Psalm 28:2
Hear my cry for mercy when I call to You for help, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.
Hear my cry for mercy
The phrase "Hear my cry for mercy" is a heartfelt plea from the psalmist, David, to God. The Hebrew word for "hear" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which implies not just listening but also responding. This indicates David's deep trust that God is not only aware of his situation but is also willing to act. The word "cry" suggests a sense of urgency and desperation, reflecting a situation where human help is insufficient, and divine intervention is necessary. "Mercy" in Hebrew is "רַחֲמִים" (rachamim), which conveys compassion and loving-kindness. This plea underscores the psalmist's recognition of his own unworthiness and his reliance on God's grace.

when I call to You for help
The phrase "when I call to You for help" emphasizes the act of prayer as a direct communication with God. The Hebrew root for "call" is "קָרָא" (qara), which means to call out or proclaim. This suggests an intentional and vocal appeal to God, highlighting the personal relationship between the psalmist and the Divine. The phrase "for help" indicates a specific request for assistance, acknowledging God's power and willingness to aid those who seek Him. This reflects a consistent biblical theme where God is portrayed as a refuge and strength for those in distress.

as I lift up my hands
The act of lifting hands in prayer is a physical expression of worship and supplication. In ancient Hebrew culture, raising hands was a common posture during prayer, symbolizing surrender, openness, and a desire to receive from God. The Hebrew word "נָשָׂא" (nasa) means to lift or carry, suggesting an offering of oneself to God. This gesture is an outward demonstration of an inward attitude of dependence and reverence, illustrating the psalmist's earnestness in seeking God's presence and favor.

toward Your holy sanctuary
The phrase "toward Your holy sanctuary" directs the focus of the prayer towards the temple in Jerusalem, which was considered the dwelling place of God on earth. The Hebrew word for "sanctuary" is "מִקְדָּשׁ" (mikdash), meaning a sacred or holy place. This reflects the importance of the temple as a symbol of God's presence and a place where His glory resides. By directing his prayer towards the sanctuary, the psalmist acknowledges the holiness of God and the significance of approaching Him with reverence and awe. This also serves as a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and His people, centered around worship and obedience.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
Traditionally attributed as the author of this psalm, David is expressing a personal plea for God's intervention and mercy.

2. God
The recipient of David's prayer, God is portrayed as the source of mercy and help.

3. Holy Sanctuary
Refers to the temple or the dwelling place of God, symbolizing His presence and holiness.
Teaching Points
The Posture of Prayer
Lifting hands is a biblical gesture of surrender and earnest prayer. It signifies openness and a desire for God's intervention.

Seeking God's Mercy
The psalm emphasizes the importance of seeking God's mercy, recognizing our dependence on His grace.

The Sanctuary as a Symbol
The holy sanctuary represents God's presence. In the New Testament context, believers are encouraged to approach God directly through Christ.

Persistent Prayer
David's cry for help teaches the value of persistence in prayer, trusting that God hears and responds.

God's Readiness to Hear
This verse reassures believers that God is attentive to our cries and ready to extend His mercy.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the act of lifting hands in prayer enhance your personal prayer life, and what does it symbolize for you?

2. In what ways can you incorporate the concept of God's holy sanctuary into your daily worship and prayer practices?

3. Reflect on a time when you sought God's mercy in a difficult situation. How did this experience shape your understanding of His grace?

4. How can the connection between Psalm 28:2 and Hebrews 4:16 encourage you to approach God with confidence in your prayers?

5. What practical steps can you take to ensure that your prayers are persistent and aligned with seeking God's will and mercy?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 141:2
This verse also speaks of lifting hands in prayer, symbolizing a gesture of supplication and worship.

1 Kings 8:28-30
Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple echoes the plea for God to hear prayers directed toward His holy place.

Hebrews 4:16
Encourages believers to approach God's throne of grace with confidence, seeking mercy and help in times of need.
A Cry for HelpJ. E. Scott.Psalm 28:1-7
A Supplication Metaphorically ExpressedHomilistPsalm 28:1-7
The Instincts of the HeartW. Forsyth, M. A.Psalm 28:1-7
The Prayer of a Saint in DistressPsalm 28:1-7
The Seeming Silence of GodJ. Hunter, D. D.Psalm 28:1-7
The Silence of GodW. A. Gray.Psalm 28:1-7
The Silence of GodA. Warr, M. A.Psalm 28:1-7
The Silences of GodH. Allen, D. D.Psalm 28:1-7
Man's Cry and God's ResponseW. Forsyth Psalm 28:1-9
Providence and PrayerC. Clemance Psalm 28:1-9
The Oppressed Righteous KingC. Short Psalm 28:1-9
People
David, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Cry, Crying, Ear, Hands, Holiness, Holy, Lift, Lifted, Lifting, Mercy, Oracle, Petitions, Prayer, Sanctuary, Supplication, Supplications, Towards, Voice
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 28:2

     5230   beggars
     7396   Most Holy Place
     8650   hands, lifting up

Psalm 28:1-2

     8640   calling upon God

Psalm 28:1-9

     8610   prayer, asking God

Library
Exegetic.
(i) As of the De Spiritu Sancto, so of the Hexæmeron, no further account need be given here. It may, however, be noted that the Ninth Homily ends abruptly, and the latter, and apparently more important, portion of the subject is treated of at less length than the former. Jerome [472] and Cassiodorus [473] speak of nine homilies only on the creation. Socrates [474] says the Hexæmeron was completed by Gregory of Nyssa. Three orations are published among Basil's works, two on the creation
Basil—Basil: Letters and Select Works

Christ is All
MY text is so very short that you cannot forget it; and, I am quite certain, if you are Christians at all, you will be sure to agree with it. What a multitude of religions there is in this poor wicked world of ours! Men have taken it into their heads to invent various systems of religion and if you look round the world, you will see scores of different sects; but it is a great fact that, while there is a multitude of false religions, there is but one that is true. While there are many falsehoods,
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 61: 1915

The Great Privilege of those that are Born of God
"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin." 1 John 3:9. 1. It has been frequently supposed, that the being born of God was all one with the being justified; that the new birth and justification were only different expressions, denoting the same thing: It being certain, on the one hand, that whoever is justified is also born of God; and, on the other, that whoever is born of God is also justified; yea, that both these gifts of God are given to every believer in one and the same moment. In one
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Religion Pleasant to the Religious.
"O taste and see how gracious the Lord is; blessed is the man that trusteth in Him."--Psalm xxxiv. 8. You see by these words what love Almighty God has towards us, and what claims He has upon our love. He is the Most High, and All-Holy. He inhabiteth eternity: we are but worms compared with Him. He would not be less happy though He had never created us; He would not be less happy though we were all blotted out again from creation. But He is the God of love; He brought us all into existence,
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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