While we honestly hope that others receive what they deserve, do we really want that for ourselves? David cried out to God because he was fully aware of his own need for mercy.
Psalm 28
28 To you, O Lord, I call;
my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you be silent to me,
I become like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
when I cry to you for help,
when I lift up my hands
toward your most holy sanctuary.
3 Do not drag me off with the wicked,
with the workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors
while evil is in their hearts.
4 Give to them according to their work
and according to the evil of their deeds;
give to them according to the work of their hands;
render them their due reward.
5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord
or the work of his hands,
he will tear them down and build them up no more.
6 Blessed be the Lord!
For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.
8 The Lord is the strength of his people;
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
Be their shepherd and carry them forever.
Are You in Need of Mercy? [Ps. 28:1-2]
- The direction and desperation of your cries for help tell a lot about your faith (28:1).
- What does your personal prayer life indicate about your dependence upon the LORD (28:2)?
- Lifting our hands is a visible indication of where we seek our help (28:2).
Do You Deserve Mercy? [Ps. 28:3-5]
- Do I really want God to give me what I deserve?
- God will ultimately hold every wicked person accountable for their deeds (28:3-4).
- Everyone will either receive the reward for their work (28:4) or the LORD’s work (28:5).
- In Christ, you are no longer seen as wicked. Outside of Christ, you are still guilty.
Have You Received Mercy? [Ps. 28:6-9]
- God is eager to bestow mercy on the one who asks for it (28:6).
- The LORD doesn’t provide a shield because He became our shield (28:7).
- If you lack strength right now, it is not because it is unavailable (28:8).
- God will either drag me off (28:3) or carry me off (28:9).
NEXT STEP: At the end of your life, will you receive what you deserve or what Christ deserves?
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.