Psalm Category: Psalm of Lament

Central Thought: Psalm 28 contrasts the magnitude of God’s wrath with the abundant richness of His grace.

Key Word: Poal (vv. 3–5). Poal appears in verses 3, 4 and 5 of this psalm and is translated consistently as “work” in the NASB. These verses employ a contrasting word play using poal. The psalmist’s enemies will be judged according to their own evil works (their poal) and because they have not properly acknowledged God’s works (God’s poal, v. 4). Ultimately, unbelievers commit the sin Paul describes in Romans 1:25: “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen” (NIV).

Psalm 28

One day, R.C. Sproul was approached by a man who asked him, “Are you saved?” Sproul responded curtly, “Saved from what?” That’s a good question, and the Bible answers it. The Bible reveals that we are ultimately saved from God’s wrath. We must understand God’s wrath in order to comprehend His grace. Psalm 28 helps us to do this, because it juxtaposes God’s wrath with God’s grace.

The Enemies of God (vv. 1-6): The first part of Psalm 28 addresses the issue of God’s wrath. The psalm opens with the psalmist in the posture of prayer (vv. 1-2), and verse 4 reveals the substance of his petition. The psalmist prays that God will exercise strict justice against his enemies; he prays that God will “bring back upon them what they deserve” (v. 4). In verse 5, God declares (likely through a priest) that He will grant the psalmist’s request. However, notice the justification for the outpouring of God’s wrath on the psalmist’s enemies. God states the psalmist’s enemies deserve His wrath because they “show no regard for the works of the Lord and what his hands have done.”

Psalm 28 reveals that God will pour out His wrath on all those who do not acknowledge Him. The problem for us is that we all, by nature, are guilty of this offense (Rom. 1:25; 3:10-11). Ephesians 2:3 reminds us that, outside of Jesus Christ, we are all “by nature objects of wrath.” That is why we need grace. We must never forget that we first come to God as His enemy. We come to Him guilty. We come as beggars needing grace.

Encountering Grace (vv. 2, 7-9): The psalmist displays that he understands his utter need for God’s grace throughout this psalm. First, the psalmist approaches God as an empty-handed supplicant. He does not even bring an animal sacrifice. Second, he lifts his empty hands to the Most Holy Place (v. 2). He is oriented and focused on the innermost part of the temple, where the mercy seat resides. Therefore, he is mindful of his own sin and need for atonement. Third, in verse 7, he declares that his heart trusts in God and that God is his strength, shield, and helper. Fourth, in verse 9, the psalmist makes a bold, grandiose, and unjustified request for God to deliver, bless, shepherd, and preserve His people. The psalmist makes no attempt to suggest that he, or Israel, has merited such favor. Rather, the psalmist expects God to grant these blessings solely because He is a gracious God.

The conclusion of this psalm also points us to an even greater truth about God’s amazing grace. You may have noticed that the psalmist’s prayer broadens as we come to verses 8-9. In the beginning of the psalm the prayer was personal, but at the conclusion it is corporate. The psalmist is seeking God’s blessing for God’s people. In order to make such a public prayer, the psalmist must be a public figure, and verse 8 hints at his identity by referring to him as God’s “anointed.” The psalmist is King David.

After experiencing personal deliverance from his enemies, David assumes his kingly role and seeks to gain God’s favor for all of Israel. By this act David points us to Christ; for after Christ’s deliverance from His enemies, after His triumph, He interceded with the Father on our behalf. It is through Christ that the grandiose prayer of David is fulfilled.

It is through Christ that the people of God are delivered, blessed, shepherded, and preserved (Eph. 1:3). Jesus not only saved us from God’s wrath, but He also earned for us God’s free grace and blessing. Ultimately, God’s wrath and grace converge in the person and work of Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:9). Jesus saves us from the wrath of God!

—Anthony Selvaggio