Psalm 28 – He Is Not Silent, and I Am Not Alone
Even when the mist hides the path, the Shepherd knows the way and walks among His own.
Psalm 28 opens with David crying out with urgency, not because he doubts God’s goodness, but because he dreads silence. To David, divine silence feels like being dragged into “the pit”—a symbol of separation, darkness, and judgment. His lifted hands aren’t mere gestures; they represent his dependence on God’s presence in the Most Holy Place.
David draws a contrast between the wicked and the righteous—not based on appearances or politeness but on the state of the heart and the actions that flow from it. The hands of the wicked work deceit; David’s hands are lifted in prayer; and God’s hands are mighty to act and save.
The psalm ends with a beautiful shift from lament to praise. David rejoices because the Lord has answered his plea. And as king, he doesn’t exalt himself above the people—he includes himself in the flock. God is both a fortress and a Shepherd, carrying His people as tenderly as David once carried lambs in his arms. His strength is unmatched, but His touch is gentle.
A Real-Life Analogy:
Have you ever been in a room full of people, yet felt utterly invisible—like your words fell flat or your presence didn’t matter? It’s not the noise that hurts; it’s the absence of being seen or heard. But then someone looks up, really sees you, calls your name with a smile, and listens. It’s not the volume of their voice but the attention behind it that changes everything. That’s what David longed for—not just a divine reply, but the certainty that God still saw him, still called him His own. And God did.
Personalized Journal Entry – in the Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture:
You were never alone in the silence. I heard your cry before your lips even formed the words. I am your rock—immovable, unshakable, yet attentive to the softest whisper. When others speak peace with their mouths but plot evil in their hearts, I search deeper. I look not at the surface, but at the spirit I made alive in you.
Your lifted hands were not in vain; they reached into the Most Holy Place where My presence dwells. I answered not with thunder, but with presence. I upheld you not with spectacle, but with the strength of My arm beneath you. You are not dragged toward judgment, for I have carried you away from it—carried, not driven, for I do not bruise what I rescue.
I am the Shepherd who walks among His flock, not above them. I give strength to the weary, and I am your saving refuge. You do not walk alone. I lead you. I carry you. And you shall not be lost. For I, the Lord, have become your shield, your song, and your salvation.
(References: Psalm 28:1–9; John 10:7–18; Ezekiel 34:1–10; 2 Samuel 5:2)
Prayer:
Father, thank You that I am never lost in the crowd, never unseen, never unheard. You know me completely and respond to the cry of my heart, not with delay but with love that carries. I trust that You, my Shepherd and my Rock, guide me moment by moment—not through fear but with tender assurance. When the world feels loud and hollow, Your voice quiets every anxious thought. I rejoice in the certainty that You’ve made me Yours, placed me in the elect company of Your people, chosen for Your purpose, and embraced in Your everlasting arms.
Devotional Credit:
Insights adapted from the Grace and Truth Study Bible (Zondervan, 2022).
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