4. Brief summary of the psalm:
David is in dire straights!
28:1-2: “1 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.”

5. Brief summary of the psalm:
David is in dire straights!
He calls upon God, his only source of help.

6. Brief summary of the psalm:
He prays in two different directions:
He asks for deliverance as a relatively righteous person.
Psalm 28:3: “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.”

7. Brief summary of the psalm:
He prays in two different directions:
He asks for justice to fall upon the ungodly:
Psalm 28:4-5: “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.”

8. This raises a serious tension:
How do we square David’s prayer for his enemies with the Sermon on the Mount or Romans 12?
Matthew 5:43-44: “43 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.”

9. This raises a serious tension:
How to we square David’s prayer for his enemies with the Sermon on the Mount or Romans 12?
Romans 12:14; 19-21: “14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them…. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ 20 To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

10. This raises a serious tension:
Context, context, context!
We have to know how to read the Bible in context.
And, this yields rich fruit:
A clearer and more compelling picture of God that can cause us to want to draw near to him
A picture of God that informs how we pray for our enemies

11. David is praying for justice, not personal retribution:
Psalm 28:3: “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.”

12. David trusts the justice of God:
Psalm 28:4-5: “4 [You, God] 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.”

13. David trusts the justice of God:
Psalm 28:8: says “8 The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed.”
A kingly reference.

14. The David who prayed this prayer also loved his enemies:

15. The David who prayed this prayer also loved his enemies:
1 Samuel 24:10-12: “10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed.’ 11 See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. 12 May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you.”

16. The David who prayed this prayer also loved his enemies:
1 Samuel 24:17: “17 He said to David, ‘You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil.’”
Romans 12:19-21: “19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ 20 To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

17. The psalm reminds us that God is patient with sinners:

18. The psalm reminds us that God is patient with sinners:
Genesis 15:16: “16 And they [the Israelites] shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
Psalm 86:15: “15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”

19. When read in context, this psalm actually foreshadows the gospel!

20. How should we pray for our enemies?
We must know the nature of our God.
Pray with faith, knowing that God will bring justice in the end.
Pray for the forgiveness of our enemies.
Pray that God would give you strength to actively love and serve your enemies.