1. The petition of God’s people (vs. 1-2).
[1] 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.
[2] Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
when I cry to you for help,
when I lift up my hands
toward your most holy sanctuary.
*Psalm 27:14; Luke 18:1–8
“Mere formalists may be content without answers to their prayers, but genuine
suppliants cannot; they are not satisfied with the results of prayer itself in
calming the mind and subduing the will – they must go further and obtain
actual replies from heaven, or they cannot rest.” (C.H. Spurgeon)
2. The position of God’s people (vs. 3-5).
[3] Do not drag me off with the wicked,
with the workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors
while evil is in their hearts.
[4] Give to them according to their work
and according to the evil of their deeds;
give to them according to the work of their hands;
render them their due reward.
[5] Because they do not regard the works of the LORD
or the work of his hands,
he will tear them down and build them up no more.
*Matthew 16:27; Romans 2:6-8,11; Romans 3:28; Romans 1:18–23:
3. The posture of God’s people (vs. 6-7).
[6] Blessed be the LORD!
For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
[7] The LORD is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.
“My dear friend, if you can say, ‘The Lord is my strength,’ you can bear anything
and everything. You could bear a martyr’s death if the Lord should be your
strength. He could make a stalk of wheat to bear up the whole world if he
strengthened it.” (C.H. Spurgeon)
“The strength of the general in other hosts lies in his troops … but in the army
of saints, the strength of every saint, yea, of the whole host of saints, lies in the Lord of hosts” (William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour, p. 18).
4. The provision of God’s people (vs. 8-9).
[8] The LORD is the strength of his people;
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
[9] Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
Be their shepherd and carry them forever.