“Save Your people, LORD, and bless those who are Yours. Be their Shepherd and take care of them forever.” (Psalms 28:9)
In this psalm, David begins with personal petitions. Then he follows that up with declarations of praise and God’s protection. He ends it in verse 9 with a petition for God’s people.
In our Scripture of the day, David asks the Lord to save His people. Save in those days meant protection from enemies, to avenge, defend and deliver. He probably never referred to “save” as rescue from the penalty of sin. As a Jew, there was the Law with its statues, regulations and rules concerning sin. For us Gentiles, there was nothing to save us from our sin. Gentiles didn’t serve the One True God. It wasn’t until Jesus that God’s mystery of the Gospel and the church was revealed. His covenant for all people of all nations was revealed. “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the Gospel:” (Ephesians 3:1-6 KJV)
David refers to “Your people.” He meant the Israelites. It was unthinkable that Gentiles would be accepted as God’s people in those days. Although there were some Gentiles who were accepted such as Ruth, Rahab, Naaman the Syrian and others. Today, by God’s mercy and grace, “Your people” are the “whosoever” believes in Jesus. “That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:15)
He asks the Lord to be their shepherd. David was very familiar with the task of being a shepherd. He specifically asks the Lord to provide everything they need, to lead them to pleasant places and where there is peace. He asks that the Lord lead them in His Way and refresh their mind, will and emotions. When they are in danger, to protect them and fight for them and help them to stand and walk. (Psalms 23)
The Lord has answered David’s prayer. We have a Shepherd in Jesus. “God has raised from death our Lord Jesus, who is the Great Shepherd of the sheep as the result of His blood, by which the eternal covenant is sealed. May the God of peace provide you with every good thing you need in order to do His will, and may He, through Jesus Christ, do in us what pleases Him. And to Christ be the glory forever and ever! Amen.” (Hebrew 13:20) At the end of all things, Jesus is still our Shepherd, even at His Throne. “Because the Lamb, who is in the center of the throne, will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (Revelation 7:17)
David then adds the words “forever.” When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the word “forever” is included. “The world and everything in it that people desire is passing away; but those who do the will of God live forever.” (1John 2:17) It’s the promise of eternal life. “For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not die but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) The things of this world will perish with it. But the things of God are eternal because He is eternal.
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