Read Psalm 28.
In contemplating the brokenness of our world and humanity, people in all times and places seem to have a sense that this is just not the way it’s supposed to be. I often think little children are more honest about this reality than most adults. Surely we can all think of a time we have personally witnessed a child at the store wail as if his very life were in jeopardy upon hearing, “No, we aren’t buying this toy today.”
Yes, we all face pain; we all feel longings for more of something that might make things better. And, we all face the threat of death: the ultimate “not the way it’s supposed to be.” Human beings with even the smallest grasp of reality can see that we are all desperately in need. Two questions apply here: 1. Do we recognize our neediness? And 2. What do we do about our being in need?
Those who know the Lord should on some level be aware of their need for him – their constant need for his mercy and grace. The voice of the Psalmist in Psalm 28 knows this well. He also well knows those who deny their need for God’s grace and instead selfishly seek to gain all they lack through oppressing their neighbors, the weak, and the poor.
Psalm 28 opens with a groaning cry for mercy and rescue. Things are not the way they are supposed to be. The psalmist is aware of his desperate situation: he is in danger of death (The Hebrew phrase rendered “go down to the pit” is a kind of generic term for death). Death is not the reward for the righteous, but for the wicked! It is the wicked who deserve death, because “they do not regard the works of the Lord…” (v. 5). Moving forward, the Psalmist proclaims that the Lord has heard his cries, and provided the rescue he needed! His trust in the Lord has not been in vain.
As we read this psalm and move towards prayer, let’s consider one interesting feature. Our psalmist proceeds from the dread of death to exuberant praise rather abruptly, seemingly in the same breath. Were we to try to recreate a story that might fit this psalm, I imagine we would all suppose that much time has passed in between verses 1-5 and 6-9. However, I think we are essentially meant to hear this psalm as one prayer/song at one moment in time. Reading the psalm in this way shows us how we can rejoice in the Lord’s deliverance, even when it may be yet to come.
I personally believe this psalm calls for rejoicing both in light of deliverance AND in the confidence we can have in our God to bring it in its proper time. I find it interesting that the original language of v. 7 can be rendered both, “The Lord is my strength…I am helped…” AND, “The Lord is my strength…I will be helped…” I think God means for us to have both ideas in play here. In this sense, we can rejoice when God answers our pleas for mercy, but with the same level of rejoicing, praise him in light of the deliverance we can know is yet to come, because he is faithful.
-- Travis Pry
As we read this psalm, do we not hear the cries of our savior? Do you hear Jesus pleading with his Father for rescue? Even as he hung on his cross, our Savior trusted his Heavenly Father to rescue him from death. He knew of his rescue, even in a moment in which it seemed unfathomable. However, if you, like me, often see wickedness in yourself, you may fear that you’re like “the wicked” whom the psalmist pleads for God to justly reward (v.4). But my brothers and sisters, for us, our wickedness has already received its just reward. All the curses due for our sins were carried by Jesus and destroyed in his death, so that we can now join him as those who are The Lord’s heritage (v. 9).
As we pray together this week, whether you are actually in fear for your life or simply dealing with the same fears, pains, and struggles we all face, let us cry out for mercy to the God who is merciful. Proclaim to him his greatness and trustworthiness, like our psalmist, knowing that he will provide you with all that you need. And in the end, let us thank him this week that the ultimate enemy we all fear has been vanquished for us by our Savior. Pray that he would take all that is not supposed to be and make it all so much better than we could ever imagine. And then, thank him for doing it, because his promises that have yet to pass are just as sure as those that have already come.