TRV
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Psalms 28:1–5. His two-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
In these verses David is very earnest in prayer.
I.He prays that God would graciously hear and answer him, now that, in his distress, he called upon him, Psa 28:1, Psa 28:2.
Observe his faith in prayer: O Lord, my rock, denoting his belief of God's power (he is a rock) and his dependence upon that power - "He is my rock, on whom I build my hope." Observe his fervency in prayer: "To thee will I cry, as one in earnest, being ready to sink, unless thou come in with seasonable succour." And observe how solicitous he is to obtain an answer: "Be not silent to me, as one angry at my prayers, Psa 80:4. Lord, speak to me, answer me with good words and comfortable words (Zac 1:13); though the thing I pray for has not been given me, yet let God speak to me joy and gladness, and make me to hear them. Lord, speak for me, in answer to my prayers, plead my cause, command deliverances for me, and thus hear and answer the voice of my supplications." Two things he pleads: - 1. The sad despair he should be in if God slighted him: "If thou be silent to me, and I have not the tokens of thy favour, I am like those that go down into the pit (that is, I am a dead man, lost and undone); if God be not my friend, appear not to me and appear not for me, my hope and my help will have perished." Nothing can be so cutting, so killing, to a gracious soul, as the want of God's favour and the sense of his displeasure. I shall be like those that go down to hell (so some understand it); for what is the misery of the damned but this, that God is ever silent to them and deaf to their cry? Those are in some measure qualified for God's favour, and may expect it, who are thus possessed with a dread of his wrath, and to whom his frowns are worse than death. 2. The good hopes he had that God would favour him: I lift up my hands towards thy holy oracle, which denotes, not only an earnest desire, but an earnest expectation, thence to receive an answer of peace. The most holy place within the veil is here, as elsewhere, called the oracle; there the ark and the mercy-seat were, there God was said to dwell between the cherubim, and thence he spoke to his people, Num 7:89. That was a type of Christ, and it is to him that we must lift up our eyes and hands, for through him all good comes from God to us. It was also a figure of heaven (Heb 9:24); and from God as our Father in heaven we are taught to expect an answer to our prayers. The scriptures are called the oracles of God, and to them we must have an eye in our prayers and expectations. There is the word on which God hath caused and encouraged us to hope.
II.He deprecates the doom of wicked people, as before (Psa 26:9, "Gather not my soul with sinners):
Lord, I attend thy holy oracle, draw me not away from that with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity," Psa 28:3. 1. "Save me from being entangled in the snares they have laid for me. They flatter and cajole me, and speak peace to me; but they have a design upon me, for mischief is in their heart; they aim to disturb me, nay, to destroy me. Lord, suffer me not to be drawn away and ruined by their cursed plots; for they have, can have, no power, no success, against me, except it be given them from above." 2. "Save me from being infected with their sins and from doing as they do. Let me not be drawn away by their fallacious arguments, or their allurements, from the holy oracle (where I desire to dwell all the days of my life), to practise any wicked works;" see Psa 141:4. "Lord, never leave me to myself, to use such arts of deceit and treachery for my safety as they use to my ruin. Let no event of Providence be an invincible temptation to me, to draw me either into the imitation or into the interest of wicked people." Good men dread the way of sinners; the best are sensible of the danger they are in of being drawn aside into it; and therefore we should all pray earnestly to God for his grace to keep us in our integrity. 3. "Save me from being involved in their doom; let me not be led forth with the workers of iniquity, for I am not one of those that speak peace while war is in their hearts." Note, Those that are careful not to partake with sinners in their sins have reason to hope that they shall not partake with them in their plagues, Rev 18:4.
III.He imprecates the just judgments of God upon the workers of iniquity (Psa 28:4):
Give them according to their deeds. This is not the language of passion or revenge, nor is it inconsistent with the duty of praying for our enemies. But,
1.Thus he would show how far he was from complying with the workers of iniquity, and with what good reason he had begged not to be drawn away with them, because he was convinced that they could not be made more miserable then to be dealt with according to their deeds.
2.Thus he would express his zeal for the honour of God's justice in the governing world. "Lord, they think all well that they do, and justify themselves in their wicked practices. Lord, give them after the work of their hands, and so undeceive those about them, who think there is no harm in what they do because it goes unpunished," Psa 94:1, Psa 94:2.
3.This prayer is a prophecy that God will, sooner or later, render to all impenitent sinners according to their deserts. If what has been done amiss be not undone by repentance, there will certainly come a reckoning day, when God will render to every man who persists in his evil deeds according to them. It is a prophecy particularly of the destruction of destroyers: "They speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts; Lord, give them according to their deeds, let the spoilers be spoiled, and let those be treacherously dealt with who have thus dealt treacherously;" see Isa 33:1; Rev 18:6; Rev 13:10. Observe, He foretels that God will reward them, not only according to their deed, but according to the wickedness of their endeavours; for sinners shall be reckoned with, not only for the mischief they have done, but for the mischief they would have done, which they designed, and did what they could to effect. And, if God go by this rule in dealing with the wicked, surely he will do so in dealing with the righteous, and will reward them, not only for the good they have done, but for the good they have endeavoured to do, though they could not accomplish it.
IV.He foretels their destruction for their contempt of God and his hand (Psa 28:5):
"Because they regard not the works of the Lord and the operations of his hands, by which he manifests himself and speaks to the children of men, he will destroy them in this world and in the other, and not build them up." Note, A stupid regardlessness of the works of God is the cause of their ruin. Why do men question the being or attributes of God, but because they do not duly regard his handiworks, which declare his glory, and in which the invisible things of him are clearly seen? Why do men forget God, and live without him, nay, affront God, and live in rebellion against him, but because they consider not the instances of that wrath of his which is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men? Why do the enemies of God's people hate and persecute them, and devise mischief against them, but because they regard not the works God has wrought for his church, by which he has made it appear how dear it is to him? See Isa 5:12.
In singing this we must arm ourselves against all temptations to join with the workers of iniquity, and animate ourselves against all the troubles we may be threatened with by the workers of iniquity.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
One surviving comment on this verse from the historical church.
"For they have not had understanding in the works of the Lord" [Psalm 28:5]. And whence is it clear that this has befallen them? From this forsooth, "for they have not had understanding in the works of the Lord." This very thing, in truth, has been, even now, their recompense, that in Him whom they tempted with malicious intent as a Man, they should not recognise God, with what design the Father sent Him in the Flesh. "And the works of His hands." Nor be moved by those visible works, which are laid out before their very eyes. "You shall destroy them, and not build them up." Let them do Me no hurt, nay, nor again in their endeavour to raise engines against My Church, let them anything avail.
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Summary
Psalms 28:5 is a profound declaration by David, articulating the severe and irreversible consequences for those who willfully disregard God's active presence, power, and providential works in the world. It serves as a stark warning against spiritual blindness and a deliberate refusal to acknowledge the divine hand in creation, history, and moral governance, asserting that such obstinate neglect will inevitably lead to divine judgment and utter ruin, rather than restoration or flourishing.
Context
Literary Context
Psalm 28 is a fervent prayer of David, a lament that transitions into an expression of trust and praise. It opens with David's desperate cry to the LORD, pleading for God not to remain silent, lest he be counted among those who descend into the pit of destruction, a plea found in Psalm 28:1. He distinguishes himself from "workers of iniquity," whose hearts are filled with malice and whose words are deceitful, as described in Psalm 28:3. Verse 5 is a direct pronouncement of judgment against these wicked individuals, immediately following David's imprecation for God to repay them according to their deeds in Psalm 28:4. This stark contrast highlights their ultimate destruction versus the psalmist's eventual trust and hope in the LORD, which culminates in a doxology of praise and a prayer for God's people found in Psalm 28:6-9.
Historical & Cultural Context
Composed by David, likely during a period of distress or conflict, this psalm reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of divine justice and retribution. In a culture where kings were seen as mediators of divine will and justice, David's appeal to God for judgment against his enemies was not merely personal vengeance but a call for cosmic order to be upheld. The "works of the LORD" would have been understood in the context of Israel's history, particularly the Exodus, the giving of the Law, the establishment of the covenant, and God's ongoing providential care for His people. To "regard not" these works was not merely ignorance but a defiant rejection of God's sovereignty and His established moral order, akin to the stubbornness that led to divine judgment throughout Israel's history, as powerfully illustrated by the wilderness generation's rebellion in Numbers 14.
Key Themes
The verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Psalms and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of Divine Justice and Retribution, asserting that God's unwavering righteousness demands that those who willfully ignore His power and works will face severe consequences. This is a consistent principle throughout Scripture, where God repays the wicked according to their deeds, as seen in Proverbs 24:12. Secondly, it highlights the Consequences of Disregard, emphasizing that active, deliberate refusal to acknowledge God's visible actions in the world and His active involvement in human affairs inevitably leads to ruin. This is not passive ignorance but a determined spiritual blindness. Lastly, it contrasts Destruction vs. Building Up, a significant biblical motif. God is often depicted as a builder and restorer of His people, as promised in Jeremiah 24:6, but for those who set themselves against Him by ignoring His truth, their end is utter desolation and a lack of restoration, demonstrating the ultimate antithesis to God's life-giving purposes.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This primitive root means "to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e., understand; attend, consider, discern, perceive." When negated, as in this verse, it signifies a deliberate, willful refusal to understand or pay attention. It's not a mere lack of knowledge, but an active choice to ignore or dismiss what is clearly evident, implying a moral culpability for spiritual blindness where individuals choose not to see God's hand, despite its manifest presence in creation and providence.
This primitive root means "to pull down or in pieces, break, destroy; overthrow, ruin, throw down." It denotes an active, complete, and irreversible act of dismantling. In the context of divine judgment, it signifies God's direct and decisive action to bring about utter ruin and desolation upon those who have defiantly disregarded His works.
This primitive root means "to build (literally and figuratively); establish, repair, set up." It represents the opposite of destruction—creation, restoration, and flourishing. The negation "not build them up" underscores the finality of the judgment: there will be no rebuilding, no restoration, and no hope of recovery for those who persist in their spiritual obstinacy. God, who is typically the great Builder and Sustainer, will actively dismantle and refuse to reconstruct the lives of those who reject His manifest presence and power.
Verse Breakdown
"Because they regard not the works of the LORD,"
This clause establishes the foundational reason for the impending judgment. The "they" refers to the "workers of iniquity" mentioned earlier in the psalm, those who speak peace but harbor evil in their hearts. Their sin is not merely ignorance, but a deliberate, active, and stubborn refusal to acknowledge or pay attention to God's mighty acts in creation, history, and providence. This spiritual blindness is a choice, not an accident, demonstrating a profound moral failure to discern divine truth.
"nor the operation of his hands,"
This phrase serves as a powerful parallel to the preceding clause, intensifying the accusation. "The operation of his hands" refers to the specific, tangible, and effective outworking of God's power and will. It emphasizes that God's involvement in the world is not abstract but concrete and discernible. To ignore both His general "works" (H6468, pᵉʻullâh, referring to labor or product) and the specific "operation of his hands" (H4639, maʻăseh, referring to an action or deed) signifies a comprehensive and defiant rejection of divine reality and active engagement.
"he shall destroy them,"
This is the direct and inevitable consequence of their willful disregard. The verb "destroy" (Hebrew hâraç) indicates a complete tearing down, a breaking apart, or utter ruin. This is not a passive withdrawal of God's presence, but an active, decisive act of divine judgment against those who have set themselves in opposition to Him by their spiritual obstinacy and rebellion.
"and not build them up."
This concluding clause underscores the finality and hopelessness of their fate. It is the antithesis of God's character and usual action toward His people, whom He builds up and establishes. For the wicked, there will be no restoration, no rebuilding, no flourishing, and no hope of recovery. Their destruction is permanent and irreversible, signifying a complete and utter desolation, a state devoid of God's life-giving and restorative power.
Literary Devices
The verse is powerfully constructed using Parallelism and Antithesis. The phrase "the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands" employs synonymous parallelism, where two different phrases convey the same fundamental idea, thereby intensifying the meaning and emphasizing the comprehensive nature of God's active presence that is being ignored. This repetition underscores the profound extent of the wicked's spiritual blindness. The latter part of the verse, "he shall destroy them, and not build them up," is a striking example of Antithesis. It presents a sharp contrast between two opposing outcomes: destruction versus building up. This literary device highlights the stark and irreversible nature of the judgment, emphasizing that God's response to willful defiance is not merely a cessation of blessing but an active dismantling, with no subsequent restoration. The use of these devices makes the warning in Psalms 28:5 exceptionally vivid and impactful.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Psalms 28:5 profoundly articulates the theological principle that accountability before God is directly tied to one's response to His self-revelation. The "works of the LORD" and "the operation of his hands" refer to God's manifest power and presence in creation, history, and providence—a revelation that is universally accessible. To "regard not" these undeniable evidences is not mere ignorance but a culpable, willful spiritual blindness that incurs divine judgment. This verse underscores God's unwavering justice, demonstrating that His character demands a response to His truth; persistent rebellion and deliberate disregard for His sovereignty inevitably lead to a state of utter desolation, where the very God who builds and sustains will, in judgment, dismantle and refuse to restore. It highlights the critical importance of spiritual discernment and humble submission to divine truth as prerequisites for receiving God's favor and experiencing His restorative power.
Reflection and Application
Psalms 28:5 serves as a timeless and urgent call to spiritual attentiveness and humility, reminding us that our response to God's evident presence and power in the world carries eternal consequences. In an age saturated with distractions and prone to skepticism, this verse compels us to cultivate a posture of intentional observation, recognizing God's hand in the intricate design of creation, the unfolding of history, and the intimate details of our personal lives. To "regard not" God's works is to choose a path of self-imposed spiritual blindness, leading to a profound disconnection from the very source of life and flourishing. Conversely, actively seeking to discern and acknowledge "the works of the LORD" fosters a spirit of gratitude, awe, and dependence, inviting God's "building up" presence into our lives, our communities, and our world. It challenges us to move beyond superficial acknowledgment to a deep, transformative engagement with divine truth, allowing God to shape our character and purpose, rather than facing the desolation of self-chosen ruin.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does Psalms 28:5 imply that God actively destroys people, or is it a natural consequence of their actions?
Psalms 28:5 implies both an active divine judgment and the natural, inevitable consequences of willful disregard for God. The phrase "he shall destroy them" uses a strong Hebrew verb (hâraç) that denotes an active tearing down or breaking apart, indicating God's direct involvement in judgment. This is not merely a passive withdrawal, but a decisive act from a just God who upholds His moral order. However, this divine action is a direct response to the condition "they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands." Their spiritual blindness and stubborn rejection of God's self-revelation are the precipitating causes. Thus, while the destruction is God's doing, it is a just retribution for their deliberate choice to ignore His manifest presence and power. It aligns with the biblical principle that those who sow to the flesh will reap corruption, as articulated in Galatians 6:7-8. God's judgment is often the ultimate outworking of the path people choose when they persistently set themselves against Him.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Psalms 28:5, with its stark warning against disregarding God's works and the resulting destruction, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the preeminent "work of the LORD" and the supreme "operation of His hands," for in Him, God's glory, power, and wisdom are fully revealed, as articulated in Colossians 1:15-17. To "regard not" the works of the LORD in the Old Testament foreshadows the ultimate spiritual blindness of those who rejected Jesus, despite His miraculous deeds and authoritative teaching, which were undeniable "operations of His hands," as Jesus Himself declared in John 14:11. Jesus himself lamented over Jerusalem because they did not recognize the time of their visitation, leading to their destruction, a poignant moment recorded in Luke 19:41-44. Conversely, those who acknowledge and receive Christ are not "destroyed" but are "built up" into a spiritual house, becoming part of the very temple of God, as described in 1 Peter 2:4-5. Christ is the Chief Cornerstone upon whom believers are built, ensuring their eternal flourishing and restoration, as highlighted in Ephesians 2:20-22, contrasting sharply with the irreversible ruin faced by those who reject God's ultimate revelation in His Son.