THE LORD HELPS ME

Passage: Psalm 28:1-9

Key verse: 7

NIV

Psalm 28
Of David.

1 To you, Lord, I call;
    you are my Rock,
    do not turn a deaf ear(A) to me.
For if you remain silent,(B)
    I will be like those who go down to the pit.(C)
2 Hear my cry for mercy(D)
    as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands(E)
    toward your Most Holy Place.(F)

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.(G)
4 Repay them for their deeds
    and for their evil work;
repay them for what their hands have done(H)
    and bring back on them what they deserve.(I)

5 Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord
    and what his hands have done,(J)
he will tear them down
    and never build them up again.

6 Praise be to the Lord,(K)
    for he has heard my cry for mercy.(L)
7 The Lord is my strength(M) and my shield;
    my heart trusts(N) in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,(O)
    and with my song I praise him.(P)

8 The Lord is the strength(Q) of his people,
    a fortress of salvation(R) for his anointed one.(S)
9 Save your people(T) and bless your inheritance;(U)
    be their shepherd(V) and carry them(W) forever.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Lord Is My Strength and My Shield

Of David.

28 To you, O Lord, I call;
    (A)my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you (B)be silent to me,
    I become like those who (C)go down to the pit.
2 (D)Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
    when I cry to you for help,
when I (E)lift up my hands
    (F)toward your most holy sanctuary.[a]

3 Do not (G)drag me off with the wicked,
    with the workers of evil,
(H)who speak peace with their neighbors
    while evil is in their hearts.
4 (I)Give to them according to their work
    and according to the evil of their deeds;
give to them according to the work of their hands;
    (J)render them their due reward.
5 Because they (K)do not regard the works of the Lord
    or the work of his hands,
he will tear them down and build them up no more.

6 Blessed be the Lord!
    For he has (L)heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and (M)my shield;
    in him my heart (N)trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
    and with my (O)song I give thanks to him.

8 The Lord is the strength of his people;[b]
    he is (P)the saving refuge of his anointed.
9 Oh, save your people and bless (Q)your heritage!
    (R)Be their shepherd and (S)carry them forever.

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 28:2 Hebrew your innermost sanctuary
  2. Psalm 28:8 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts is their strength
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

When threatened by trouble or evil, to whom do you turn for help? How do you lead others when surrounded by malicious people? Some may lean on other people or trust their own strength and wisdom. David was different. He cried out to the LORD, his Rock, for mercy and help. He lifted up his hands in prayer, knowing that unless God intervened, he would go down to the pit (2). He prayed not to be treated like the wicked. David knew well that evil people may appear to be polite on the outside but harbor malice on the inside (3). They had no regard for the LORD nor anything the LORD had done.

David prayed not to be dragged away like the wicked. He prayed that God would repay his enemies, to give them what they deserved, and to tear them down.

God answered David’s prayer. In verses 6-9, David’s tone changed to one of confidence that God had heard his cry for mercy. He praised God who is his strength and the strength of his people. God was his shield, the fortress of his people, and the one who saves. Whatever troubles your heart today, ask God to change your heart to trust him with faith, joy, and confidence.

Prayer: Father, we praise you for helping us. You are our strength and fortress. Shepherd us and carry us forever.

One Word: The LORD helps his people