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.
3,000 years ago, David was anointed king of Israel but was threatened and pursued for almost 20 years by the present King, Saul. Many of the Psalms that David wrote reflect the despair and fatigue of running for his life for so long. He may have wondered how long it would last. As it turned out, it only felt long. He reigned as king for 40 years and passed a strong kingdom on to Solomon. The Lord answered David’s prayers for deliverance in his time, not David’s. Read any one of the praise psalms and you will see that it was perfectly okay with David as long as the Lord provided.
The real answer to this prayer in Psalm 28 came 1,000 years later with the birth of the Son of David, the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He came to save and offer sanctuary for the sinners and the least of these. He came to save those he chose and anointed as his own. He is the Good Shepherd that loves and protects his sheep and his sheep have a heritage with him as fellows heirs with Christ!
The last word of the psalm points to yet another answer to this prayer; one that is yet to come. When the Good Shepherd, the Lamb returns as the Lion of Judah and judge of the world, he will be their shepherd and carry them forever. Those he chose have eternal life to look forward to. It may seem like a long time in coming but…
It will be perfect timing.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church