Psalms Chapter 28 — God My Strength and Shield
The psalmist calls out for God's mercy and justice against the wicked before shifting into a song of praise for God's protection and strength.
1To you, LORD, I call.
2Hear the voice of my petitions, when I cry to you,
3Don’t draw me away with the wicked,
4Give them according to their work, and according to the wickedness of their doings.
5Because they don’t respect the works of the LORD,
6Blessed be the LORD,
7The LORD is my strength and my shield.
8The LORD is their strength.
9Save your people,
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Psalms 28:7
“The LORD is my strength and my shield. My heart has trusted in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart greatly rejoices. With my song I will thank him.”
This verse represents the central theme of trust and the shift from sorrow to praise within the psalm.
Psalms 28:9
“Save your people, and bless your inheritance. Be their shepherd also, and bear them up forever.”
This final verse transitions the prayer from an individual's plea to a communal blessing for all of God's people.
Chapter Summary
Psalm 28 is a prayer of David that begins as an urgent petition. The writer cries out to God, pleading for a response and asking not to be counted among the wicked who speak peace while harboring mischief. He requests that those who disregard the works of the Lord be judged according to their actions. The tone of the psalm shifts in the sixth verse from a plea for help to an expression of thanksgiving. Having been heard by the Lord, the psalmist declares that God is his strength and his shield. This personal trust results in a joyful heart and a song of praise. The chapter concludes by expanding this personal experience to the community, identifying the Lord as the strength of His people and the saving refuge of His anointed. It ends with a blessing, asking God to shepherd and carry His people forever.
Frequently Asked Questions
The psalmist asks God to hear his cry for mercy and specifically requests not to be treated like the wicked, who act with deceit and ignore God's works.
The psalm begins with an urgent, desperate cry for help, but it transitions into a confident and joyful expression of praise after the psalmist feels his prayer has been heard.
These metaphors describe God as both a source of internal power and a means of external protection, highlighting the psalmist's complete reliance on divine support.
Study Note
Psalm 28 is an individual lament that follows a traditional literary structure where the speaker's plea is followed by a 'certainty of hearing' and a closing vow of praise.
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