Psalm 28

A Psalm of David.

1 To You, O LORD, I call; My rock, do not be deaf to me, For if You are silent to me, I will become like those who go down to the pit. 2 Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary. 3 Do not drag me away with the wicked And with those who work iniquity, Who speak peace with their neighbors, While evil is in their hearts.

4 Requite them according to their work and according to the evil of their practices; Requite them according to the deeds of their hands; Repay them their recompense. 5 Because they do not regard the works of the LORD Nor the deeds of His hands, He will tear them down and not build them up. 6 Blessed be the LORD, Because He has heard the voice of my supplication. 7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him.

8 The LORD is their strength, And He is a saving defense to His anointed. 9 Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; Be their shepherd also, and carry them forever.

Do the Heavens ever seem brass?

To You, O LORD, I call; My rock, do not be deaf to me, For if You are silent to me, I will become like those who go down to the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

Sometimes prayer is hard

Sin Self Sanctification

SinHe who turns away his ear from listening to the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.

Proverbs 28:9

If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear;

Psalm 66:18

John 9:31 (NASB95) 31 “We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him.

SelfYou are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

James 4:2b–3

Improve reception

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Sanctification? …to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.

2 Corinthians 12:7–8

Let Everyone Hear

Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.

1 Timothy 2:8

There’s an App for that!

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16

Old School

Do not drag me away with the wicked And with those who work iniquity, Who speak peace with

their neighbors, While evil is in their hearts.

The wicked described

Workers of iniquity

Speak peace while evil is in their hearts.

Get ‘em Lord

Requite them according to their work and according to the evil of their practices; Requite them according to the deeds of their hands; Repay them their recompense. Because they do not regard the works of the LORD Nor the deeds of His hands, He will tear them down and not build them up.

Exchange But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 6:27–28

Sacrifice of praise

Blessed be the LORD, Because He has heard the voice of my supplication. The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him. The LORD is their strength, And He is a saving defense to His anointed.

End with a request

Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; Be their shepherd also, and carry them forever.

The Unlimited Plan

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:7

Some Restrictions May Apply

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

1 John 5:14

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting…

James 1:5–6a

Free by Faith