Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

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Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Psalm 28 with Theodoret of Cyrus – Calling for Justice To you, LORD, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit (v. 1). The psalm was spoken by David when he was pursued by Saul and was betrayed by false friends who tried to reveal his location to Saul, like Doeg (cf. 1 Sam 22:9) and the Ziphites (cf. 1 Sam 23:19–20) and many others. This psalm is suited to everyone encountering distress of this kind. Like David, it is possible for the person intent on persevering both to petition God and to secure his providence. Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts (v. 3). The prayer of David is to be uninvolved with those who practice deceit. He calls those who say one thing but mean another despicable. This is surely the reason he also wishes that they reap the consequences of their exploits, saying, Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work; repay them for what their hands have done and bring back on them what they deserve (v. 4). Let no one think, however, that the righteous person is cursing his enemies. The words are not a mark of cursing but of a just verdict. Bring back on them what they deserve , he says, meaning, May their own schemes turn on them, which they plot against one another. This is also said in the seventh psalm, “The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads” (Ps 7:16). Then he teaches the reason for the retribution: Because they have no regard for the deeds of the LORD and what his hands have done (v. 5). Now, they committed these things, he is saying, because they had no wish to learn either the divine word or work.