Psalm Chapter 28 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.
3 Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.
4 Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.
5 Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.
Psalms Chapter 28 Cont'd (Old Testament)
6 Blessed be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
8 The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.
9 Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 28:7
Verse: יְהוָה-עָזִי וּמָעוֹזִי, מְשִׁיעִי וּמִתְחַסִּי
Transliteration: Adonai-azi u-ma’oz, m’shiyi u-mitchasi
English: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts.”
Focus Word: מִתְחַסֶּה (Mitchaseh)
- Root: ח-ס-י (Chet-Samech-Yod)
- Meaning: “To take refuge,” “to trust for protection.”
- Deeper Insight: Hebrew mitchaseh conveys active reliance on God as a safe haven, not passive hope.
More on This Psalm: Commentary from Biblical Scholars
| Scholar | Paraphrase of the psalm |
|---|---|
| John Trapp (Christ Church, Oxford, 1601–1669, A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments) | Trapp views the psalm as a prayer from someone in distress who trusts that God will hear and rescue him. |
| Charles Hodge (Princeton University, 1797–1878, Commentary on the Psalms) | Hodge explains that the psalm shows confidence in God’s justice and gratitude for His saving power. |
| George Adam Smith (University of Aberdeen, 1856–1942, The Book of Psalms, Commentary) | Smith notes that the psalm moves from desperate pleading to joyful praise once God answers in mercy. |
| John Gill (University of Aberdeen, 1697–1771, Exposition of the Old and New Testaments) | Gill sees in the psalm both the cry of a righteous sufferer and the assurance that God will defend His own. |
| F.D. Maurice (King’s College London, 1805–1872, Theological Essays) | Maurice observes that the psalm reminds believers to keep faith through hardship, trusting in God’s strength. |
| Scholar & Work | View |
|---|---|
| F. D. Maurice – OT Lectures | Maurice sees this psalm as the cry of a soul fearing divine silence. The plea for mercy dominates its opening lines. Praise emerges as the assurance of being heard. |
| Thomas Leishman – Theological Essays on Psalms | Leishman emphasizes the psalm’s shift from pleading to confidence. The wicked are contrasted with those who trust God. Blessing flows from answered prayer. |
| Edward Bouverie Pusey – Devotional Notes | Pusey sees deep penitence in the cry “not be silent to me.” God’s hearing restores the fainting soul. The final blessing on God’s people widens the psalm’s scope. |
| W. G. Blaikie – Supplemental Notes (distinct) | Blaikie views the psalm as moving from fear to praise. God is the strength and shield of His people. The concluding prayer includes the entire congregation. |
| Edward King – Victorian Homilies | King interprets the psalm as the conflict between fear and faith. God’s silence is dreaded more than enemies. The psalm closes with confidence in God’s shepherding care. |
| Albert Barnes – Additional Psalm Notes (distinct) | Barnes emphasizes the danger of divine silence. Trust in God transforms fear into joy. Blessing overflows to the whole community. |
| John Eadie – OT Commentaries | Eadie sees the psalm as a plea for deliverance from wicked men. God’s recompense to evildoers contrasts His mercy to the faithful. The benediction highlights God’s role as Shepherd. |
| George Horne – Supplemental Notes (distinct) | Horne interprets the psalm Christologically as the cry of the righteous sufferer. Divine strength and salvation are its themes. The closing blessing anticipates the Church’s preservation. |
| Thomas Dale – Expository Sermons | Dale sees prayer rising out of desperation. God’s help revives the spirit. The psalm closes with a pastoral blessing. |
| James Frame – Additional Notes (distinct) | Frame highlights the fear of divine silence and judgment. Deliverance affirms God’s righteousness. The final prayer petitions for communal salvation. |
Prayer: Thank You Father for Who You are. Thank you for waking me up and causing your mercies to be new to me every morning. Thank you for your awesome goodness in my life for you have set me in a wide place and have not caused the enemy to triumph over me, but by faith you have given me the victory in Jesus' Name. I honor You and thank you that I can always trust and rely on you. You are faithful. Thank you for being my strength and shield in Jesus' Name. Amen!
