Ps 28:1-9. An earnest cry for divine aid against his enemies, as being also those of God, is followed by the Psalmist's praise in assurance of a favorable answer, and a prayer for all God's people.
1. my rock--(Ps 18:2,31). be not silent to me--literally, "from me," deaf or inattentive. become like them, &c.--share their fate. go down into the pit--or, "grave" (Ps 30:3).
2. lift up my hands--a gesture of prayer (Ps 63:4 141:2). oracle--place of speaking (Ex 25:22 Nu 7:89), where God answered His people (compare Ps 5:7). 3. Draw me not away--implies punishment as well as death (compare Ps 26:9). Hypocrisy is the special wickedness mentioned. 4. The imprecation is justified in Ps 28:5. The force of the passage is greatly enhanced by the accumulation of terms describing their sin. endeavours--points out their deliberate sinfulness. 5. Disregard of God's judgments brings a righteous punishment. destroy . . . build . . . up--The positive strengthened by the negative form.
6. supplications--or, "cries for mercy."
7. The repetition of "heart" denotes his sincerity. 8. The distinction made between the people. their strength--and the anointed--may indicate Absalom's rebellion as the occasion. 9. The special prayer for the people sustains this view. feed them--as a shepherd (Ps 23:1, &c.).
