PSALM 28

Psalms 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--( Psalms 18:2 Psalms 18:31 ).
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" ( Psalms 30:3 ).

2. lift up my hands--a gesture of prayer ( Psalms 63:4 , 141:2 ).
oracle--place of speaking ( Exodus 25:22 , Numbers 7:89 ), where God answered His people (compare Psalms 5:7 ).

3. Draw me not away--implies punishment as well as death (compare Psalms 26:9 ). Hypocrisy is the special wickedness mentioned.

4. The imprecation is justified in Psalms 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 ( Psalms 23:1 , &c.).