The whole Psalm (Psalm 28) only contains 9 verses. And today, focusing on a verse each morning, we have reached the penultimate verse (next to last). Latin does stay with you, some words anyway! (Where “paene” means “almost.” And “ultimus” means “last.”)
“The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.” Psalm 28:8
The first question I had was, “The Lord is WHOSE strength?”
“The LORD is their strength ….”
The possessive pronoun “their,” being plural, means “the people of Israel.” I largely base that conclusion on the next verse of the Psalm. “Lord, save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.”
The noun for “people” is “am” in Hebrew, most often indicating one’s own people, compatriots. Fellow citizens! Twice in the King James Bible it is rendered “folk” or “folks!”
The noun “strength” is “oz” again. It has already occurred in the Psalm back in verse 7, just one verse ago. It means “hardened” power, the ability “to overcome” in battle!
God gives the victory!
As in First John 5:4. “And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
But God is not only the Deliverer for His people overall … but to their leader as well!
“He (still the Lord) is the saving strength of his anointed.”
The term “anointed” is “mashiyach,” the word “messiah” when transliterated. It locally means the “King” in ancient Jewish culture. A King who was also called their “shepherd.”
But do keep in mind that the Real Messiah of Israel is NOT David or Solomon or any other earthly monarch. It is the Lord Jesus CHRIST, that last Name being the equivalent of “Messiah!”
The noun “strength” in this clause is “maoz,” meaning “a place of safety, protection or refuge!” Three times the word is translated “fortress” in the Old Testament! Once it is “rock!”
And the word “saving” is “yeshuah,” essentially “delivering, rescuing, prospering!”
Wow!
Psalm 28 has become a “victory” Poem!
David was about to die back in verse 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.” Remember that “pit” can mean “grave” here. A “dungeon” of depression, too!
Now … the Lord is the King’s “saving strength!”
So many of the Psalms reflect this pattern.
Starting “low” … but ending “high!”
Dear reader today, ask the Lord … trust the Lord … to be your Strength as well!
Then like Paul you will be able to say, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13 is the reference.
Amen!
“The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.”
— Dr. Mike Bagwell