Seventh-day Adventist Bible CommentaryPsalms 28

Be not silent. Literally, “be not deaf.” To the psalmist it is a baffling thought that God is silent. Pit. Heb. bor, used of a waterpit, or cistern (see Gen. 37:20 Ex. 21:34), and hence symbolic of the grave. The dying are represented literally, as “descenders into the bor” (Ps. 30:3; 88:4; 143:7; Prov. 1:12; Isa. 38:18; Eze. 26:20; etc.).

Supplications. Note the plural: his entreaties are many. Lift up my hands. A common attitude in prayer (see Lam. 3:41). Oracle. Heb. debir, “the holy of holies.” We stretch out our hands toward God’s dwelling place in the heavens.

Draw me not. Compare Ps. 26:9. The psalmist prays not to be drawn into the company of the wicked (see the Saviour’s prayer, Matt. 6:13), and hence along to punishment with them. Which speak peace. The class described are dissemblers (see Ps. 26:4; cf. Ps. 12:2).

Give them. On the sentiment of vs. 4, 5, see Isa. 1:20; 3:8–11; 5:18, 19; see also the discussion on imprecatory psalms, p. 624.

Works. God’s doings in creation and in His providences (see Rom. 1:18–20). The wicked will be destroyed, not because of their malice toward the psalmist, but because of their malice toward God, which is revealed in their disregard of the evidences of His sovereignty in the natural world and in His dealings with men (see Ps. 8).

Destroy. Heb. haras, “throw down,” “tear down” (see Jer. 24:6).

Blessed be the Lord. The psalmist has already in his own heart received the answer to his prayer, and now, with startling abruptness, breaks out in joyful declaration of praise. This sudden change from entreaty to thanksgiving is typical of many of the psalms (see Ps. 6, 12, 22, etc.). Voice of my supplications. Echoing v. 2, and emphasizing the answer to the entreaty.

Shield. See Ps. 3:3; cf. Ps. 33:20; 59:11. Song. The heart that trusts in God cannot help being vocal in singing.

Their strength. The psalmist closes the psalm with a thought of the people’s welfare (see Ps. 3:8). Saving strength. Literally, “stronghold of salvations.” His anointed. Especially the king, as chosen by God. All God’s people, as consecrated to His service, are, in a sense, His anointed (see 1 Peter 2:5, 9).

Thine inheritance. The nation of Israel (see Deut. 4:20; 9:26, 29). The force of the psalmist’s appeal lies in the pronouns “thy” and “thine.” How can God fail to save His own? Feed them. Or, “shepherd them.” The close of the psalm suggests the tender shepherd of Ps. 80:1; Isa. 40:11; cf. Deut. 1:31; 32:11, 12. Lift. Heb. naśa’, which also means “to carry” as in 2 Kings 4:19. The last words of the psalm carry with them the blessing of the peace that passeth understanding.