Seder 153: Psalm 28---Depending on the Rock and Shepherd

 Psalm 28 is an individual lament that concludes with an expression of confidence in God.  This is a familiar pattern in the psalms.  The act of praying helps us to see the truth more clearly.  

The psalmist calls upon God as "my rock."  This metaphor, which is prominent in Deuteronomy 32 and is picked up in several psalms (18:2,31; 19:14; 73:26; 92:15; 144:1).  God is strong and dependable and gives refuge and protection.  

The psalmist expresses his dependence on God.  He prays "toward your holy sanctuary" (v 2).  Solomon, of course, asked that prayers directed toward the temple be heeded (1 Ki 8:35, 38, 42).  

We may have a bit of a mixed metaphor in Psalm 28:1, since he asks the rock to "be not deaf to me," and rocks do not really have ears.  But God is strong and dependable in taking action for his people, which is the full meaning of him "hearing" or "being not deaf.

He prays that he not suffer the fate of the wicked (v 3) and asks for justice to be done.  Verses 4-5 say much about the works of God versus human works.  The wicked disregard the works of God and work to undermine God's works with their own works.  He prays that the wicked be judged according to their works. 

Later in the psalm he praises God in anticipation of deliverance and vindication.  He is no longer in despair but confident in "my strength and my shield" (v 7).  God helped David and later anointed kings of Israel and Judah---he is "the saving refuge of his anointed," as verse 8 says. 

He intercedes for God's people (v 9).  "Be their shepherd and carry them forever," he concludes.  We see such imagery elsewhere in Isaiah 40:11; 46:3-4; 63:9. 

Seder 50: Psalm 144---Prayers from the King and the People of God

 Psalm 144 is a royal psalm in which the king prays for God's intervention in Israel's affairs, and then the people join him in a prayer for covenant blessings.  

Commentators note a connection between Psalm 144 and Psalm 18.  In Psalm 18 the king thanks God from granting the things that he asks for in Psalm 144.  

The king begins by acknowledging God as the one who has taught him everything he knows and has given him everything he has.  God "trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle" (v 1).  The midrash on this psalm mentions 1 Sam 17 as an example in David's case.  It also sees this prayer as illustrative of Prov 3:6:  "In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Manuscripts differ on the wording at end of verse 2:  In some versions, the king praises God who "subdues peoples under me."  In others, he "subdues my people under me."  Both were certainly true in the case of David.  

The king recognizes that humans are finite, unstable, temporary, and unreliable, and yet God graciously cares for them--vv 3-4.  With a sense of urgency, he asks God to appear powerfully as he has in the past --vv 5-7.  He anticipates praising God again for new mighty works (vv 9-11).  

In vv 12-15 the people join the king in prayer, expressing appreciation for God's covenant blessings and asking for a renewal of those blessings.  "Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!" they declare in closing.