Verse of the Day 10-25-22

Praise be to the LORD,
for he has heard my cry for mercy.
The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him.
The LORD is the strength of his people,
a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
Save your people and bless your inheritance;
be their shepherd and carry them forever. Psalm 28:6-9

This psalm starts as a lament in verses 1 and 2:

To you, LORD, I call;
you are my Rock,
do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you remain silent,
I will be like those who go down to the pit.
Hear my cry for mercy
as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
toward your Most Holy Place. 28:1-2

It thens move to being a call for justice in verses 3 through 5:

Do not drag me away with the wicked,
with those who do evil,
who speak cordially with their neighbors
but harbor malice in their hearts.
Repay them for their deeds
and for their evil work;
repay them for what their hands have done
and bring back on them what they deserve.
Because they have no regard for the deeds of the LORD
and what his hands have done,
he will tear them down
and never build them up again. 28:3-5

In the last four verses (vv. 6-9) the lamenting has turned to praise. Why? Because God has heard David, as requested (vv. 1-2 and 6). The king and his people share a common prayer and a common hope. David knew what what it was like to carry a weak or injured lamb (v. 9). God carried Israel in the same way. Israel’s leaders were called shepherds, but the king includes himself in the flock God leads (2 Samuel 5:2; 7:7 and Ezekiel 34:1-10). God is both a strong fortress and a shepherd who saves (Psalm 28:8-9 and John 10:7-18).

Today’s Bible Readings:

Jeremiah 48:1-49:22, 2 Timothy 4, Psalm 95:1-96:13 and Proverbs 26:9-12