Psalms 28:7

7 The LORD gives me strength. He is like a shield that keeps me safe. My heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart jumps for joy. I will sing and give thanks to him.

Psalms 28:7 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 28:7

The Lord [is] my strength
That is, the author both of natural and spiritual strength; that gave him strength of body, and fortitude of mind, to bear up under all the exercises he was tried with; the strength of his life, spiritual and temporal, and of his salvation; the strength of his heart under present distresses, and who he knew would be so in the hour of death, when his heart and strength would fail;

and my shield;
to protect and defend him; as were the love, power, and faithfulness of God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, his power and fulness, his blood, righteousness, and salvation;

my heart trusted in him;
in the Lord as his strength and shield; not in any creature, nor in his own strength and righteousness; but in the Lord God, in whom are righteousness and strength: and it is plain he did not trust in his own heart, since his heart trusted in the Lord; and which shows that his trust was an hearty one, his faith was a faith unfeigned, he believed with the heart unto righteousness;

and I am helped:
this was the fruit of his trust, even a gracious experience of divine assistance: saints are helpless in themselves, and are also as to the help of man; God is the only helper of them; he helps them out of all their troubles; in whatsoever he calls them unto, and to what they want; and the help he affords is sometimes quick, and always seasonable; and sometimes by means, and sometimes without them;

therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth;
that is, in the Lord, the ground of which was the help he had from him; and this joy was very great, a joy unspeakable, and full of glory; it was not carnal, but spiritual, a heart joy, joy in the Holy Ghost;

and with my song will I praise him;
praise is due to God, what glorifies him, and is acceptable to him; it becomes the saints, is comely for them, and it is pleasant work to them, when grace is in exercise; see ( Psalms 69:30 Psalms 69:31 ) ; this may be understood of one of his songs, and one of the best of them, and of one better than this, as a Jewish writer ^F21 observes.

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 R. Moseh in Aben Ezra in loc.

Psalms 28:7 In-Context

5 They don't care about the Lord's mighty acts. They don't care about what his hands have done. So he will tear them down. He will never build them up again.

6 Give praise to the Lord. He has heard my cry for his favor.

7 The LORD gives me strength. He is like a shield that keeps me safe. My heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart jumps for joy. I will sing and give thanks to him.

8 The LORD gives strength to his people. He guards and saves his anointed king.

9 Save your people. Bless those who belong to you. Be their shepherd. Take care of them forever.