Psalm Friday

Psalm Friday

Lift Your Hands in His Holy Sanctuary

Psalm 28

* Pray. Ask God to give you an open heart and mind to learn new truths from His Word. Read Psalm 28 through three times. Record any thoughts or questions you have in your journal. If a verse stands out to you, write it on an index card and begin committing it to memory.

1) To you I call, O LORD my Rock; do not turn a deaf ear to
me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who have gone down to the
pit. 2) Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands
toward your Most Holy Place. 3) 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. 4) Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work; repay them for
what their hands have done and bring back upon them what they deserve. 5) Since
they show no regard for the works of the LORD and what his hands have done, he
will tear them down and never build them up again.

Psalm 28:1-5, NIV

The exact occasion that led David to pen this Psalm is unknown. What we do know is this, David is in need of his Lord and is crying out in earnest for the Lord to hear and rescue him.


I am a visual learner, so when I read this Psalm a picture immediately come to my mind.

David was surrounded on all sides by evil men. There were those who were building their own kingdoms in order to further themselves and make their name great. Then there were those who were involved in idolatry and pagan worship. Others, close to David, were out to destroy him and his kingdom because of the God whom he served.



David had a front row seat to the world of wickedness, which allowed him to witness firsthand what a life apart from the LORD would do to a person. His cry to the LORD was, "Oh, LORD, please hear my cry to You and save me. I do not want to become like one of these who seek after the pleasures of this world. Raise me above this wickedness and set my feet upon Your Rock." This man of God did not allow himself to focus on the circumstances around him. Rather, he fixed his eyes on the LORD, having great confidence that God would hear the cries of His child.

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 I am helped. My heart leaps
for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song. 8) The LORD is the strength of
His people, a fortress of salvation for His anointedone. 9) Save Your people and
bless Your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.
Psalm 28:6-9, NIV

I believe David went from feeling alone in a myriad of people to standing in the presence of God Almighty. He praised, he worshipped, he danced, and he sang, for the LORD had heard his cries and answered. The LORD became his strength; empowering David to continue to stand strong in a world plagued by evil man. The LORD became David fortress, shielding him from the schemes of the enemy. The LORD was to him a shepherd who would lead and guide David all his days.

Yes, David was alone amongst his people, but God was always with him. What a beautiful reminder to us to always cry out to the LORD in times of aloneness, uncertainty, trial, or heartache. The LORD will hear the voices of His children. He will become our strength and our shield. He will shepherd us and set our feet upon His Rock.




Lift your hands today and praise Him in His holy sanctuary!