TRV
Translation
King James Version
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Complete Jewish Bible
ADONAI is my strength and shield; in him my heart trusted, and I have been helped. Therefore my heart is filled with joy, and I will sing praises to him.
Berean Standard Bible
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart rejoices, and I give thanks to Him with my song.
American Standard Version
Jehovah is my strength and my shield; My heart hath trusted in him, and I am helped: Therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; And with my song will I praise him.
World English Bible Messianic
The LORD is my strength and my shield. My heart has trusted in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart greatly rejoices. With my song I will thank him.
Geneva Bible (1599)
The Lord is my strength and my shielde: mine heart trusted in him, and I was helped: therfore mine heart shall reioyce, and with my song will I praise him.
Young's Literal Translation
Jehovah is my strength, and my shield, In Him my heart trusted, and I have been helped. And my heart exulteth, And with my song I thank Him.
In the KJVVerse 14,307 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Psalms 28 verses 6–9
6 ¶ Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.
7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
8 The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.
9 Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.
In these verses,
I. David gives God thanks for the audience of his prayers as affectionately as a few verses before he had begged it: Blessed be the Lord, Psa 28:6. How soon are the saints' sorrows turned into songs and their prayers into praises! It was in faith that David prayed (Psa 28:2), Hear the voice of my supplications; and by the same faith he gives thanks (Psa 28:6) that God has heard the voice of his supplications. Note, 1. Those that pray in faith may rejoice in hope. "He hath heard me (graciously accepted me) and I am as sure of a real answer as if I had it already." 2. What we win by prayer we must wear by praise. Has God heard our supplications? Let us then bless his name.
II. He encourages himself to hope in God for the perfecting of every thing that concerned him. Having given to God the glory of his grace (Psa 28:6), he is humbly bold to take the comfort of it, Psa 28:7. This is the method of attaining peace: let us begin with praise that is attainable. Let us first bless God and then bless ourselves. Observe, 1. His dependence upon God: "The Lord is my strength, to support me, and carry me on, through all my services and sufferings. He is my shield, to protect me from all the malicious designs of my enemies against me. I have chosen him to be so, I have always found him so, and I expect he will still be so." 2. His experience of the benefits of that dependence: "My heart trusted in him, and in his power and promise; and it has not been in vain to do so, for I am helped, I have been often helped; not only God has given to me, in his due time, the help I trusted to him for, but my very trusting in him has helped me, in the mean time, and kept me from fainting." Psa 27:13. The very actings of faith are present aids to a dropping spirit, and often help it at a dead lift. 3. His improvement of this experience. (1.) He had the pleasure of it: Therefore my heart greatly rejoices. The joy of a believer is seated in the heart, while, in the laughter of the fool, the heart is sorrowful. It is great joy, joy unspeakable and full of glory. The heart that truly believes shall in due time greatly rejoice; it is joy and peace in believing that we are to expect. (2.) God shall have the praise of it: when my heart greatly rejoices, with my song will I praise him. This must we express our gratitude; it is the least we can do; and others will hereby be invited and encouraged to trust in him too.
III. He pleases himself with the interest which all good people, through Christ, have in God (Psa 28:8): "The Lord is their strength; not mine only, but the strength of every believer." Note, The saints rejoice in their friends' comforts as well as their own; for, as we have not the less benefit from the light of the sun, so neither from the light of Gods' countenance, for others' sharing therein; for we are sure there is enough for all and enough for each. This is our communion with all saints, that God is their strength and ours, Christ their Lord and ours, Co1 1:2. He is their strength, the strength of all Israel, because he is the saving strength of his anointed, that is, 1. Of David in the type. God, in strengthening him that was their king and fought their battles, strengthened the whole kingdom. He calls himself God's anointed because it was the unction he had received that exposed him to the envy of his enemies, and therefore entitled him to the divine protection. 2. Of Christ, his anointed, his Messiah, in the anti-type. God was his saving strength, qualified him for his undertaking and carried him through it; see Psa 89:21; Isa 49:5; Isa 50:7, Isa 50:9. And so he becomes their strength, the strength of all the saints; he strengthened him that is the church's head, and from him diffuses strength to all the members, has commanded his strength, and so strengthens what he has wrought for us; Psa 68:28; Psa 80:17, Psa 80:18.
IV. He concludes with a short but comprehensive prayer for the church of God, Psa 28:9. He prays for Israel, not as his people ("save my people, and bless my inheritance"), though they were so, but, "thine." God's interest in them lay nearer his heart than his own. We are thy people is a good plea, Isa 64:9; Isa 63:19. I am thine, save me. God's people are his inheritance, dear to him, and precious in his eyes; what little glory he has from this world he has from them. The Lord's portion is his people. That which he begs of God for them is, 1. That he would save them from their enemies and the dangers they were exposed to. 2. That he would bless them with all good, flowing from his favour, in performance of his promise, and amounting to a happiness for them. 3. That he would feed them, bless them with plenty, and especially the plenty of his ordinances, which are food to the soul. Rule them; so the margin. "Direct their counsels and actions aright, and overrule their affairs for good. Feed them, and rule them; sets pastors, set rulers, over them, that shall do their office with wisdom and understanding." 4. That he would lift them up for ever, lift them up out of their troubles and distresses, and do this, not only for those of that age, but for his people in every age to come, even to the end. "Lift them up into thy glorious kingdom, lift them up as high as heaven." There, and there only, will the saints be lifted up for ever, never more to sink or be depressed. Observe, Those, and those only, whom God feeds and rules, who are willing to be taught, and guided, and governed, by him, shall be saved, and blessed, and lifted up for ever.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 6–9. Public domain.
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Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 28
"The Lord My Helper and My Protector" [Psalm 28:7]. The Lord helping Me in so great sufferings, and protecting Me with immortality in My resurrection. "In Him has My Heart trusted, and I have been helped." "And My Flesh has flourished again:" that is, and My Flesh has risen again. "And of my will I will confess unto Him." Wherefore, the fear of death being now destroyed, not by the necessity of fear under the Law, but with a free will with the Law, shall they who believe in Me, confess unto Him; and because I am in them, I will confess.
Maximus of TurinAD 465
Sermon 55:2
Take note of the expression he used. He does not say “flourished,” but “flourished again,” for nothing flourishes again unless it had flourished previously. The Lord’s flesh flourished when he first came forth from the Virgin Mary’s undefiled womb, just as Isaiah says: “A shoot will come forth from the root of Jesse, and a flower will come up from his root.” It flourished again, when, after the flower of his body was cut down by the Jews, it sprouted forth from the tomb with the renewed glory of the resurrection. In the manner of a flower, it breathed forth at the same time a scent and the gleam of immortality on all people, circulating the scent of good works with its sweetness and demonstrating the incorruptibility of the eternal divinity with its gleam.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 28:7 is a profound declaration of King David's unwavering trust in the LORD, celebrating divine intervention and the transformative power of faith. It encapsulates a spiritual journey from absolute dependence on God as his ultimate source of strength and protection, through the tangible experience of His help, culminating in an outpouring of exuberant joy and heartfelt praise expressed through song. This verse beautifully illustrates the secure confidence that blossoms into worship when God proves faithful to His trusting servant.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: The immediate literary context of Psalm 28 is crucial for understanding the profound shift in tone found in verse 7. The psalm opens with David's desperate cry for deliverance, a fervent lament to the LORD, pleading not to be silent or to be counted among the wicked who speak peace but harbor evil in their hearts (Psalms 28:1-3). He calls for divine justice upon his adversaries, emphasizing their disregard for God's works (Psalms 28:4-5). This intense supplication, characteristic of many psalms of lament, then undergoes a dramatic transformation. Verse 6 marks the pivotal turning point, where David declares with certainty that the LORD has heard his voice and his pleas for mercy. Thus, verse 7 emerges as the natural and powerful overflow of this answered prayer, serving as a spontaneous testimony of God's faithfulness and an eruption of praise, moving from the depths of distress to the heights of exultant worship.
Historical & Cultural Context: As a king and warrior, David's life was perpetually fraught with conflict, betrayal, and the constant threat of enemies, necessitating an absolute reliance on divine protection. The metaphors of "strength" (עֹז, 'oz) and "shield" (מָגֵן, magen) are deeply rooted in the ancient Near Eastern context of warfare and defense. In a world where physical might, fortified cities, and protective armaments were essential for survival, David consistently declares his ultimate security and power to reside not in human resources but solely in the LORD. Unlike earthly monarchs who boasted in their chariots and horses, David's trust was in the name of the LORD (Psalm 20:7). His expression of joy through "song" also reflects the integral role of music and communal worship in Israelite spiritual life, where personal deliverance often inspired public testimony and liturgical praise, emphasizing the covenant relationship between God and His people.
Key Themes:
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 28:7 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message with vividness and emotional depth. The most prominent are Metaphor and Personification, woven into a clear Cause and Effect structure. The declaration "The LORD is my strength and my shield" uses potent Metaphor to portray God not abstractly, but as a tangible, active force in David's life. "Strength" (עֹז) represents God as an empowering, enabling force, while "shield" (מָגֵן) depicts Him as a protective bulwark against all harm. These images, drawn from the realm of warfare and physical prowess, make God's role immediate and relatable, emphasizing His active involvement. Personification is evident in the repeated phrase "my heart trusted in him" and "my heart greatly rejoiceth." The heart, the biblical seat of emotion, intellect, and will, is given the human capacities of trusting and exulting, emphasizing the deeply personal, internal, and volitional nature of David's faith and subsequent joy. Finally, the verse is structured with a clear Cause and Effect progression: David's trust in God (cause) leads to him being helped (effect), and this help (cause) then leads to his heart greatly rejoicing and him praising God with song (effect). This logical flow underscores the direct, observable, and joyful consequences of a life lived in faith and dependence on the LORD.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 28:7 offers profound theological insights into the nature of God and the appropriate human response to His faithfulness. It portrays the LORD as the ultimate source of all power and protection, not merely a distant deity but an intimately involved Helper who actively intervenes in the lives of His trusting people. The verse underscores the vital connection between faith and experience: genuine trust (בָּטַח, batach) in God is met with tangible divine assistance, which in turn elicits an overflowing, irrepressible joy and an earnest desire to worship. This progression reveals that true spiritual flourishing is found in absolute dependence on God, leading to a life characterized by gratitude and praise. It affirms God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people and their call to respond with heartfelt adoration, demonstrating that God's deliverance is not just for the sake of relief, but for the purpose of cultivating worship.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 28:7 offers timeless encouragement and a powerful blueprint for the believer's walk today. In a world often characterized by uncertainty, fear, and self-reliance, this verse calls us to deliberately shift our dependence from finite human strength or external circumstances to the infinite power and unwavering faithfulness of God. It reminds us that our ultimate security and capability reside not within ourselves, but in the LORD, who is our ever-present "strength and shield." When we, like David, choose to place our wholehearted trust in Him, we can anticipate His tangible help and intervention in our lives. This experience of divine assistance should then naturally culminate in an overflow of profound joy and an irrepressible desire to offer Him heartfelt praise. Our worship, expressed through "song" or any form of grateful testimony, becomes a powerful declaration of His goodness, not just for our own spiritual well-being but also as a witness to a watching world, inviting others to experience the same transformative power of trust.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Is the "strength and shield" imagery in this psalm only relevant for physical battles or threats?
Answer: No, while the imagery of "strength" and "shield" certainly resonates with David's experiences as a warrior and king facing physical adversaries, its application extends far beyond literal battles. In a broader spiritual and metaphorical sense, God serves as our strength in times of emotional weakness, mental fatigue, spiritual attack, and moral temptation. He is our shield against anxiety, despair, the accusations of the enemy, and the destructive forces of sin. The principles of divine empowerment and protection are universally applicable to every believer, providing resilience and security in all aspects of life's challenges, whether they are physical, emotional, or spiritual. Ephesians 6:10-17 speaks to this broader spiritual warfare and God's comprehensive provision of spiritual armor for the believer.
How can I cultivate the kind of trust and joy expressed by David in this verse?
Answer: Cultivating such profound trust and overflowing joy is a process rooted in consistent spiritual disciplines and a deepening relationship with God. First, actively "trusting" (בָּטַח, batach) involves intentionally choosing to rely on God's character and promises, even when circumstances seem bleak or contradictory. This is primarily fostered through diligent engagement with God's Word, which reveals His faithfulness and power (Romans 10:17). Second, intentionally remember and recount past instances of God's help and faithfulness in your life; this builds a reservoir of confidence for future challenges. Finally, practicing gratitude and praise, even in anticipation of deliverance, shifts your focus from problems to God's sovereignty and goodness. Just as David's "heart greatly rejoiceth" because he was helped, our joy grows as we acknowledge God's active involvement and respond with worship, making praise a habit that precedes and accompanies deliverance (Psalm 34:1).
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 28:7, while a personal testimony of King David, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. David's declaration of the LORD as his "strength and shield" points forward to Christ, who is the very embodiment of God's power and protection for His people. He is the divine strength that enables us to overcome sin, death, and the world (Philippians 4:13), and the ultimate shield against the accusations of the enemy, the power of darkness, and the just wrath of God, through His atoning sacrifice on the cross (Romans 8:31-34). David's "my heart trusted in him, and I am helped" is perfectly realized in the New Covenant, where our trust is placed in Jesus for salvation and daily sustenance. It is through faith in Him that we receive the ultimate "help"—redemption, reconciliation with God, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to stand firm in God's grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). Consequently, the "great rejoicing" and "song of praise" that flow from David's experience are magnified exponentially in the believer's response to Christ's finished work. Our joy is a spiritual joy, rooted in the certainty of our salvation and the promise of eternal life, and our praise is directed to God the Father through the Son, who has accomplished everything necessary for our eternal deliverance and daily victory (Hebrews 13:15). Thus, David's ancient song becomes a prophetic echo of the greater song of redemption sung by all who find their strength, shield, help, and joy in Christ, our Lord and Savior.