Introduction
In this psalm we find David pleading to God for help from his enemies. Although we don’t know the exact background to this psalm some suggest it may be when David was fleeing during the revolt of Absalom, 2 Samuel 15:1-18:33.
Heading
‘Of David.’
Although the headings aren’t inspired by God, they are important because they give us some understanding of the Psalm and they help us to see why it was written. The headings usually tell us four things.
1. Who wrote them, probably wrote them or possibly wrote them.
2. Information about the historical background to the Psalm. Why it was written.
3. They tell us of the tune the Psalm was written to.
4. How it was used.
The heading here, simply tells us that this is of David.
‘To you, LORD, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit. Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place. 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. 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. 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.’ Psalm 28:1-5
As we go through this psalm we can’t help but notice that David is in a great deal of despair. He knows if the Lord doesn’t answer his plea, then he would die at the hands of his enemies, that is, those who followed Absalom. He calls God his ‘Rock’, Psalm 18:2.
He says if God doesn’t answer his plea he will be like those who go down to the ‘pit’. The word ‘pit’ is often used as a metaphor for death and is often the equivalent of ‘Sheol’, Psalm 30:3 / Psalm 88:4 / Isaiah 38:18 / Isaiah 14:15 / Isaiah 14:19.
There are three Biblical words, the meanings of which are often confused because people tend to use them very loosely. Two of the words are New Testament Greek words and the third is an Old Testament Hebrew word.
For instance, in the New Testament, we have these words.
1. ‘Gehenna’, which occurs 12 times, and, in the A.V., is always translated ‘hell’, and
2. ‘Hades’, which occurs 10 times, and which is also always translated as ‘hell’.
3. The third word is the word ‘Sheol’, found in the Old Testament, and which sometimes is erroneously said to be the word that corresponds to ‘Gehenna’.
You clearly see the confusion that has been created about the meaning of this word when you understand that, in the A.V., out of the 65 instances it occurs, 31 times it has been translated ‘hell’ and 31 times it has been translated ‘the grave’!
Now, although the word ‘Sheol’ literally means ‘the Place of the Dead’, you don’t need much intelligence to recognise that Hell and the Grave are not the same place! When a body is placed in the grave, it has not been consigned to Hell!
But there is a history behind this inconsistent rendering of the word ‘Sheol’. Whilst the translators of the A.V. believed Hell to be the place of punishment for the wicked, they recoiled from the idea of saying that good people also go to Sheol, and so in passages that related to the death of good people, they decided to translate ‘Sheol’ as ‘the grave’!
David feared if Absalom had taken the throne, then he would have been executed by him, hence why he cried out to God asking for urgent help. He lifted up his hands, which is symbolic of someone pouring their hearts out to God in desperation, Exodus 17:9-15 / 1 Timothy 2:8.
David poured out his heart to God towards the ‘Most Holy Place’, which is a reference to the holy of holies, where God’s ark of the covenant was contained, Exodus 26:34 / 2 Chronicles 3:8 / 2 Chronicles 3:10 / Hebrews 9:3-14.
David knew his life was different from the wicked, hence he asks God to treat him differently from them, Psalm 26:9. The wicked were those who joined forces with Absalom and because they joined Absalom, they were now against God and His anointed, that is David.
David asks God to bring judgment against Absalom and his followers because what they were doing was evil. God overthrew the rebels in order to spare the reign of His anointed, David. David’s prayer was answered.
I’m sure that David had no idea that God would answer his prayer by killing his son, Absalom without David’s consent, 2 Samuel 18:9-33.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following about the wicked.
‘This is a fourfold plea that God will deal with the wicked as they deserve. The plea is that God will execute justice upon the wicked enemies. 1. According to their work. 2. According to their wickedness. 3. After the operation of their hands, and 4. According to what they deserve.’
It’s important to note that although the wicked may forget God, God doesn’t forget them, they will receive what they deserve, Romans 1:20-21.
‘Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy. 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. The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.’ Psalm 28:6-9
David has absolute confidence that God heard his cries for mercy. Notice that the words are written in the past tense as if the request had already been answered, Matthew 21:22 / Mark 11:24.
No wonder David, God’s anointed, Psalm 2:2 / Psalm 20:6, just breaks into praise and praises God for delivering him, Psalm 22:25 / Psalm 41:13 / Psalm 72:18-19 / Psalm 89:52.
God certainly was his strength, Psalm 18:1, and shield, Psalm 3:3, it was God who gave him strength, Ephesians 6:10, and it was God who acted like a shield against his enemies, Ephesians 6:16.
Notice also that David not only prayed for himself, but he also takes the time to pray for others who are going through difficult times. He wants God to save His people, he wants God to bless His people, Deuteronomy 4:20 / Deuteronomy 9:26 / Deuteronomy 9:29, and He wants God to shepherd, Psalm 23:1, and carry His people, Isaiah 40:11 / Isaiah 63:9.
Conclusion
When David prayed to God he prayed with confidence, knowing that God would answer his prayers. We too, as Christians should also pray with confidence knowing that God will answer our prayers, if they are in accordance with His will, 1 John 5:14.
We should never doubt that He longs to hear from us, and we should never doubt that He will answer us, Luke 11:11-13 / Hebrews 4:16.
When we think about Elisha, he told King Ahab to prepare a feast because a mighty rainstorm was coming. Elisha then climbed to the top of Mount Carmel where he fell to the ground and prayed, 1 Kings 17:1-6.
Elisha knew the power of acting as if his prayer was already answered, and sure enough, a mighty rainstorm soon followed, James 1:6.
