The Psalmist compared the sturdy character of God with a rock in some Psalms. The Old Testament writers also perceived God as Rock, as they enjoyed His protection all through their journey. People compare the sturdiness of God to a rock, but God compared the unshakable faith of Abraham to a rock (Isaiah 51:1-2). People of all ages mistook this metaphor and perceived rocks as their deities (Romans 1:23). There is a vast difference between the statements “God is my rock” and “God is rock.”

Call For Help

To you, LORD, I call;

you are my Rock,

do not turn a deaf ear to me.

For if you remain silent,

I will be like those who go down to the pit.

Hear my cry for mercy

as I call to you for help,

as I lift up my hands

toward your Most Holy Place.

Psalms 28:1-2

The Psalmist would have raised His hands towards the sky, displaying a perfect prayer posture, while reciting this Psalm as a prayer. He called God his rock by enjoying His sturdiest protection and revealing his constant reliance on Him. Whenever we pray to God, we should wait for His response. But often, we pray and walk away without waiting for His instructions or answers. Here, the Psalmist was keen on receiving a reply from God because he understood that if God did not speak life-giving words to Him, he would be dead, and he could not differentiate himself from others who go down to hell.

We might have the assurance of forgiveness, but that is not the only deciding factor that determines our future in heaven. We should sanctify us with His truth and grow in His love instead of having confidence that we will be with Him for sure. When our sin separates us from God, it might be hard to hear His voice. This Psalm warns us to cast away the things that deafen our ears, immediately calling Him for help.

Do Not Drag Me Away With The Wicked

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.

Repay them for their deeds

and for their evil work;

repay them for what their hands have done

and bring back on them what they deserve.

Because they have no regard for the deeds of the LORD

and what his hands have done,

he will tear them down

and never build them up again.

Psalms 28:3-5

David’s initial attempt to join the Philistines did not work as they identified him. Then David pretended as a mad man and escaped from their hands (1 Samuel 21:13). Later, David chose the place of the Philistines as the safest haven for him, knowing very well that Saul would not pursue him further. David and his men stayed at Ziklag and joined the Philistines during their war against the people of God. Whether David had planned to sabotage the Philistines army being one among them, or had he decided to fight against the people of God is not clear from the record. Whatever may be the reason, God led the commanders of the Philistines to reject David and his men and prevented him from going against His will.

When they returned to Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old. God did not allow the Amalekites to kill their captive but led them to carry them off as they went away (1 Samuel 30:1-2). David’s men rejected him and even decided to kill David. His helpless situation would have led him to think that God would punish him along with His enemies, and he strengthened himself in the presence of God (1 Samuel 30:6).

God does not want us to associate with His enemies in all circumstances so that while He deals harshly with His enemies (Exodus 15:26), it should not affect us. God warns His children not to conform to this world (Romans 12:2). On the contrary, we want to be with worldly people, and only when we see problems coming to them do we pray to God to spare us. God is not an unjust God to drag us with the wicked by oversight. As He does not want to count us with the transgressors, He numbered His Son among the transgressors to save us from His wrath (Isaiah 53:12).

Despite knowing the fateful destiny of the wicked, David chose to be with them for a while. Are we committing the same mistake by the influence of the famous quote when in Rome do as Romans do?

My Heart Leaps For Joy

Praise be to the LORD,

for he has heard my cry for mercy.

The LORD is my strength and my shield;

my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.

My heart leaps for joy,

and with my song I praise him.

Psalms 28:6-7

Almost all the Psalms start with a cry for help in a critical situation but end up with the answers the Psalmist received and his details of the unspeakable joyful experience he enjoyed. The touch of God gives us physical and spiritual healing, seasoned with peace and happiness. When Peter and John gave Jesus to the man who had been born lame, he jumped with joy and entered the temple.

On the other hand, an answer to our prayers exposes the truth about our trust. If we trust in God, we will dance with overwhelming joy when He answers us. If we do not trust God whenever we receive His blessings, we attribute them to our deeds or some eminent person. We should learn to admire God, the reason behind our success.

Be Their Shepherd

The LORD is the strength of his people,

a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

Save your people and bless your inheritance;

be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Psalms 28:8-9

Whenever David received his answers from God, He encouraged others by telling them that the Lord is their strength. Many people relied on their strength and wisdom but not on God’s. David urged them to only rely on God by telling them about his experience. He also prays for the well-being of other people as he has enjoyed well-being. Are we praying for the salvation of others or satisfied with what we got from our Lord.

David looked after the sheep while almost all his brothers served the King in the Army. Even when Samuel came to anoint David as per the command of God, Jesse was reluctant to disclose to Samuel that he had another son who was shepherding his sheep in the remote field. Not keeping this disparity in his mind David kept protecting the sheep from their predecessors. His positive attitude pacified the King, and he was allowed to fight with the giant Goliath. While shepherding the sheep, David could understand God as his Shepherd and allowed Him to carry him through his fugitive life till God made him the King of Israel.

In our daily life, despite disparities, if we are sincere, God, our rock, will lead us to a higher position.

God, You are our helper and the rock that cleft for us to shelter us, not only in this world but also in your Kingdom. We praise you and adore you, Lord. Be the shepherd of our fellow citizens and carry them until they enter your Kingdom.