Psalm 28:9
Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; shepherd them and carry them forever.
Save Your people

David pleads for the Lord to deliver Israel from its enemies and preserve the nation He chose by covenant. God had repeatedly shown Himself to be Israel’s Savior, from the exodus out of Egypt to deliverance in times of war and oppression. Jesus Christ brings salvation to its fullest purpose by saving His people from their sins.

Hab 3:13 You went forth for the salvation of Your people…
Deu 33:29 Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you?…
Isa 45:17 But Israel will be saved by the LORD…

and bless Your inheritance;

Israel belonged to the Lord as His treasured possession, redeemed and set apart for His purposes. David asks God to grant His people covenant favor, provision, peace, and continued security in the land He promised to their fathers.

Psa 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,…
Deu 9:29 But they are Your people, Your inheritance…
Psa 74:2 Remember Your congregation, which You purchased long ago…

shepherd them

The Lord guides, feeds, guards, and restores His people as a faithful shepherd cares for a flock. David knew both the labor of shepherding and the need of a flock for constant protection. Jesus fulfills this image as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep and leads them in the way of life.

Mic 7:14 Shepherd with Your staff Your people, the flock…
Psa 80:1 For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies…
Jer 31:10 Hear, O nations, the word of the LORD, and proclaim it…

and carry them forever.

God does not merely rescue His people in a moment of danger; He sustains them through every generation. His strength bears those who cannot preserve themselves, and His covenant faithfulness endures without end.

Isa 46:4 Even to your old age, I will be the same,…
Isa 63:9 In all their distress, He too was afflicted…
Deu 33:27 The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath…

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
Traditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 28, David was the second king of Israel and a man after God's own heart. His psalms often reflect his deep reliance on God.

2. God
The central figure in this verse, God is depicted as the Savior, Shepherd, and Sustainer of His people.

3. Israel (Your people)
Refers to the nation of Israel, God's chosen people, who are often the subject of His promises and blessings.

4. Inheritance
This term refers to the people of Israel as God's possession, highlighting their special status and relationship with Him.

5. Shepherding
A metaphor for God's guidance and care, reflecting the pastoral culture of ancient Israel and the role of a shepherd in leading and protecting the flock.
Teaching Points
God as Savior and Shepherd
Recognize God's dual role as both Savior and Shepherd in our lives. He not only rescues us from danger but also guides us daily.

The Blessing of Being God's Inheritance
Understand the privilege and responsibility of being considered God's inheritance. This status calls for a life of holiness and dedication.

Dependence on God's Sustaining Power
Trust in God's ability to carry us through life's challenges. His promise to "carry them forever" assures us of His eternal support.

The Role of Shepherding in Christian Leadership
Reflect on how Christian leaders are called to emulate God's shepherding nature, providing guidance, protection, and care for their communities.

Eternal Security in God's Care
Find comfort in the assurance that God will never abandon His people. His commitment to "carry them forever" speaks to His unending faithfulness.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the imagery of God as a shepherd in Psalm 28:9 enhance your understanding of His character and care for His people?

2. In what ways can you apply the concept of being God's inheritance to your daily life and spiritual walk?

3. How does the promise of God carrying His people forever provide comfort and assurance in times of uncertainty or difficulty?

4. Reflect on the role of shepherding in your own life. How can you emulate God's shepherding qualities in your relationships and responsibilities?

5. Consider the connection between Psalm 28:9 and John 10:11-14. How does Jesus' role as the Good Shepherd fulfill the promises and imagery found in this psalm?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 23
This psalm also uses the shepherd metaphor, emphasizing God's guidance, provision, and protection.

John 10:11-14
Jesus refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd, connecting the Old Testament imagery to His role in the New Testament.

1 Peter 5:2-4
Peter exhorts church leaders to shepherd God's flock, drawing on the same imagery of care and leadership.

Deuteronomy 9:29
This verse speaks of Israel as God's inheritance, reinforcing the idea of a special, chosen relationship.
A Benevolent PrayerJ. E. Scott.Psalm 28:9
A Prayer for the Church MilitantPsalm 28:9
An Intercession Sublimely CatholicHomilistPsalm 28:9
The Secret Source of the Saints' SuppliesPsalm 28:9
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
29, Bear, Bless, Blessing, Carry, David, Feed, Forever, Guide, Heritage, Inheritance, Lift, Lifted, O, Psalm, Save, Saviour, Shepherd, Tend
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 28:9

     1220   God, as shepherd
     5409   metaphor
     7021   church, OT anticipations
     7141   people of God, OT
     7786   shepherd, king and leader
     8136   knowing God, effects
     8491   watchfulness, divine

Psalm 28:1-9

     8610   prayer, asking God

Psalm 28:8-9

     1305   God, activity of
     6028   sin, deliverance from

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

Links
Psalm 28:9 NIV
Psalm 28:9 NLT
Psalm 28:9 ESV
Psalm 28:9 NASB
Psalm 28:9 KJV

Psalm 28:9 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Psalm 28:8
Top of Page
Top of Page