“Bear Them Up Forever” (Ps 28)

“The Lord is their strength, and He is the saving fortress of His anointed. Save Your people, and bless Your inheritance; shepherd them also, and bear them up forever” (vs8-9)

The Lord and Savior Jesus Christ desires that all who believe the gospel be saved.  We desire this also, because God's deliverance provokes us to love.

The Son of God bowed to God the Father (vs1-5). He said, “To You I will cry, O Lord my Rock: do not be silent to me, lest if You are silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit”.  He is the perfectly dependent Man upon whom salvation was laid. We are saved by His work alone, and He only wants a righteous verdict from God. He says, “Do not take me away with the wicked and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbors, but evil is in their hearts. Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavors; give them according to the work of their hands; render to them what they deserve”.  By faith, we cleanse ourselves from wickedness and appear before God justified for blessings, believing in forgiveness, newness of life, and gospel privileges unearned, undeserved, but freely given (2 Tim 2:20-21).  We say with Christ, “Bless me.  I'm clean, but don't bless wickedness”.

Secondly, in confidence we acknowledge that we've been heard (vs6-7). He says, “Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications!” God is faithful, so we encourage ourselves and others by making it known. He said, ““The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him”.  We worship a Savior, so let it be known!  The world needs to hear, you need to proclaim it, and it pleases God to be honestly remembered for His love (Luke 17:11-19).

Thirdly, we love our brothers in Christ because of the salvation we receive (vs8-9). He says “Save your people, and bless Your inheritance; shepherd them also, and bear them up forever”. Jesus never forgot us, even in victory, for His love is real.  Likewise, we learn to examine our victories by this fruit: Does it lead to love for God's people and desire they be saved? Love truly received from God makes us give love to His church.