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Psalm 28 - Hear my call for mercy

Psalm 28

 Hear my call for mercy

 Introduction
Psalm 28 is a lament Psalm written by David.

Summary
v1-2 Hear my call for mercy
v3-5 Do not treat me as the wicked
v6-9 The LORD's goodness

Hear my call for mercy
David prays for God to listen to him, or else he would be no different from those who "have gone down to the pit".
What he means here is this - that God's elect, those who have chosen to seek Him, can come to God in prayer. David's special relationship with God is something we all have today because of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Do we fully appreciate the freedom to "talk" to God, to pray?

 Do not treat me as the wicked
Here David prays for God's preferential treatment - not to be dragged away with the wicked, but to repay the wicked for their deeds. He specifically speaks of the wicked as those who are two-faced - speaking cordially with their neighbors but harboring malice in their hearts. He expresses the promise of the LORD to tear down these people who have no regard for what He has done.
Do we also speak well but mean evil to others?
Is it right to pretend that everything is okay in a relationship, even though its' not?

 The LORD's goodness
The last section is on praise, as with most Psalms. David praises God for He has heard his cry for mercy - because the LORD is

  • Strength
  • Shield
  • Helper
  • Fortress of Salvation for His anointed
  • Savior
  • Shepherd
These words are often used to describe God. Again, His anointed one is not just David, but every one of us.
Do we appreciate the goodness of God?

Conclusion
Psalm 28 gives a lot of things for us to appreciate - God's willingness to listen, God's willingness to answer and God's goodness. Particularly striking for me was God's willingness to listen. Often prayer is taken for granted, and we don't really appreciate how privileged we are.

Can we take a more serious approach to prayer, treasuring it closely?
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