Read & explore together
The LORD Is My Strength
Psalm 28 is a prayer-song that moves from urgent calling to thankful praise. The singer asks Yahweh to hear, to judge the wicked rightly, and to care for his people.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
The speaker addresses Yahweh directly as “my rock” and pleads not to be ignored. He contrasts his prayer with wicked people who speak peace while holding mischief within. Then he blesses Yahweh for hearing and ends by praying for Yahweh’s people and his anointed.
Psalms 28:1–9Main takeaway
Psalm 28 shows a prayer that moves from pleading for help to praising Yahweh and asking him to save and care for his people.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Calling to YahwehThe psalm opens with direct urgency: “To you, Yahweh, I call.” Calling Yahweh “my rock” shows the singer looks to him for firmness and safety.
Explanation
The psalm opens with direct urgency: “To you, Yahweh, I call.” Calling Yahweh “my rock” shows the singer looks to him for firmness and safety. He fears Yahweh’s silence, saying that without an answer he would be like those who go down into the pit.
02Prayer and separation from the wickedThe singer asks Yahweh to hear his petitions as he lifts his hands toward the Most Holy Place.
Explanation
The singer asks Yahweh to hear his petitions as he lifts his hands toward the Most Holy Place. He does not want to be drawn away with wicked people who speak peace to neighbours while mischief is in their hearts. He asks that they receive according to their deeds.
03Why judgement is asked forThe reason is stated clearly: they do not respect the works of Yahweh or the operation of his hands.
Explanation
The reason is stated clearly: they do not respect the works of Yahweh or the operation of his hands. Because of that, the psalm says Yahweh will break them down and not build them up. The issue is both their wrongdoing and their disregard for Yahweh’s work.
04From hearing to praiseThe tone turns with, “Blessed be Yahweh, because he has heard.” Yahweh is called strength and shield.
Explanation
The tone turns with, “Blessed be Yahweh, because he has heard.” Yahweh is called strength and shield. The singer says his heart trusted in Yahweh, he was helped, and so he rejoices and gives thanks in song. The prayer then widens to Yahweh’s people, his anointed, and a request that he save, bless, shepherd, and bear them up.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What names or pictures for Yahweh appear in this psalm?
List the images and notice what each one suggests from the wording of the verse itself.
02How are the wicked described?
Look at what they say outwardly, what is in their hearts, and how they respond to Yahweh’s works.
03Where does the psalm move from request to praise?
Compare the pleas for Yahweh to hear with the later words that he has heard, helped, and brought rejoicing.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Psalms 28:1–9
1To you, Yahweh, I call. My rock, don’t be deaf to me, lest, if you are silent to me, I would become like those who go down into the pit.
2Hear the voice of my petitions, when I cry to you, when I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.
3Don’t draw me away with the wicked, with the workers of iniquity who speak peace with their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts.
4Give them according to their work, and according to the wickedness of their doings. Give them according to the operation of their hands. Bring back on them what they deserve.
5Because they don’t respect the works of Yahweh, nor the operation of his hands, he will break them down and not build them up.
6Blessed be Yahweh, because he has heard the voice of my petitions.
7Yahweh is my strength and my shield. My heart has trusted in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart greatly rejoices. With my song I will thank him.
8Yahweh is their strength. He is a stronghold of salvation to his anointed.
9Save your people, and bless your inheritance. Be their shepherd also, and bear them up forever.