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Presented, November 5, 2006 pm

DO NOT BE SILENT BEFORE ME
PSALM 28

Tonight we continue our study of the psalms.  Here we note another psalm of David. 

I.                     Do not be silent to me (1-2)

a.        This is uttered in the midst of David’s confidence that God will answer him.  He makes reference to Him as his Rock – a solid foundation that cannot be moved.
David begins this psalm in typical fashion – acknowledging God’s greatness.

b.       Consider the silence of God. 

                           i.      David does NOT want God to be silent.  There is a lesson for us – When I think of the silence of God, I think of His answering our prayers.  In this instance, I see David’s impatience and perhaps apprehension (he wants to hear from the Lord right now) because of God not answering him. 
We need to learn to be patient in expecting prayers answered – Luke 18:7-8 – He bears long, but He will answer.
Habakkuk 2:2-3, “Then the LORD answered me and said:  "Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.  For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.”

                          ii.      Why is He silent?  There could be many reasons. 
ONE is that He might be testing our patience,
TWO – He might desire to answer our requests, but to do so takes some time,
THREE – Maybe He HAS answered, but are WE really listening?
FOURTH – Is there a reason why He is silent, such as our refusal to obey Him, or our doubting His willingness to answer?

                        iii.     What do we do about His silence to our prayers?  The same as silence concerning His word – we WAIT!  Until He answers – in the meantime, we keep asking with a humble attitude.

                         iv.   But know this, even when He is silent, He is STILL our rock and we can lean upon Him!  Just like a huge rock – which might not speak, but its presence is known and its support for us available.

II.                   Lest I become like the ungodly (1,3)

a.        David is fearful of being numbered with the ungodly.
He is NOT willing to merely accept the silence of God.  I mean that in a good way.  Not that he is rebellious of God’s will, but rather he is resolved to be right with Him.  David wants to hear from Him and know where he stands in His presence.
Another example of this attitude is Paul when he was struck blind on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:9, 11).  For three days he waited to hear from the Lord.  How long did he wait?  Until the Lord answered him by sending Ananias to him.  In the meantime, he did what he could do – he prayed.

b.       I ask - do we have such an attitude toward God ourselves?
Are we truly concerned at becoming like the ungodly around us?  To what degree do we despise evil and sinful conduct?  Consider 2 Corinthians 6:14-16, do not place yourself in a condition where you are at a disadvantage.
Romans 12:9 calls upon us to abhor evil and cling to what is good.
Proverbs 8:13 says, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.”
IF that is our concern we will act with urgency to be right with Him and NOT like them.  That means obedience.

c.        “Do not take me away with the wicked and with the workers of iniquity.” (3) 
The ultimate fate of such is hell fire.  Revelation 21:8, Mathew 25:41,46; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9
More than anything, we ought to want to avoid that place as well.

III.                 Repay evil men with evil (4-5)

a.        David desires that God curse his enemies
NOTE that David does not intend vigilante justice.  He is not intending to get even himself.  Such an attitude is sinful and contrary to God’s will (Cf. Romans 12:17-21).
Instead he turns to God and requests that His will prevail and those opposed to Him (who also happen to be opposed to David) be defeated.  David’s request is actually for good to prevail. 

b.       We ought to be praying for the same thing.  Not for the opportunity to act as vigilantes, nor out of hatred for others, but rather that good things will happen.  When we pray for God’s will to prevail our desire is that ungodliness be overcome in our lives and within society so that we can do that which is good.  Jesus Himself told us to pray for our enemies in Matthew 5:44, etc.

c.        Vs. 5 of our text notes why David requested this – because they do not regard Him.

IV.                David again acknowledges God has heard him (6-7)

a.        David continually has faith that his prayers are heard.  Do we? James 1:6-8

b.       Vs. 7 – yet, in spite of the Lord’s silence, He is still David’s strength and shield.
David mentions several things that he does as a result of this, all typical of his attitude.

                     i.            In his heart he trusts Him

                    ii.            He greatly rejoices within

                  iii.            He praises Him

c.        How does our HEART respond to God’s goodness in our lives?

V.                  David acknowledges that God hears ALL of His anointed ones (8-9)

a.        David’s request, as usual, is not self-centered but directed toward his brethren as well.
Concerning others he notes that 1)the Lord is their strength, 2) he requests that the Lord save them, 3)and that He bless them, 4)feed (or shepherd) them, and 5)lift them up.

b.       As we conclude this lesson, we want to briefly acknowledge our concern for our brethren.
Our desire ought to be for the salvation of our brethren and God’s guidance toward that end.

                     i.            In this psalm we have again seen a desire that evil be defeated.  That is a task that requires the providence of God.  BUT it also requires all who follow after Him to do their part.

                    ii.            We need to continually remind ourselves that we need each other and act like it.  Philippians 2:1-4 describes that attitude.

                  iii.            And in our prayers – our brethren ought to be at the forefront – James 5:16.

Conclusion: As David begins this psalm He refers to the Lord as his rock.  I am reminded of 1 Peter 2:6-8 in which the Old Testament is quoted (Isaiah 28:16, 8:14).  In this text Peter notes that the Lord has laid a chief cornerstone upon which we are to build.  But for many that cornerstone has become a rock of offense.  That is what we find in our psalm as David describes those who accept the Lord and those who reject Him.  In which category do you fit?