Today’s thought is taken from Psalm 28:5. It continues to state David’s (the Psalmist’s) faith regarding the ultimate end of the wicked, the ungodly.

“Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.”

The verb “regard” is “biyn” in Hebrew, literally meaning “to discern.” To understand or consider a matter. A “touch” of Holy Spirit “guidance” may be needed here. Although Paul says all mankind is “without excuse” when it comes to such obvious facts as creation! “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20

The noun “works” is “peullah,” meaning “labor,” but occasionally in the sense of “labor with accompanying results!” The precise word is rare in the Bible, occurring only 14 times. And 1 of those times it’s translated “reward.” Another time, “wages!”

The term “operation” is “maaseh,” built on the “asah” root or stem. This means “to build, fashion, construct, manufacture.” Synonyms again, “works” and “operation.”

To miss God’s Hand, clearly active in world affairs, is a BIG MISTAKE!

To overlook His “Intelligent Design,” or His “Creative Genius,” is UNWISE!

Indeed Psalm 19:1 is right. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”

The end result of so ignoring God? Our verse clearly tells us. “He (the Lord) shall destroy them (the wicked), and not build them up.”

The verb “shall destroy” is “haras” in Hebrew. It basically means “to tear down, overthrow, ruin!” In every single one of its 43 Bible appearances, it carries these negative ideas.

Plus, a correlating verb is also used, Hebrew “parallelism” again. God shall NOT “build them up.” The verb is spelled “banah,” possessing such meanings as “to establish, to repair, to cause to continue.” And of course the negative particle “lo” (again in Hebrew) is used. God refuses to so strengthen these wicked people.

This is a great verse of Scripture!

Especially at times when it appears the wicked might be prospering.

“Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.” Psalm 28:5

By faith we accept what God says!

He is NEVER wrong.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

It’s almost as if the Psalmist takes a “detour” in his prayer!

In the middle of his pleadings, he thinks of the “wicked.” And traces the trajectory of their “downfall,” according to the Word of God!

Watch what I mean. Here’s the whole Psalm, Psalm 28:

“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. 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.”

The italicized and underlined words represent David’s “statement of faith” about the wicked. Apparently the King feels somewhat “threatened” by the very fact of ungodliness!

In yesterday’s verse, verse 3, David asked the Lord: “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.”

Now today he continues the thought:

“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.” Psalm 28:4

The prayer is NOT vindictive, either. He speaks of the unrighteous as a group, a “block” of errant humanity. No personal vendetta is seen.

In fact, the Psalmist is merely asking God to keep His Word! As is expressed later by Paul: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Galatians 6:7-8

Paul also prayed almost the same words (as David did here) regarding a man who opposed the Word of God. “Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.” 2 Timothy 4:14-15

So David is on “safe” ground in this part of his prayer:

“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.” Psalm 28:4

The plural pronoun “them” refers to the “wicked” or the “workers of iniquity” in the previous verse, as seen earlier. Their “deeds” summarizes their actions, in totality. Almost this idea, “their habitual patterns of life.”

And the parallel (corresponding) noun “endeavors” means “practices.” Things done over and over again, so often as to have become a “lifestyle.”

And the “work” of a man’s hands refers to his “desires, goals, productivity.” His “undertakings, achievements, business pursuits.”

And “desert” is almost our word “pay-back!”

Wow!

And look at the impressive array of verbs, all of them in concert: “give” once, then “give” again, followed by “render!”

This prayer, friends, WILL be answered.

In fact, it is partially answered every day!

And ultimately in the future, in what John calls the “Great White Throne” Judgment, all the wicked will be so evaluated! Here’s the record:

“And I (John the Disciple, exiled on a small island named Patmos) saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, small and great, (obviously the wicked) stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. ¹³ And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. ¹⁴ And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. ¹⁵ And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20: 11-15

Yes, David’s prayer is sure.

The wicked will not prosper … not for long.

                — Dr. Mike Bagwell

Asking the Lord to “control” one’s life!

That’s EXACTLY what Psalm 28:3 does. A prayer of “protection,” really, directed straight to the Lord God Almighty.

“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.” Psalm 28:3

This petition is about the same as Jesus’ Words in “The Model Prayer,” sometimes called ‘The Lord’s Prayer” … “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Matthew 6:13

And Psalm 28:3 is certainly practicing Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

Wow!

Everything in our verse “hinges” on the opening verb. “Draw me” not away. In Hebrew it’s spelled “mashak” It sometimes means “to drag.” In Genesis 37:28 the verb is used when Joseph’s brothers “drew” him “up” out of a pit, selling him to the Ishmeelites who subsequently took him to Egypt.

Here’s an interesting use of “mashak.” Exodus 12:21. “Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out (“mashak”) and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.” A lamb selected, to be killed as a substitute for a human being!

In Deuteronomy 21:3 the verb is used of a heifer (cow) which has never ploughed in the field, “hath not drawn the yoke.”

But I like Judges 4:6 best, of the examples I’ve seen. “And she (Deborah) sent and called Barak and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw (“mashak”)toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? To go to war. Here “Mashak” obviously means “to lead” along a certain path.”

That’s surely how our Text means it, Psalm 28:3. “Lord … lead me not away with the wicked!” Again I must say, this is identical to Jesus’ thought, “Lead us not into temptation!”

Our verse, prayer again: “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.”

The “wicked” here are the violent and active practitioners of ungodliness. Malignantly wicked. “Rasha” in Hebrew.

And the “workers” are those who “practice” iniquity. Doing wrong habitually! And the noun for “iniquity” is “aven,” which really means “to pant,” doing something so energetically that one has to breathe hard to accomplish the task!

Also note that these people from whom the Psalmist so keenly wants “deliverance” are liars, deceivers! The “speak peace” but have “mischief” in their hearts. The verb here is a form of “shalom” in Hebrew. They ACT like they want the very best for you … but really want the very worst! The noun “mischief” is “ra,” another form of the word for “wickedness,” yet still the adamant, virulent kind. You can see the similarity between “rasha” (“wicked”) and “ra” (“mischief”) in this single verse.

This is a prayer that still has applicability today!

“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.”

Let’s pray it.

This one complex sentence is worth the entire Psalm!

“Life changing,” I would call it.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell