Welcome to Day 2482 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 28:1-9

Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2482 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2482 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.. In today’s Wisdom Nugget, we continue our journey through the Psalms. We’ve reached Psalm 28, a powerful prayer and declaration by David that teaches us about seeking God’s help in times of trouble and recognizing His role as our protector and strength. In Psalm 28, David turns to the Lord in a moment of deep need, pleading for God’s mercy and intervention. As we walk through these verses, we’ll see David’s heartfelt cry for help, his trust in God’s deliverance, and his praise for the Lord’s faithfulness. Let’s read through Psalm 28:1-9 from the New Living Translation together: Psalm 28:1-9 (NLT): 1 I pray to You, O Lord, my rock. Do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if You are silent, I might as well give up and die. 2 Listen to my prayer for mercy as I cry out to You for help, as I lift my hands toward Your holy sanctuary. 3 Do not drag me away with the wicked— with those who do evil— those who speak friendly words to their neighbors while planning evil in their hearts. 4 Give them the punishment they so richly deserve! Measure it out in proportion to their wickedness; pay them back for all their evil deeds. Give them a taste of what they have done to others. 5 They care nothing for what the Lord has done or for what His hands have made. So He will tear them down, and they will never be rebuilt! 6 Praise the Lord! For He has heard my cry for mercy. 7 The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. 8 The Lord gives His people strength. He is a safe fortress for His anointed king. 9 Save Your people! Bless Israel, Your special possession. Lead them like a shepherd, and carry them in Your arms forever. Crying Out in Desperation (Verses 1-2): In the opening two verses of Psalm 28, David begins with a cry of desperation: “I pray to You, O Lord, my rock. Do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if You are silent, I might as well give up and die.” David’s words here reveal his deep dependence on God. He refers to the Lord as his “rock,” which symbolizes a place of stability, safety, and refuge. Yet, despite this confidence in God’s role as his protector, David is experiencing a moment of intense need. He fears what might happen if God does not respond to him. This is a powerful reminder that even those with strong faith, like David, experience moments of fear and desperation. It’s not that David doubts God’s power or goodness, but the intensity of his circumstances makes him feel as though God’s silence would be unbearable. In verse 2, David continues: “Listen to my prayer for mercy as I cry out to You for help, as I lift my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.” David’s plea is for God’s mercy. He knows that without God’s intervention, he is powerless to change his situation. The imagery of David lifting his hands toward God’s sanctuary is significant. It reflects an act of surrender and submission. David is physically demonstrating his dependence on God, lifting his hands in both desperation and expectation that God will respond. Distinguishing the Righteous from the Wicked (Verses 3-5): In verses 3-5, David shifts from his personal cry for mercy to a plea for justice: “Do not drag me away with the wicked— with those who do evil— those who speak friendly words to their neighbors while planning evil in their hearts.” David recognizes the danger of being associated with those who do wrong. He does not want to be counted among the wicked, those who act deceitfully, and whose hearts are filled with evil intentions. These are people who present a friendly face but are plotting harm behind the scenes. David prays for God to deal with such people justly, saying in verse 4: “Give them the punishment they so richly deserve! Measure it out in proportion to their wickedness; pay them back for all their evil deeds. Give them a taste of what they have done to others.” David is calling for God’s righteous judgment. He wants the wicked to experience the consequences of their actions. This plea for justice is not about personal revenge—it’s about David’s desire to see God’s holiness upheld and evil dealt with accordingly. David trusts that God is the ultimate judge and that He will punish those who commit evil acts in due time. In verse 5, David continues: “They care nothing for what the Lord has done or for what His hands have made. So He will tear them down, and they will never be rebuilt!” Here, David speaks of the wicked’s total disregard for God. They have no respect for His works or His creation. As a result, David proclaims that God will bring destruction upon them, and they will not be able to recover. This is a sobering reminder that ignoring God’s power and sovereignty leads to eventual downfall. A Shift to Praise and Thanksgiving (Verses 6-7): After David’s earnest pleas for help and justice, something shifts in verses 6 and 7. David declares, “Praise the Lord! For He has heard my cry for mercy.” Even though we don’t see an explicit mention of God’s response, David is already filled with gratitude. He trusts that God has heard his prayer and will act in accordance with His mercy and righteousness. David’s confidence in God’s faithfulness leads him to praise, even before he sees the outcome. This is an important lesson for us. There will be times when we pray and don’t immediately see God’s answer, but like David, we can still praise Him in faith, trusting that He hears us and is working on our behalf. In verse 7, David proclaims: “The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” What a beautiful declaration of trust! David recognizes that God is both his strength and his shield. God strengthens him to face the challenges ahead and shields him from harm. David’s response to this realization is wholehearted trust and joy. His trust in God fills him with joy so overwhelming that it leads him to express his gratitude in songs of thanksgiving. This is the natural outcome of experiencing God’s faithfulness—joy and thanksgiving. When we see how God strengthens and protects us, it should lead us to a place of joyful worship. David’s example challenges us to move from desperation to praise as we reflect on God’s goodness in our own lives. The Lord’s Strength and Protection for His People (Verses 8-9): As we reach the final verses of Psalm 28, David expands his focus beyond his personal experience to include all of God’s people. In verse 8, he says: “The Lord gives His people strength. He is a safe fortress for His anointed king.” David acknowledges that God’s strength is not just for him, but for all of His people. God is a source of strength and protection for those who belong to Him. The phrase “a safe fortress for His anointed king” highlights God’s special protection over David as king, but it also extends to all those under God’s care. In verse 9, David concludes with a heartfelt prayer for God’s people: “Save Your people! Bless Israel, Your special possession. Lead them like a shepherd, and carry them in Your arms forever.” David’s closing prayer reflects his deep concern for the nation of Israel. He asks God to save and bless His people, recognizing them as God’s “special possession.” The imagery of God leading His people like a shepherd and carrying them in His arms is one of tender care and guidance. David knows that the people of God are in need of God’s protection and blessing, just as much as he is. This final verse brings the psalm full circle—from David’s personal cry for help to his confidence in God’s strength and care for all of His people. David’s prayer for Israel reminds us that, as God’s children, we are part of a larger community of faith. We can pray not only for our own needs but also for the needs of others, trusting that God’s strength and protection extend to His entire family. Conclusion: Psalm 28 is a powerful expression of David’s deep trust in God. It shows us that we can cry out to God for help in times of trouble, knowing He hears us. Even in moments of desperation, we can find strength in the knowledge that God is our rock, our shield, and our strength. David’s journey from desperation to praise in this psalm reminds us to trust in God’s faithfulness, even when we don’t see immediate answers to our prayers. We can praise God in faith, confident that He is working for our good. As we walk through life’s challenges, let’s remember that God’s strength is available to us, just as it was for David. He is our fortress, our shepherd, and our source of joy. Let’s trust in Him with all our hearts, lifting our hands in prayer and bursting into songs of thanksgiving for His goodness. Thank you for joining me today on this leg of our Wisdom-Trek. As we continue our journey together, let’s seek God’s strength, trust in His protection, and praise Him for His unfailing love. Until next time, keep seeking God’s wisdom, keep trusting in the Lord, keep walking the path of faith, and continue your journey of wisdom with God’s Word lighting your path. Reflect… If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of ‘Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.’. Thank you so much for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and, most importantly, I am your friend as I serve you through this Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal. As we take this Trek together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain….reminding you to’ Keep Moving Forward,’ ‘Enjoy your Journey,’ and ‘Create a Great Day…Everyday! See you next time for more daily wisdom!