We are studying Psalm 28, verse by verse.

But verse 7 is so “full,” I must give it more commentary.

“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.” Psalm 28:7

The fundamental thrust of the verse states the Character of God, but only in part of course. “The Lord is my strength and my shield,” says David the Psalmist.

Then come four “results” of this Truth being applied!

David “trusts” this great God.

David thus receives “help” from Him, from the Lord.

Consequently David “rejoices.”

And then begins “to sing!”

To sing “praise” to His “Strength and Shield.”

Let’s notice the results of learning God’s Essence, His Attributes.

The second “half” of the verse again, as David wrote it. “My heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”

The verb “trusted” is “batach” in Hebrew. It means “to feel so secure” in a Person that one “looses all fear, apprehension, distraction!” Once in the King James Bible “batach”is even translated “careless,” without worry! “To have complete confidence” in someone!

The verb “am helped” is “azar,” in the passive voice obviously. David does not help himself, God helps him! And “azar” means “to provide succour.” But what is “succour?” It is a word derived from the Latin verb “currure,” meaning “to run!” This kind of “help” pictures God Himself running to the side of the one in need! Wow!

To “rejoice” employs the verb “alaz,” rare in the Old Testament, appearing only 16 times in total. It means “to exult.” (In Latin again, “salire” means “to leap!” And “ex” in front of it makes the term mean “to leap up!”) That is, to be jubilant. One lexicon says “to triumph!” Another scholar writes: “This is the kind of emotion of joy which finds expression in singing and shouting.” Loudly demonstrative!

Finally “to praise” selects the familiar verb “yadah.” This word is translated “to give thanks” 32 times in the Old Testament! It literally means “to shoot” (“to hurl, to loft upward”) thoughts of worship Heavenward, to the Lord Himself!

These four “results” being true, being accurate descriptions of David’s realizing how GREAT God truly is … maybe each of us should also study the Being of God, learn of His Person, His Qualities!

Indeed He is many things to us in addition to Strength and Shield!

So many it takes the whole Bible (66 Books consisting of 1,189 chapters, exactly 31,102 verses) to tell it all! Yes, He is that much God!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

 

The 7th verse of Psalm 28 is longer than both its predecessor and successor. We may need to study it for two days. It is, at least in part, a “cause and effect” sequence.

Let me show you.

“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.” Psalm 28:7

The “Cause” is our great God: “He is my Strength and my Shield.”

The “effect” is both active and passive: “Therefore I trust in Him, and am helped by Him!”

In fact, two more “effects” follow really: “My heart greatly rejoices!” And … “I praise Him in song.”

Wow!

This is how we should live then … since God is so Faithful!

Since God is Such an amazing Strength and Shield!

The noun “strength” is spelled “oz” in Hebrew, pronounced “oze.” It is derived from “azaz,” suggesting “strong” in the sense of combat, having already won the victory!

And “shield” is “magen” in Hebrew, a large (surrounding one’s body) protective covering for the front of an advancing soldier! This is NOT the smaller hand-held defensive weapon of New Testament days.

Sounds like God is able!

Almighty!

Omnipotent!

Add to both these nouns the possessive ending “iy” (which both Strength and Shield have in this Text) … and this awesome God becomes “personal!”

He is MY Strength!

He is MY Shield!

No wonder David is so thrilled.

So much so that he is resolved to … trust God. To greatly rejoice. And to sing the praises of such a Creator and Redeemer!

Now tomorrow, the Lord willing, we shall look at David’s responses more fully.

“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.” Psalm 28:7

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

 

It’s happened to all Christians who pray. At least I think so. That “peace” that comes, often to some and occasionally to others, peace that a prayer has been “heard” and will be “answered!”

This assurance certainly is emphasized in today’s verse, today’s lesson.

In our continuing journey through Psalm 28.

David wrote:

“Blessed be the LORD, because He hath heard the voice of my supplications.”

The Lord has “heard!”

The verb used here is “shama,” in an “active” voice and “perfect” tense form. It means God has indeed heard but will keep hearing as well!

The “shama” verb is so strong that it’s occasionally (81 times in the Bible) translated “obey!” God obeying David? Meeting the King’s needs to that extent!

And the noun “supplications” is interesting. I would have thought it just meant “requests.” But really “tachanun” means more. It means “favorable, kind, gracious” things, that’s what David is petitioning of God! The root noun here is “chanan,” the key Old Testament word for “mercy!”

Wow!

Even when praying “against” the wicked, somehow in David’s godly mind his prayer was shrouded in thoughts of “kindness” for the people of God!

Prayer asked.

Then answered.

So what’s next?

An exclamation, “Blessed be the Lord!”

The verb “blessed” is “barak” in Hebrew, at heart meaning “to kneel!” David is “praising” God for His Goodness. Also here “barak” is a passive participle. God is being blessed by his people!

This is a verb of worship.

“Blessed be the LORD, because He hath heard the voice of my supplications.”

Really today we have learned God “hears” prayer … and can communicate the assurance that said prayer has been answered!

And we have learned that the most successful prayers are to be “set” in tones of “grace and mercy and kindness.”

Then we learned that prayer, especially when answered, should be an impetus for us to worship Almighty God! From Whom all blessings flow!

This has already been a good day!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

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