@Ps 28:1-9. An earnest cry for divine aid against his enemies, as being also those of God, is followed by the Psalmist's praise in assurance of a favorable answer, and a prayer for all God's people.
1. my rock--(@Ps 18:2,31).
be not silent to me--literally, "from me," deaf or inattentive.
become like them, &c.--share their fate.
go down into the pit--or, "grave" (@Ps 30:3).
2. lift up my hands--a gesture of prayer (@Ps 63:4 141:2).
oracle--place of speaking (@Ex 25:22 Nu 7:89), where God
answered His people (compare @Ps 5:7).
3. Draw me not away--implies punishment as well as death (compare @Ps 26:9). Hypocrisy is the special wickedness mentioned.
4. The imprecation is justified in @Ps 28:5. The force of the
passage is greatly enhanced by the accumulation of terms describing
their sin.
endeavours--points out their deliberate sinfulness.
5. Disregard of God's judgments brings a righteous punishment.
destroy . . . build . . . up--The positive strengthened by the
negative form.
6. supplications--or, "cries for mercy."
7. The repetition of "heart" denotes his sincerity.
8. The distinction made between the people.
their strength--and the anointed--may indicate Absalom's rebellion
as the occasion.
9. The special prayer for the people sustains this view.
feed them--as a shepherd (@Ps 23:1, &c.).