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Blogs are posted every Wednesday

My Strength and Shield by Lynne McCarthy

3/7/2022

 
Psalm 28

Observe:   A lament, a cry for help, a place to run, praise. God is David’s Rock but He is silent (1). Those who reject God go down to the ‘pit’ – ultimate eternal silence, without God, and he fears being dragged down with them.
He cries out against those with malicious hearts, whose mouths speak cordially with their neighbours (3), and he demands God repay them for their evil. Their deeds will find them out, for God will bring deserved punishment -- a moral necessity. The Lord God cannot tolerate wickedness and hypocrisy. He will not be rejected.
In this lament, verses 6-9 express trust in his Rock’s protection, my strength and my shield (7), praise and thanks for His justice and sustaining presence. David the king becomes David the priest as he offers praise on behalf of his people who also trust in his God and King. (8,9). The Great Shepherd will bear them up forever (9).

Interpret:  “Rock” applies only to God in the Hebrew Bible, not to humans. His stability and strength show where David (and we) can run for protection in all difficulties and challenges. This image invites our trust in His strong care; it doesn’t erase suffering but reminds us of His protection in all situations.
Yes, hypocrisy is all around, in places that might surprise us. Yet common grace, the undeserved blessings God pours out on the entire human race without discrimination or bias between one person or another, unknown in David’s time, is God’s loving kindness to all His creatures. His grace is our strength and shield, too.

Apply:   It’s so easy to start wailing when we’re confronted with setback or suffering.  “Why me? What have I done to deserve this? Why is God doing this to me? Where is God in all this?”  Our secular society is terrible at enduring suffering, however mild, and questioning abounds.
Think about Zacharias and Mary and their hearts’ attitudes in Luke’s gospel, and the different outcomes to each of their questions. We can ask, and wonder, and doubt – but the answer is God’s alone. And so is His grace.
Believing even as we ask that our prayers and petitions have been answered, heartfelt thanks follows lament. More than mere resignation, we develop patience and endurance until God responds, according to His will. 
As we become more practiced (by much repetition!) in prayer and the Word, our deepening relationship with Him opens our heart’s eyes, that Thy will be done truly does deliver us from evil. Then we know deeply that His is the kingdom, power and glory, His is love in action.

Ask:   Is all my complaining necessary, Lord? Help me to turn griping into praise, this so-necessary switch in my heart’s attitude to difficulty.  Can anything be more difficult than what You went through, for me? Yours was true suffering.

Pray:   My Rock, my Strength, my Shield -- thank You that I can go to You at any time to lament, but far better, to praise You in all humility and honesty. 

Sing Ps. 28:  Word for word Zac Fitzsimmons
                          Psalm 28  Poor Bishop Hooper


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St Aidan’s Anglican Church
274 Campbell Street | Winnipeg, MB R3N 1B5
Phone: 204.489.3390 Email: staidans.churchoffice@gmail.com
  • Home
  • Worship Online
  • The Preachers Blog
  • Easter Services
  • Bible in a Year
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • The Re-Gathering
  • Youth
  • Cords
  • Prayer Requests
  • Request Pastoral Care
  • Give
  • Grocery Pick Up
  • Statement of Faith
  • Video Archive
    • 2023 Videos
    • Real Lives
    • 2022 Videos
    • 2021 Videos
    • 2020 Videos
  • Sermon Audio Archive
    • 2020 Sermons
    • 2019 Sermons
    • 2019 Sermon Series >
      • Gospel Centered Eternities November 2019
      • The Real Joy of Easter - Holy Week 2019
    • 2018 Sermons
    • 2018 Sermon Series >
      • Gospel Centred Church Spring 2018
      • A Gospel Shaped Church Fall 2018
    • 2017 Sermon Series >
      • The Servant King Christmas 2016
      • The Saviour King Lent 2017
      • The Victorious King Holy Week 2017
      • The Living King Easter 2017
      • The Brother King Fall 2017
      • Worship the King Advent 2017
    • 2016 Sermon Series >
      • Real Obedience Lent 2016
      • Unity of the Church
      • The Servant King Christmas 2016
    • 2015 Sermon Series >
      • Real Gifts 2015
      • Real Mission 2015
      • Mission Discerned
    • 2014 Sermon Series >
      • Real Church 2014
      • Real Lives 2014
    • 2013 Sermon Series >
      • Real God 2013
    • Sermon Archive From 2014 - 2017
  • Christianity 101
  • The Psalms Blog
  • Bible in a Year
  • The Re-Gathering