Psalm 28 (27):9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, I pray on behalf of humanity, after My earthly form has been restored, for You have declared: 'You shall long for Me,' and I will grant You the nations as Your possession; rescue Your people and cherish Your inheritance, for all that is Mine belongs to You. (John 17:10) Administer over them and secure them for eternity. Guide them throughout their earthly journey, and elevate them to everlasting life.

Rescue me and lift me up for all eternity. For He guides us as our Shepherd, having sent us the Comforter in His stead, and He also raises us, demonstrating to us the heights of future and everlasting ages.

Thus, he instructs you to share this blessing and salvation with your community, guiding them as a shepherd and helping them triumph over their adversaries. This prayer for the people is fitting for a ruler. It is remarkable that David, despite being pursued by the masses—who, alongside Saul, took up arms against him—would still offer a prayer to God on his own behalf. He anticipated the eventual transformation of the people and sought not retribution but rather their future surrender.

O Lord, deliver your people and enrich your heritage. David interceded for the children of God—Israel—as he prepared to inherit the kingdom. In Exodus, God referred to the Israelites as His appointed or ancestral people, stating, "You shall be to me a chosen people" (Exodus 19:5). The Lord instructed, "You shall guide your people while I reign over them in spirit, and together we shall provide them with wise counsel." Through signs and triumphs, exalt Him continually. The preceding admonition—Grant them, O Lord, according to their deeds—can be attributed to the Jews who condemned Christ. Their wickedness blinded them to the miracles performed by the Lord. Consequently, when they were cast down, they remained enslaved, unable to rise again.

This conclusion indicates that David's focus was not solely on his own well-being, but rather on the salvation of the entire Church. His reign was not for personal gain, but for the welfare of all, as he understood that his selection as king served a greater purpose. The law, through his example and that of other earthly rulers, teaches that they should always prioritize the common good and seek their own salvation only in light of the integrity and well-being of those entrusted to their care. It is important to view David as a reflection of God's enduring mercies, inspiring us to emulate his faith and devotion. By aligning ourselves with his paternal love through our obedience, we invite God to recognize us as His own. Although Scripture often refers to David as a shepherd, he humbly attributes this title solely to God, regarding himself as unworthy of it unless he serves as God's faithful servant.

This psalm is believed to have been composed by David during the tumult of Absalom's rebellion. The king, driven from Jerusalem, fervently implores the Lord to intervene on his behalf against the deceitful Absalom and his followers, asking for a clear response from the Lord to deliver him from the peril of death. The term ‘soul’—Hebrew, nepesh—refers to the seat of deep emotional desires. The psalmist reflects on the falsehoods spread by his slanderers, who have lied for their own gain. The Hebrew conveys: “lest I should doubt that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!” (v.1). Filled with hope, while in flight, the psalmist extends his hands towards Jerusalem, the Lord's dwelling place, praying for God's attention (v.2).

Faithful individuals, united by the sacrificial blood of Christ the Savior, will find salvation. They do not partake in the sustenance of those destined for destruction; instead, they dwell in everlasting life (John 6:27). The Lord has pronounced blessing upon them, declaring: ‘Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you, from the foundation of the world’ (Matt. 25:34).

On Sunday afternoon, a service is held to honor the Resurrected Lord. The prokeimenons vary in tone and express, to different extents, the momentous event of Christ's resurrection. Prokeimenon: Save Thy people, O Lord, and bless Thy possessions. In the Old Testament, God's chosen people were the Jews, who were sanctified from all other nations to worship Him. In the New Testament, God's chosen heritage consists of Christians, redeemed through the blood of Christ.