Lessons for Life with James Long, Jr.

Psalm 28: Learning to Trust God’s Love in the Silence

• James Long

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Title: Psalm 28: Learning to Trust God’s Love in the Silence

Psalm 28 gives voice to one of the hardest experiences of faith—when God seems silent. In this episode, discover how David perseveres in prayer, moves from desperation to praise, and rests in the love of the Shepherd who carries His people forever. Learn how God’s apparent silence is never His absence, and how His steadfast love strengthens us in seasons of waiting.

Episode Highlights

  • Silence in prayer does not mean God has abandoned us (vv. 1–2).
  • David pleads for mercy, lifting his hands toward God’s presence in faith.
  • A prayer for justice reveals God’s holiness and the seriousness of sin (vv. 3–5).
  • Fear turns into thanksgiving as David rejoices in God’s strength and deliverance (vv. 6–8).
  • God’s help for one believer strengthens the whole people of God.
  • The psalm ends with a prayer to the Shepherd who carries His people forever (v. 9).
  • Christ fulfills Psalm 28 as our Rock, Redeemer, and Good Shepherd.

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ABOUT JAMES and LESSONS FOR LIFE

Are you seeking hope, wisdom, and practical solutions to life’s challenges? Dr. James Long, Jr., pastor, counselor, and professor with over 30 years of experience, helps people discover God’s solutions to emotional, relational, and spiritual challenges. Each episode of Lessons for Life points you to the peace and freedom found in Jesus Christ.

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Speaker 1:

Hello everyone, it's James Long Jr and welcome to Lessons for Life. We are in our Counseling Through the Psalms series. Do me a favor and grab your Bible and a journal and turn with me to Psalm chapter 28. Psalm 28 is where we're going to begin our journey together today. Now, one of the hardest seasons in faith is when we cry out to God and hear nothing in return. The silence of heaven can feel like abandonment. We begin to wonder if our prayers are wasted, if God is ignoring us or if we are no different from those who live without him. Psalm 28 gives voice to those who struggle and reminds us that God's apparent silence is never his absence. So, if we're going to overview or summarize Psalm 28, I want you to know that Psalm 28 unfolds in three movements A cry for God to hear and rescue the psalmist from sharing the fate of the wicked verses 1 through 5. A burst of praise for God's strength and deliverance verses 6 through 8. And a closing prayer for God's ongoing care, God's ongoing care for his people verse 9. Though the psalm begins in desperation, it ends with confidence and joy, showing us how to persevere in prayer until faith rises into praise.

Speaker 1:

Well, let's look at this first section, a plea for God's mercy, in verses 1 through 2. Now David begins by saying this 1-2. Now David begins by saying this To you O Lord, I call my rock, be not deaf to me, lest if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. So this is not a casual prayer. It's an urgent life or death situation. Without God's answer, David feels that there's no difference between those who perish without hope. He lifts his hands towards the most holy place, approaching God on the basis of his mercy and his atonement. And for us this pictures what we do when we access God through the Lord Jesus Christ's finished work, not our worthiness. We see that in Hebrews, chapter 10, verses 19 through 22. It is that we come to God through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Speaker 1:

The second section, here in verses three through five, is a prayer for separation and justice. David prays not to be dragged away with the wicked, those who speak peace with their lips but plot evil in their hearts. He asks God to repay them according to their deeds, not out of personal vengeance, but because they have shown no regard for the work of the Lord. This disregard for the way of the Lord leads to their ultimate downfall. He says a little bit later on he says he will tear them down. Wow, he will tear them down and never build them up again. This section raises an important tension how do believers pray for justice and judgment today? David's prayer is not vindictive, but it roots in God's righteousness. Even Jesus taught us to pray your kingdom come, your will be done. Matthew 6, verse 10, which includes both salvation for the repentant and judgment for the persistent evil. To pray for God's justice is to long for a world where sin and violence do not prevail.

Speaker 1:

Verses 6-8 give us a praise for God's strength and deliverance. The psalm takes a dramatic turn. The one who feared and silenced now rejoices in God's response. Faith now begins with desperation, but now burst out into thanksgiving. David's heart leaps for joy and his praise becomes public. You remember he said here I give thanks to him in song. Now notice the shift from my strength in verse seven to the strength of his people in verse eight. Watch what he says here. He says "the Lord is my strength and my shield. In Him I put my trust. I am helped, my heart exalts and with my song I give thanks to Him. The Lord is the strength of His people. He is the saving refuge for the anointed". Now what you notice there is that it's God's strength. Now, personal deliverance expands into communal confidence. God's help for one believer strengthens the faith for the whole people of God.

Speaker 1:

Now, in verse 9, we see a shepherd for his people. Verse 9 it says the Psalm closes with this prayer that widens beyond David's personal need. You can see that he says save your people and bless your heritage. He talks about being a shepherd and carrying them. Here we glimpse into the tender heart of God as a shepherd. Now, unlike the wicked who are dragged off into judgment, God's people are carried in his arms. He not only delivers them, but he sustains them, he blesses them, he shepherds his flock forever. And now we have Christ-centered hope.

Speaker 1:

Psalm 28 finds its fullest answer in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the rock on whom our lives are built. Matthew 7, verses 24 and 25. He bore the judgment our sins deserve so that we would not be dragged away with the wicked. Romans 8, verse 1. And he is our good shepherd, who laid down his life for his sheep and carries us close to his heart. We see that in John, chapter 10, and we see that in Isaiah, chapter 40, verse 11. And because he was forsaken on the cross, we will never be abandoned. Even when heaven feels silent, he is not abandoning us.

Speaker 1:

Now I want you to consider some of the doctrinal truths that we find here in Psalm, chapter 28. Because this is so important to be able to understand that God is teaching us rich theology. First, we see that God hears the cries of his people even when silence seems to linger. We saw that in verses one and two. But remind yourself of Luke, chapter 18, verses one through eight. That's a great passage to look up. A second thing I want you to consider is that the Lord will separate the righteous from the wicked in judgment. We saw that in verse 3 through 5, but you'll also see that in Matthew, chapter 25, verses 31 to 46. We also see that God is the strength, the shield and salvation of his people verses 7 through 8 here. But in Ephesians, chapter 6, verses 16 through 17,. We see that. We also see worship is fitting response for answered prayer. We see that in verse 6 and 7, but we also see that in Colossians, chapter 3, verse 16. And then, finally, I want you to see that God is the eternal shepherd for his people. We see that in verse 9, but we also see that in John 10, verses 27-29.

Speaker 1:

Now, if we're going to live this psalm today, I want you to remind yourself to persevere in prayer, even when God seems silent. Silence is not abandonment. It is often a call for a deeper level of trust. Like David, we can lift our hands towards the throne of grace, confident that the mercy flows from the sacrifice of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and we can rest assured that evil will not prevail forever. God will deal with the wicked and carry his people to safety. This hope will free us, and it frees us to keep praying, to keep trusting and to keep rejoicing.

Speaker 1:

Well, let's reflect and respond. Several things I would like you to think about. Maybe grab your journal for this. One of the first thing I want you to consider is this when have you felt God was silent to your prayers, and then how did you respond to it? Secondly, I want you to think about this how does the psalm encourage you to persevere in prayer rather than to give up? Third, in what areas of your life do you need to trust God as your strength and your shield? This is so important. Fourth, how might you give public thanks to God for answered prayers, as David did here in Psalm 28? Fourth Next what does it mean to you personally that God is your shepherd, who will carry you forever? I want you to really dig deep into this psalm and I want you to take it from informational to transformational. Start to look at it in your life.

Speaker 1:

Let's pray here, Father. There are times where your voice seems silent to us. It feels like our prayers are bouncing off the ceiling and it feels as though you may not be listening. Father, all those things are feelings. They're not reality. So I pray that you would remind us that you always are near us. I pray that you would remind us that you never abandon us. I pray that you would remind us that there's not even a molecule in this universe that you're not in control of. So help us to trust your sovereign control, your absolute control. Help us to trust in your infinite wisdom. Help us to trust in your perpetual love for us and perpetual presence for us, and help us to bring glory and honor and majesty to your name. In Jesus' name we pray Amen, Amen.

Speaker 1:

So I want you to think of yourself as being carried forever by a loving shepherd, this shepherd who carries his sheep and carries them to protection. Psalm 28 reminds us that God may seem distant for a time, but he never abandons his people. He hears, he saves and he carries us as a shepherd forever and ever and ever. That's amazing. Well, if this has been helpful to you, I would ask you to consider joining our free navigator level of our Lessons for Life community at jameslongjrorg slash community, or you can explore full membership and coaching options at jameslongjrorg slash. Sign up now. You can access journals, life meetups and biblical training that will help you to grow emotionally, relationally and spiritually. So, before we close, I want you to remind yourself that when silence feels heavy and the wicked seem strong, remind yourself that you're being carried forever by the shepherd of your soul, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for being with us. Until next time, be blessed everyone. Take care.

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