Psalm 28:4 Kommentar

The former part of this psalm is the prayer of a saint militan and now in distress (Psa 28:1-3), to which is added the doom of God's implacable enemies (Psa 28:4, Psa 28:5). The latter part of the psalm is the thanksgiving of a saint triumphant, and delivered out of his distresses (Psa 28:6-8), to which is added a prophetical prayer for all God's faithful loyal subjects (Psa 28:9). So that it is hard to say which of these two conditions David was in when he penned it. Some think he was now in trouble seeking God, but at the same time preparing to praise him for his deliverance, and by faith giving him thanks for it, before it was wrought. Others think he was now in triumph, but remembered, and recorded for his own and others' benefit, the prayers he made when he was in affliction, that the mercy might relish the better, when it appeared to be an answer to them. A psalm of David.

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 28 A Psalm of David. This psalm, Aben Ezra says, David either composed himself, or one of the singers for him; the former seems most likely; and it might be made by him when he was persecuted by Saul, or when delivered from him; or at least when he had faith and hope that he should be delivered: the psalm consists of two parts, petitions and thanksgivings.

Give them according to their deeds,.... According to the demerit of them, which is death, even death eternal; and according to the wickedness of their endeavours; for though wicked men do not always succeed; yet their want of success does not excuse their wickedness; give them after the work of their hands; see Ti2 4:14; render to them their desert; what their iniquities, in thought, word, and deed, deserve: such petitions are not contrary to that Christian charity which the Gospel recommends; nor do they savour of a spirit of revenge, which is condemned by the word of God; for it should be observed, that these things are said with respect to men given up to a reprobate mind; and that the psalmist does not seek to avenge himself, nor to gratify his own mind; but he sought the glory of God, and moreover spoke by a prophetic spirit, knowing what was the will of God in this case; see Psa 28:5; and therefore these petitions of his are not to be drawn into an example in common and ordinary cases.

Because they do not understand through blessings, they will understand through suffering.

"Give unto them according to their works" [Psalm 28:4]. Give unto them according to their works, for this is just. "And according to the malice of their affections." For aiming at evil, they cannot discover good. "According to the works of their hands give Thou unto them." Although what they have done may avail for salvation to others, yet give Thou unto them according to the works of their wills. "Pay them their recompense." Because, for the truth which they heard, they wished to recompense deceit; let their own deceit deceive them.

Let no one think, however, that the righteous person is cursing his enemies: the words are a mark not of cursing but of a just verdict. “Grant them their due repayment,” he says, meaning, May they fall foul of their own schemes, which they hatch against one another. This is said also in the seventh psalm, “Their trouble will come back on their own head, and their wrong will come down on top of them.”

"Give to them according to their works: and according to the wickedness of their devices." Here he treats of the tribulation and punishment of those men. And first he touches on the punishment itself; second, the equity of the punishment, at "according to their works"; third, its perpetuity, at "because they did not understand." A twofold guilt has been set forth. One is exterior, which is of the mouth; the other is interior, which is of the heart. And therefore as to the first he says, "Give to them according to their works." Ps. 61: "You render to each one according to his works." "Give" is taken in a declarative sense, that is, "you will give"; or by conforming to divine justice. Ps. 57: "The just man shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance." Or this may be referred to Christ: You, O Lord the Father, give to them according to their works: as if to say: from my passion a benefit follows; but you give to them, namely to the sinners, not according to the fruit, but according to their intention which was evil. Jn. 3: "For their works were evil." As to the second he says, "And according to the wickedness of their devices." Devices are ways contrived for harming and sinning. And these are more gravely punished by God, but the punishment due to them is just. Here the text proceeds thus: hence he says, "According to the works of their hands repay them," because namely they sinned not under compulsion but by their own wicked will. Hence their works are the works of their hands. Insofar as it is referred to Christ, thus he says, "According to the works of their hands," etc., because the Jews, even though they did not crucify Christ with their own hands, still both with tongue and hand they carried out this crime, because it was done by their authority; hence he says, "Render to them their recompense," so that just as they did this with evil intention, so you may repay them with evil. Mt. 7: "With what measure you measure, it shall be measured back to you."

An earnest cry for divine aid against his enemies, as being also those of God, is followed by the Psalmist's praise in assurance of a favorable answer, and a prayer for all God's people. (Psa 28:1-9) my rock-- (Psa 18:2, Psa 18:31). be not silent to me--literally, "from me," deaf or inattentive. become like them, &c.--share their fate. go down into the pit--or, "grave" (Psa 30:3).

The imprecation is justified in Psa 28:5. The force of the passage is greatly enhanced by the accumulation of terms describing their sin. endeavours--points out their deliberate sinfulness.