Eleventh Sunday After Trinity (B C P). Series

Psalm 28:1-9, 1 Kings 3:5-15, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 18:9-14.

A). PRAYER AND PRAISE.

Psalm 28:1-9.

There is only one God who hears and answers prayer. His name is YHWH: the One who ‘is, and was, and is to come’ (cf. Revelation 1:8); the maker of the heavens and the earth (cf. Psalm 121:2). He is ‘the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (cf. Ephesians 1:3a).

David proposes to make his “cry” known to the “LORD my rock” (PSALM 28:1a). The concept of the LORD as a rock of refuge to whom we may continually come resonates throughout the Bible (e.g. Psalm 62:6-8).

Furthermore, Jesus is the ‘rock’ of our salvation. When Peter said, ‘Thou art the Christ, the son of the living God’ (cf. Matthew 16:16); Jesus replied, ‘and upon this rock will I build my church’ (cf. Matthew 16:18). The Apostle Paul spoke of the spiritual rock which followed the children of Israel during their wilderness wanderings, and concluded, ‘and that Rock was Christ’ (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:4).

The Psalmist fears that if the LORD does not answer his prayer, he will be “like them that go down into the pit” (PSALM 28:1b). Without God, we can do nothing (cf. John 15:5) – and our plight would be the same as those who are dead in the ground, or who have sunk into the pits of hell.

David intensifies his appeal: “Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee” (PSALM 28:2). This would no doubt include the inner voice of his silent prayers. We lift up empty hands towards the only one who can fill them, to Jesus our Saviour and Lord.

“Draw me not away with the wicked” (PSALM 28:3a) is an appeal not to be numbered with them, as one of them. ‘Who is on the LORD’s side?’ asked Moses (cf. Exodus 32:26). The hypocrisy of the wicked is that they ‘speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts’ (PSALM 28:3b).

When David says, “Give them according to their deeds” (PSALM 28:4), he is not being vindictive, but was content to leave the balancing of the scales of justice up to the LORD (PSALM 28:5). Given two opportunities to slay Saul, David refused to lift up his hand against him (cf. 1 Samuel 24:7; 1 Samuel 26:10).

“Blessed be the LORD, because He hath heard the voice of my supplications” (PSALM 28:6). Prayer gives way to blessing the LORD who has so blessed us (cf. Ephesians 1:3). Desperation gives way to elation when we trust the LORD.

When David returned praise, he announced that “The LORD is my strength and my shield” (PSALM 28:7a). When we “trust” in the LORD with all our “heart,” we are “helped.” Therefore our “heart” greatly rejoices, and we sing His praises (PSALM 28:7b). This is wholehearted Christianity.

Yet our wholehearted Christianity does not stand alone: the Psalmist switches from the singular to the plural (PSALM 28:8-9). We may distance ourselves from the company of the wicked (cf. Psalm 26:4-8), but we are a part of ‘a great multitude which no man can number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues’ who worship the LORD and the Lamb (cf. Revelation 7:9-10).

“The LORD is MY strength” (PSALM 28:7a); and “The LORD is THEIR strength,” says David” (PSALM 28:8a). And thus, ‘he that is feeble among them shall be as David’ (cf. Zechariah 12:8)

“And He is the saving strength of His anointed” (PSALM 28:8b). We look to our anointed king, Jesus, for our salvation – of whom David was but a type.

PSALM 28:9 is a prayer for the whole church militant upon the earth:

“Save thy people.” Help us to work out the salvation you have worked in (cf. Philippians 2:12-13).

“And bless thine inheritance.” Bless us with every spiritual blessing which is ours in Christ Jesus (cf. Ephesians 1:3).

“Feed them also.” Feed thy sheep with bread FOR life, and with THE Bread OF life.

“And lift them up for ever.” And bring us home at last into glory.

BENEDICTION: Hebrews 13:20-21.

B). WISDOM AND WORSHIP.

1 Kings 3:5-15.

In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night. “Ask what I shall give thee,” offered the LORD (1 KINGS 3:5). We should take up these offers of the LORD: ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you’ (cf. Matthew 7:7). Jesus said, ‘Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full’ (cf. John 16:24).

Solomon began his response by reflecting upon the LORD’s mercy and covenant kindness towards David. Humbly, he acknowledged that he, like David his father, is but a servant. In fact, he acknowledged that he is “a little child” in that “I know not how to go out or come in” among such an innumerable multitude of “thy” people (1 KINGS 3:6-8).