Encouragement: My protector.

Here is your daily encouragement words and thoughts. Today I bring you encouragement from Psalm 28:1-9

To you, O Lord, I cry out!
My protector, do not ignore me!
If you do not respond to me,
I will join those who are descending into the grave.
2 Hear my plea for mercy when I cry out to you for help,
when I lift my hands toward your holy temple!
3 Do not drag me away with evil men,
with those who behave wickedly,
who talk so friendly to their neighbors,
while they plan to harm them!
4 Pay them back for their evil deeds!
Pay them back for what they do!
Punish them!
5 For they do not understand the Lord’s actions,
or the way he carries out justice.
The Lord will permanently demolish them.
6 The Lord deserves praise,
for he has heard my plea for mercy!
7 The Lord strengthens and protects me;
I trust in him with all my heart.
I am rescued and my heart is full of joy;
I will sing to him in gratitude.
8 The Lord strengthens his people;
he protects and delivers his chosen king.
9 Deliver your people!
Empower the nation that belongs to you!
Care for them like a shepherd and carry them in your arms at all times!

Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Ps 28:1-9). Biblical Studies Press.

We are back in Psalm 28. Last time I focused on the trust relationship with God.

I recently listened to a message by Louis Giglio about prayer. Louis suggested that prayer should be a constant communication with God. All to often we go to God in prayer when we need something or are in trouble.

This psalm is in essence a prayer. David starts this psalm with some doubt in his voice, To use today's words "Hey God I have like got a problem, a big problem, and if you ain't helping me I am done for." I have prayed a few like that myself over the years. This is however the pattern of most of David's psalms he starts out in a flap and by the end his focus is off himself and onto God.

Verse 3 is a real warning to us to examine our own actions in life. It says "Do not drag me away with evil men,with those who behave wickedly, who talk so friendly to their neighbors, while they plan to harm them! I would be so bold as to say that this description of evil might even apply to those that are nice to our face but talk bad about us when we are not around. We need to reflect on our own dealing with people to make sure we do not slip into this class.

Verse 5 is the turning point in the Psalm. Here David starts to focus on the Lord.
It is unclear if David saw results or if his confidence in the Lord was restored.

The crown of this psalm comes in the last line where David prays "Care for them like a shepherd and carry them in your arms at all times!" My God carrying my country, carrying me in His arms at all times. What a picture of our God. May David's Prayer be so.

"The Lord strengthens and protects me; I trust in him with all my heart."

Amen

Music Encouragement Superchick- Crawl (Carry me through)