Psalm 28

Order of Service

• Scripture Reading — Psalm 28
• Sermon
• Pastoral Prayer

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Sermon Title: Five Characteristics of the Prayer of a Righteous King

Scripture: Psalm 28

I. A Persistent Prayer

A. David cries out, "Be not deaf to me," suggesting he has been praying for some time (Psalm 28:1) B. Psalm 28 belongs together with Psalm 26 and Psalm 27 as a connected unit

1. All three share the theme of David crying out for vindication amid surrounding enemies
2. Psalm 27 ends with "wait for the Lord"; Psalm 28 opens with David still waiting and persistently crying out C. The persistent widow in Luke 18 parallels David — both cry out continually for justice D. In the Old Testament, mercy and justice are often correlative; Yahweh's justice toward the downtrodden is simultaneously his mercy, a theme prominent in Isaiah 40–53

II. A Humble Prayer

A. David lifts his hands toward "the most holy sanctuary" — the Holy of Holies — the place of atonement and the Mercy Seat (Psalm 28:2)

1. The High Priest entered the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement, sprinkling blood on the Mercy Seat above the Ark of the Covenant
2. David is not approaching God in self-righteousness but resting on God's atoning provision B. David's posture foreshadows the Christian's approach to God: always in and through Christ, whose blood tore the curtain of the Holy of Holies asunder C. Awareness of sin and dependence on atoning grace must characterize all prayer

III. A Righteous Prayer

A. Verses 3–5 form the structural centerpiece of the psalm — three lines surrounded by two-line couplets, a Hebrew device highlighting the focal point B. David prays not to be dragged off with the wicked (Psalm 28:3)

1. "The pit" (sheol) here carries the sense of the death that comes from walking in wickedness, not merely physical death
2. David recognizes that apart from God's grace he could be counted among the wicked — wickedness itself is a kind of death before death C. Only after distancing himself from the wicked does David ask that they receive their just deserts (Psalm 28:4–5)
3. This section may be classified as imprecatory — calling down divine judgment on the enemies of God
4. Connects to Romans 1 — the wrath of God falls on those who exchange the glory of the Creator for creation D. The righteous prayer is honest about one's own dependence on grace before asking God to act against the wicked

IV. A Thankful Prayer

A. In verses 6–7 David moves into thanksgiving that God has heard his pleas (Psalm 28:6–7) B. This thanksgiving is notable given the absence of praise at the end of Psalm 26 and Psalm 27

1. There may have been a tangible deliverance prompting this thanks
2. More likely it follows a pattern throughout the Psalter: confidence in God's victorious grace rises in the very act of praying C. Prayer itself is the means by which David is lifted out of despair
3. As the heart engages in prayer, God grants assurance of victory even before outward circumstances change
4. Thomas Watson's counsel: "Pray until you start praying" — keep at it until the heart is genuinely engaged

V. A Corporate Prayer

A. David widens his prayer in verses 8–9 from his own situation to encompass all the people of God (Psalm 28:8–9) B. David prays as the anointed king, the representative of Israel, anointed by the Spirit in 1 Samuel 16

1. Vindication for David as the anointed one is representative vindication for all righteous people he represents
2. This points forward to Christ, the Son of David and the true Anointed One C. Jesus's High Priestly Prayer in John 17 follows this same pattern — praying for his disciples and then for all who would believe
3. Jesus's prayers in Gethsemane and at Calvary likewise carry a corporate, representative dimension D. The Psalms were meant to instruct Israel — and us — in how to pray
4. Even individual private prayer should carry a corporate dimension
5. Christ teaches us to pray "Our Father" and "give us this day our daily bread" — the corporate is woven into the most personal prayer
6. Even in our closet, the people of God should be written on our hearts