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Read Psalm 28

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 neighbors
    but harbor 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.

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.

Go Deeper

Did you notice the change in tone between the two sections of this chapter? It almost feels like this chapter is missing some verses! In the first half of Psalm 28, David is desperate for the Lord to act. Then in the last four verses, David is declaring the praises of his God. What is interesting about this, is that it seems like nothing has changed! While David’s tone moves dramatically from verse 5 to 6, it doesn’t appear that his situation has been fixed. We don’t read about how God destroyed David’s enemies or even spoke directly to David. All we read is that David went from distraught to delight.

While we can’t know for sure, it appears that the only thing that changed David was time in God’s presence. When he was talking with God, he began to feel joy, protection, and salvation. The simple act of being with his Heavenly Father shifted his mood. 

Most of us have a laundry list of things we’d like to change about our life: our kids, our income, our looks, our relationships. But if we got all that we wanted, it wouldn’t fix what we really need. We don’t need a better situation in order to feel more joy, we need to spend more time with our Savior. When we authentically encounter His presence, the Holy Spirit will often work in ways we can’t really describe. Our mood will change even when our situation doesn’t. So spend time with the Lord throughout your day and ask him to switch your frame of mind. Then watch him do exactly what he did for David in between verses 5 to 6. He delights in turning your pressure into praise, your jealousy into joy, and your doubt into dependence.

Questions

  1. What sticks out to you about David’s mindset in this passage?
  2. Verse 7 connects our trust in God with our joy. Have you seen that true in your own life?
  3. Do you feel like your prayers are as honest as David’s? How can you become more honest with God?

Pray This

God, I bring my full, honest self to you today. I reach out to you desperate that you to reach out to me. I admit that many times I believe I need better circumstances in order to have a better mindset. Would you remind me that I don’t need a new situation, but instead a fresh look at my Savior?  God, would you also allow my heart to trust you more so that I might experience the deep joy that David described? I want to encounter your strength and salvation all throughout my day today. Finally, would you quickly carry me back into your presence whenever I stray away? Thank you for being the satisfaction of my soul. Amen. 

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2 thoughts on “Psalm 28”

  1. I’m comforted by David’s confidence that when he cried out to the Lord, he was heard. I want to lean into that same confidence today as the burdens are heavy and much is at stake in so many lives. I want to trust him with my whole heart and lean not to my own jaded understanding. I desperately need his strength to stay the course he has set before me. Today, I will remember the completed work of the cross, singing through the shadows until I see a breakthrough.

  2. David cries out to the Lord, but in v:1 he calls him “my rock”; then in v:7 he says “my strength and my shield” showing his trust in the Lord. I pray that every minute of the day, whether difficulties or joy, I remember to call out to the only one that will strengthen me, and give thanks in everything.

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