Psalms 28

Ps 28:1-9.

An earnest cry for divine aid against his enemies, as being also those

of God, is followed by the Psalmist's praise in assurance of a

favorable answer, and a prayer for all God's people.

1. my rock--

(Ps 18:2, 31).

be not silent to me--literally, "from me," deaf or inattentive.

become like them, &c.--share their fate.

go down into the pit--or, "grave"

(Ps 30:3).

2. lift up my hands--a gesture of prayer

(Ps 63:4; 141:2).

oracle--place of speaking

(Ex 25:22;

Nu 7:89),

where God answered His people (compare

Ps 5:7).

3. Draw me not away--implies punishment as well as death (compare

Ps 26:9).

Hypocrisy is the special wickedness mentioned.

4. The imprecation is justified in

Ps 28:5.

The force of the passage is greatly enhanced by the accumulation of

terms describing their sin.

endeavours--points out their deliberate sinfulness.

5. Disregard of God's judgments brings a righteous punishment.

destroy . . . build . . . up--The positive strengthened by the

negative form.

6. supplications--or, "cries for mercy."

7. The repetition of "heart" denotes his sincerity.

8. The distinction made between the people.

their strength--and the anointed--may indicate Absalom's rebellion

as the occasion.

9. The special prayer for the people sustains this view.

feed them--as a shepherd

(Ps 23:1,

&c.).