Psalm 28:4
Repay them according to their deeds and for their works of evil. Repay them for what their hands have done; bring back on them what they deserve.
Repay them according to their deeds

David entrusts judgment to the Lord rather than taking vengeance into his own hands. God sees hidden motives and public acts alike, and He judges with perfect righteousness (Proverbs 24:12; Romans 2:6).

Jer 17:10 I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind…
Rom 2:6 God “will repay each one according to his deeds.”
Psa 62:12 and loving devotion to You, O Lord.…

and for their works of evil.

Evil is not merely an inward condition but produces deeds that oppose God’s will and harm others. Persistent rebellion brings real accountability, unless sinners turn from sin and seek God’s mercy.

Col 3:25 Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong…
2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,…
Pro 1:31 So they will eat the fruit of their own way,…

Repay them for what their hands have done;

Human hands carry out the purposes of the heart. Those who use their strength, authority, or influence to deceive, oppress, or destroy cannot escape the judgment of the God who knows every work (Isaiah 59:3).

Jer 25:14 For many nations and great kings will enslave them…
Isa 3:11 Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them!…
2Ti 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me.…

bring back on them what they deserve.

David appeals to the righteous Judge to give evil its due consequence. The prayer anticipates the final judgment, when God will judge every person according to his works (Revelation 20:12–13), while those redeemed through Christ are saved by grace and no longer bear the condemnation their sins deserve.

Jer 32:19 One great in counsel and mighty in deed,…
Lam 3:64 You will pay them back what they deserve, O LORD,…
Oba 1:15 For the Day of the LORD is near for all the nations.…

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The author of this psalm, David is expressing a plea for justice against his enemies. He is a central figure in the Old Testament, known for his deep relationship with God and his role as the King of Israel.

2. Enemies of David
While not named specifically in this verse, the context of the psalm suggests that David is referring to those who act wickedly and oppose him, and by extension, oppose God's will.

3. God
The ultimate judge and the one to whom David is appealing for justice. God is portrayed as righteous and just, capable of repaying individuals according to their deeds.
Teaching Points
Divine Justice
Trust in God's perfect justice. He sees all actions and will repay each person according to their deeds.

Prayer for Justice
Like David, we can bring our concerns about injustice to God in prayer, trusting Him to act in His perfect timing.

Personal Reflection
Reflect on our own actions and ensure they align with God's will, knowing that we too are accountable to Him.

Forgiveness and Trust
While seeking justice, we must also practice forgiveness, leaving room for God's judgment rather than taking matters into our own hands.

Hope in God's Righteousness
In a world where injustice seems prevalent, maintain hope in God's ultimate righteousness and His promise to set things right.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding God's role as a just judge influence your response to personal injustices?

2. In what ways can you incorporate David's example of prayer for justice into your own prayer life?

3. How do the principles of sowing and reaping, as seen in Galatians 6:7, apply to your daily decisions and actions?

4. What are some practical steps you can take to ensure your actions align with God's will, knowing that He repays according to deeds?

5. How can you balance the call to forgive others with the desire for justice, as seen in the teachings of both the Old and New Testaments?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Romans 12:19
This verse in the New Testament echoes the theme of leaving vengeance to God, emphasizing that God will repay and that believers should not take revenge into their own hands.

Proverbs 24:12
This proverb speaks to the idea that God will repay each person according to their deeds, reinforcing the concept of divine justice found in Psalm 28:4.

Galatians 6:7
This verse discusses the principle of sowing and reaping, which aligns with the idea that individuals will face consequences for their actions.
A Cry for HelpJ. E. Scott.Psalm 28:1-7
A Supplication Metaphorically ExpressedHomilistPsalm 28:1-7
The Instincts of the HeartW. Forsyth, M. A.Psalm 28:1-7
The Prayer of a Saint in DistressPsalm 28:1-7
The Seeming Silence of GodJ. Hunter, D. D.Psalm 28:1-7
The Silence of GodW. A. Gray.Psalm 28:1-7
The Silence of GodA. Warr, M. A.Psalm 28:1-7
The Silences of GodH. Allen, D. D.Psalm 28:1-7
Man's Cry and God's ResponseW. Forsyth Psalm 28:1-9
Providence and PrayerC. Clemance Psalm 28:1-9
The Oppressed Righteous KingC. Short Psalm 28:1-9
Saints Desire God to Punish SinnersN. Emmons, D. D.Psalm 28:4-5
People
David, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Acting, Acts, Bring, Deed, Deeds, Desert, Deserve, Doings, Due, Endeavors, Endeavours, Evil, Full, Hands, Operation, Practices, Punishment, Recompense, Render, Repay, Requite, Return, Reward, Wickedness, Works
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 28:4

     5493   retribution
     5496   revenge, examples

Psalm 28:1-9

     8610   prayer, asking God

Library
Exegetic.
(i) As of the De Spiritu Sancto, so of the Hexæmeron, no further account need be given here. It may, however, be noted that the Ninth Homily ends abruptly, and the latter, and apparently more important, portion of the subject is treated of at less length than the former. Jerome [472] and Cassiodorus [473] speak of nine homilies only on the creation. Socrates [474] says the Hexæmeron was completed by Gregory of Nyssa. Three orations are published among Basil's works, two on the creation
Basil—Basil: Letters and Select Works

Christ is All
MY text is so very short that you cannot forget it; and, I am quite certain, if you are Christians at all, you will be sure to agree with it. What a multitude of religions there is in this poor wicked world of ours! Men have taken it into their heads to invent various systems of religion and if you look round the world, you will see scores of different sects; but it is a great fact that, while there is a multitude of false religions, there is but one that is true. While there are many falsehoods,
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 61: 1915

The Great Privilege of those that are Born of God
"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin." 1 John 3:9. 1. It has been frequently supposed, that the being born of God was all one with the being justified; that the new birth and justification were only different expressions, denoting the same thing: It being certain, on the one hand, that whoever is justified is also born of God; and, on the other, that whoever is born of God is also justified; yea, that both these gifts of God are given to every believer in one and the same moment. In one
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Religion Pleasant to the Religious.
"O taste and see how gracious the Lord is; blessed is the man that trusteth in Him."--Psalm xxxiv. 8. You see by these words what love Almighty God has towards us, and what claims He has upon our love. He is the Most High, and All-Holy. He inhabiteth eternity: we are but worms compared with Him. He would not be less happy though He had never created us; He would not be less happy though we were all blotted out again from creation. But He is the God of love; He brought us all into existence,
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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