DAWN

     Explanation: In Psalm 28 David, being in distress, prays for help from the LORD and finds assurance of favor from God. The occasion for the Psalm is unknown; but the two most troublesome times in David's life came at the hands of Saul and of Absalom. I've chosen the painting above to represent the fate of the wicked (v. 5), which is to be destroyed and not built up.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Psalm 26. 1 Samuel 19-31. 2 Samuel 15-18. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: General. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). Psalm 28 - #1. Psalm 28 - #2. Psalm 28 - #3. ]

     David says that he will cry to the LORD his rock and asks him not to be silent to him lest he becomes like those who go down to the pit. He asks the LORD to hear his supplication (his plea for favor) in his most holy dwelling place. He asks the LORD not to draw him away (or drag him off) with the workers of iniquity -- i.e., not to carry him away into the same fate -- as wicked people who speak peace to their neighbors while mischief is in their hearts. He asks, rather, that they may have what their wickedness deserves. And he states his assurance that the LORD will destroy them and not build them up because they regard not the works of the LORD (1-5). And, having received this assurance that the LORD will hear him, David then passes from supplication to praise. He blesses the LORD for hearing his supplications. He says that the LORD is his strength and his shield, and his heart trusts in him, and he is helped. Therefore he greatly rejoices and praises God with his song. He confesses that the LORD is the strength -- the saving strength -- of his anointed, i.e., of David whom the LORD anointed to be king. And he closes with a prayer that the LORD will save his people who are his inheritance, and feed them, and lift them up forever (6-9).

¹ A Psalm of David. *

¹Unto 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.

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.

* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer (Habakkuk) and a musical notation ("upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a "send to" notice ("To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]