The Song of the Strong Sanctuary

Psalm 28 is the third psalm in a trio of “sanctuary songs” that point to God’s presence as a key refuge in times of trouble. In Psalm 26, the worshiper loved the temple as a place of purity and integrity. The concern is innocence. In Psalm 27, the worshiper longed to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. The concern is safety. But in Psalm 28, the concern is for the Lord to be strong in saving him from evildoers. David prays in verse 1, “To you, O LORD, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit.” Notice the sound words. If God is deaf and silently ignores David’s cries, David will become silent in death, in the pit — which is a symbol of the darkest depths of Sheol, a place with no hope. One commentator describes the pit as “falling to the place where no words are spoken to God and no words are heard from God.” But David has not fallen yet. Verse 2: “Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary.” David lifts up his hands as a physical sign of lifting up his heart, reaching out with empty hands in humble pleading. And where is he reaching toward? The “most holy sanctuary.” This is the only time this word is used in the book of Psalms, but it appears in the books of Kings and Chronicles for the Most Holy place of Solomon’s temple, the Holy of Holies where the ark of God’s presence dwelled. Only the high priest was allowed in this place, and rarely even then because of the intensity of God’s pure holiness. But when David fears that God might not hear him, he goes directly to the source; the intensity of his prayer matches the intensity with which he longs for God to be near him. It’s amazing that the psalms are this honest, showing a psalmist admitting that he’s not sure at times whether God will listen. With David, we’re now wondering, “Will God respond? Will he hear our plea for mercy?”

Before we get an answer from God, David describes what he doesn’t want to happen: namely, he doesn’t want to be associated with the wicked and cast off with them. Verse 3: “Do not drag me off with the wicked, with the workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts.” The language here is from the story of Joseph and his brothers, who threw their own brother in a pit and dragged him out to sell him into slavery, speaking kindly at first and them betraying him brutally. But David flips this story and says, “God, don’t drag me off with the wicked. I don’t want to be caught in the same net. I don’t want to be collateral damage. I’m not like them!” In verse 5 he describes these wicked people as not understanding or caring about the works of the Lord. They don’t pay any attention to all that God has done to make the world and redeem his people. They shrug their shoulders at miracles and close their ears to good news. As a result, David prays for God’s just judgment on them: “Give to them according to their work and according to the evil of their deeds; give to them according to the work of their hands; render them their due reward.” In the Bible, justice means giving people exactly what they deserve based on their innate dignity and the deeds of their lives. David does not pray for vindictive hellfire; he asks God to be a fair judge and assess both him and the wicked based on evidence of how they live, whether they love God and love their neighbor as the law commands, whether they repent from evil and worship the Lord. The result for those who do evil will be the Lord tearing them down and building them up no more. There are echoes here of Jeremiah’s commission as a prophet, to warn the wicked that if they build up their tower of Babel to make themselves little gods over their fellow human beings, God will dismiss their delusions like a wrecking ball. But David’s plea is not founded on his own works but on the works of the Lord who is merciful and gracious, holy and righteous. He stretches out his arms to the Most Holy Place and then waits for God to answer.

All of a sudden, David bursts into praise: “Blessed be the LORD! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. [It’s the exact same word as verse 2.] The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” It’s a surprising turn, but it’s unclear whether God has already delivered David from whatever distress he was in. And that’s the point: the text doesn’t say how soon God will answer or in what manner, but David is absolutely certain that the covenant Lord will keep his promises. With that assurance, he sings of God as his strength and shield, his active and defensive protection. He speaks a word of blessing, of grateful well-being, toward God. But then the king turns around to his people and says that they, too, can participate in God’s blessing: “The LORD is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed. Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever.” What does it mean to be the people of God and the people who serve the Messiah, the anointed king? It means that God is the power against our enemies and a refuge that delivers us from evil. It means that we are God’s heritage, his inheritance, his prized possession. It means that he lifts us up into his arms like a strong, gentle shepherd not just for a day or a week but forever. The Messiah’s people are strengthened, saved, and shepherded in him. It’s a beautiful closing prayer that the people of God can pray together. When we are under threat from leaders who present a good public image but hide their malicious intentions, we can pray that God and his Anointed King would be the real Shepherd. In his arms, we are safe. In his sanctuary, we find mercy and blessing and help. Psalm 28 began with David wondering if he is alone, but it ends with David and the rest of God’s people enveloped in the protection of the Shepherd’s flock.