I. The LORD is the Strength of His People (28:1-9)
* The creator's signature C.J. Staniland of this illustration is in the lower right. Charles Joseph Staniland (1838-1916) was a prolific British genre, historical, and marine painter and a leading Social Realist illustrator. He was a mainstay of the Illustrated London News and The Graphic in the 1870s and 1880s.
>1. What happened to David and how did he know that this was true? (1)
* Psalm 28:1 "To you I call, O LORD my Rock; do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who have gone down to the pit."
* "To you I call"
* "O LORD my Rock"
* "do not turn a deaf ear to me."
* "For if you remain silent"
* "I will be like those who have gone down to the pit."
>How did he respond? (2)
* Psalm 28:2 "Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place."
* "Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help"
* "as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place."
* "Most Holy Place."
* David, the author of this psalm desperately wants the Lord to hear him. He says if the Lord turns a deaf ear to him he would be like the dead buried in the ground. David equates "Sheol", the abode of the dead with a pit, "bor" in Hebrew. "Bor" is any hole in the ground like a pit, cistern, dungeon, or well. In the Old Testament, "Sheol" is described as deep within the earth (Psalm 88:6), entered by crossing a river (Job 33:18), a city with gates (Isaiah 38:10), a place of ruins (Ezekiel 26:20), and a trap (2 Samuel 22:6; Psalm 18:5). All went there when their physical bodies expired.
As presented in the Old Testament and David's time, human existence is the unity of body, soul, and spirit. The dead are individuals whose bodies have decayed leaving a conscious but limited existence of soul and spirit deep within the earth. The Old Testament states that it is impossible to hide from God even in Shoel (Job 26:6; Amos 9:2), thus in some way, God is there (Psalm 139:8; Proverbs 15:11). God has power over Shoel. He can ransom anyone from Shoel. (Psalm 16:10, 30:3, 49:15, 86:13; Job 33:18, 28-30)
David starts this prayer-psalm by stating that if the Lord his Rock does not hear him he will be like the dead. His relationship with God was that important. If God did not listen it would mean he did not have a proper relationship with the Lord Jesus. He cherished his time with the Lord more closely than his relationship with his wife, children, parents, and friends. Any relationship needs communication. For David, not having communication with the Lord was akin to being abandoned to the grave. Going through the psalms I realize how lax my prayer and meditation times are. A measure of a relationship is how rich the communication is. Do not live as a poor man in prayer, a man in "bor".
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 28:1-2.
>2. What was David's request? (3) Even though he was the one who sought the Lord with all his heart was this possible?
* Psalm 28:3 "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."
* "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."
>Considering David's first request how could he made his second request? (4-5)
* Psalm 28:4-5 "Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work; repay them for what their hands have done and bring back upon them what they deserve. Since they show no regard for the works of the LORD and what his hands have done, he will tear them down and never build them up again."
* "Repay them"
* "Since they show no regard for the works of the LORD and what his hands have done"
* "he will tear them down and never build them up again."
* The prayer psalm continues by stating the author's request. David does not want to be dragged away with the wicked. He is referring to the judgment to come. Jesus taught those who persecuted him and tried to kill him, "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out--those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me." (John 5:28-30)
David knows that hypocrites would be among those dragged away from the presence of the Lord God. He said they speak cordially with their neighbors and harbor malice in their hearts. Jesus said of the hypocrites who were trying to kill him, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to." (Matthew 23:13)
Jesus' and David's words are a warning to me. They are telling me to be careful what I harbor in my heart for such actions will be repaid. I will get what I deserve. If I keep evil thoughts I will be punished. If I keep plotting ill towards others I will be given what I deserve. Hypocrites will not enter paradise. I do not want that for me.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 28:3-5.
>3. What was the result of David's two requests? (6)
* Psalm 28:6 "Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy."
* "Praise be to the LORD"
* "for he has heard my cry for mercy."
>After waiting, praying, and waiting when his prayers was answer what did David proclaim? (7)
* Psalm 28:7 "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song."
* "The LORD is my strength and my shield"
* "my heart trusts in him, and I am helped"
* "My heart leaps for joy"
* "I will give thanks to him in song."
>4. What should be remembered when all is doom and gloom?
* Psalm 28:8 "The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one."
* "The LORD is the strength of his people"
* "a fortress of salvation for his anointed one."
>What should be done?
* Psalm 28:9 "Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever."
* "Save your people and bless your inheritance"
* "be their shepherd and carry them forever."
* David is full of joy because the Lord has heard his prayer. The one with whom he has the closest relationship turned his ear to him. His heart trusted in the Lord. He was helped. David was weak. So the Lord was his strength. David was vulnerable. So the Lord was his shield protector. David was trapped. So the Lord was his salvation fortress. David praised the Lord in song.
More times than I remember I was in similar circumstances as David; weak, vulnerable, and trapped. Here I am for the Lord is my strength, shield protector, and salvation fortress. Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy. I will give thanks to him in song. If I am not heard by others because my sound is not heard; then am I singing? Do not be silent.
A good shepherd cares for the sheep. When the sheep cannot continue their walk he carries them. He carries his lambs forever for we are weak, vulnerable, and trapped. We are blessed. We are saved. The Lord Jesus is our good shepherd.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 28:6-9.
II. Ascribe to the LORD (29:1-2)
* The illustration is a Bible Card used as an aid for teaching children.
>5. What does it mean to ascribe to something? What are we commanded to ascribe to the Lord in verse 1?
* Psalm 29:1 "Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength."
* "Ascribe to the LORD"
* "O mighty ones"
* "ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.""
>In verse 2? What is worship as expressed in verse 2?
* Psalm 29:2 "Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness."
* "the glory due his name"
* "worship the LORD"
* "in the splendor of his holiness."
* The two-verse introduction to this praise psalm is reciprocated in the two-verse ending. The LORD (YHWH, Yahweh) is the object of the praise. The subject is the sons of the mighty. The first couplet of this first stanza in Hebrew is "Yahab YHWH". The second couplet of this first stanza in Hebrew is "ben" meaning "children" and "son". King David, the author is commanding the sons of the might to give the Lord praise. Being a son of God in Christ (John 1:12-13), I am also commanded to praise the LORD.
I am to ascribe (give) to the LORD glory ("Kabob" in Hebrew) and strength ("oz" in Hebrew). The LORD is splendor. The LORD is copiousness. The LORD is power. I am to honor him in words, psalms, songs, and hymns. The prophet Isaiah wrote, "They raise their voices, they shout for joy; from the west they acclaim the LORD's majesty. Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD; exalt the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea. From the ends of the earth we hear singing: "Glory to the Righteous One." (Isaiah 24:14-16). And he wrote, "Let them give glory to the LORD and proclaim his praise in the islands." (Isaiah 42:12)
The LORD is clothed in the beauty of holiness. The LORD's holiness was seen on the mount of transfiguration. The LORD's beauty was displayed on the mount of teaching. The LORD's holiness was raised on the cross. The LORD's holy array will be seen again "when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory." (Matthew 25:31)
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 29:1-2.
III. The Voice of the LORD (29:3-11)
>6. What is being described in verses 3 thru 9? What is a voice? Where else in the Bible is the voice of the Lord referenced? (Genesis 1; John 1)
* Psalm 29:3 "The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters."
* "The voice of the LORD... the God... the Lord"
* "over the waters
* "the God of glory thunders"
* "LORD thunders over the mighty waters."
>How can a voice be powerful and majestic? (4)
* Psalm 29:4 "The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic."
* "is powerful"
* "is majestic."
* "the LORD"
>7. Where is Lebanon and why might it be reference in the psalm?
* Psalm 29:5 "The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon."
* "The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars"
* "the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon."
>Where and what is Sirion? What was it known for?
* Psalm 29:6 "He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox."
* "Sirion" -The Sidonians (Phoenicians) name for Mount Hermon (Deuteronomy 3:9). The Amorites called it Sanir (Deuteronomy 3:9) Sirion was in northern Israel. The name means "devoted mountain". It was the site of the sanctuary of Baal.
* "skip" -Shake. Earthquake.
* Commentaries and scholars claim that this psalm countera the believe of Baal worship and their belief that Baal dwells in a storm and on Mount Hermaon.
>8. What claim is made in verse 7? Why?
* Psalm 29:7 "The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning."
* "strikes with flashes of lightning."
>What claim is made in verse 8? Why?
* Psalm 29:8 "The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh."
* "shakes the desert"
* "the Desert of Kadesh." -The site where the Hebrews stayed for most of thirty-eight years after leaving Mount Sinai and before entering the Promised Land. The Old Testament locates it between the Wilderness of Paran and the Wilderness of Zin (Num. 13:3-21,26)
>What claim is made in verse 9"? Why?
* Psalm 29:9 "The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, "Glory!"
* "twists the oaks and strips the forests bare"
* "And in his temple all cry, "Glory!"
* The voice of the Lord is the subject of this psalm. I imagine the most fierce storm either a hurricane or super cell. Streaks of light illuminate a dark sky. Bursts of thunder rattle windows and shake building bones. Continuous winds knock down even the strongest structures and trees. Rolling waves cover the earth. The voice (qol in Hebrew) of the Lord is poetically portrayed as the effects of an intense thunderstorm. The power and glory of the Lord are visible, felt, and audible in creation.
The voice of the Lord is repeated seven times. The voice of the Lord created everything. The breath of the Lord entered the lungs of Adam and Eve. The voice of the Lord raised the dead Lazarus. The voice of God was heard when Jesus was baptized, "This is my son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17) The voice of God was heard on the mount of transfiguration, "This is my son, whom I love with him I am well pleased. Listen to him." (Matthew 17:5)
The voice of Jesus was written down and now I read those words. The voice of the Lord Jesus is read, contemplated, and studied. The power and glory of God entered my mind. My thoughts are illuminated. My bones are rattled. My preconceptions were blown down. His Spirit covers my soul. I am a joyous victim of the power and glory of the voice of the Lord.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 29:3-9.
>9. Who is in control of the storm? What does he do when it is over?
* Psalm 29:10 "The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever."
* "sits enthroned over the flood"
* "enthroned as King forever."
>10. How can verse 11 be the conclusion of the psalm? What other storm might this psalm be referring too?
* Psalm 29:11 "The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace."
* "gives strength to his people"
* "blesses his people with peace."
* The praise psalm starts with a storm forming over the Mediterranean Sea at the command of the Lord. A powerful storm developed and traveled to Lebanon over Mount Herman and onto the Kadesh plains and the Orontes River's upper reaches. The glory of the Lord is displayed in the storm. The Lord sits enthroned over the flood as King forever.
This reminds me of Jesus' parable where a man built his house on sand and another on a rock. When the storm came the house on sand fell and the house on a rock withstood the storm. The Lord God is the rock to build a house on. He sends storms. Be ready. The Lord gives strength to his people. He blesses them.
