Often it isn’t a word from the Lord but just a simple sense that the Lord has heard and that He reassures us. That is one of the blessings of prayer.

  As soon as that reassurance is released in David he also finds a release of praise and testimony. At the start he spoke of the Lord as his Rock, the one on whom he would stand firm when all else around is unsure. Now he expands on that, the Lord is his strength and He is the one who protects him as well. As that reassurance comes, his heart sings for joy, and praise and thanks gush forth. Isn’t that how it is, when reassurance comes after a time of anguish, wondering and waiting? Joy pours forth and releases faith for further prayer and petition.

D. Application:

1. We each need that sense of God’s love upon us. Seek it.
2. When that comes, faith and joy are released. Hallelujah!