Psalm 28 7

Psalm 28:7 kjv

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

Psalm 28:7 nkjv

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.

Psalm 28:7 niv

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

Psalm 28:7 esv

The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Psalm 28:7 nlt

The LORD is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Psalm 28 verses

Psalm 28 7 Meaning

Psalm 28:7 proclaims the Lord as the exclusive source of the psalmist's might and protection, leading to deep, internal trust. This trust is not in vain, as it results in tangible help and rescue. Consequently, the psalmist's heart overflows with jubilant praise and gratitude, expressing thanks to God through song. The verse captures a full cycle of dependence, divine intervention, joyful experience, and fervent thanksgiving.

Psalm 28 7 Context

Psalm 28 is a lament of David transitioning into an outpouring of praise and thanksgiving. Before verse 7, David earnestly prays to the Lord (YHWH), pleading for God not to be silent and to deliver him from wicked men (vv. 1-5). He asks God to repay them for their evil deeds according to their works. Crucially, David's petition is not simply for personal safety but also for justice against those who disregard the Lord's works. Verse 6 marks the turning point, a sudden shift from urgent supplication to heartfelt gratitude, implying that the prayer has been heard or that David is confident it will be answered. Verse 7 then provides the concrete reason for this transformation from distress to delight: the Lord's direct involvement in his life as strength, shield, and helper. This transition serves as a powerful testament to the efficacy of faith and prayer, culminating in joyous worship, which then broadens in the subsequent verses (8-9) to include the Lord's people and anointed one, ultimately culminating in a plea for divine shepherding. The historical context reflects a king facing opposition, likely from internal rebellion or external threats, where reliance on God alone provides true security, countering any tendency to trust in human or military power.

Psalm 28 7 Word analysis

• The Lord (YHWH - יהוה): This is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal, self-existent nature and His personal relationship with His people. It distinguishes Him as the only true God, setting Him apart from any foreign deities or idols of the time who could not provide strength or protection.

• is my strength (עֹזִי - oz):

  • Oz implies not just raw power but might, vigor, refuge, and a secure stronghold. It points to God as the ultimate source of spiritual, physical, and moral fortitude. This suggests that the psalmist's strength is derived entirely from God, not from himself or external circumstances.

• and my shield (וּמָגִנִּי - u-magen):

  • Magen denotes a defensive covering or protective barrier. It conveys God's role in actively defending and safeguarding the psalmist from danger, evil, or attack. It implies complete security and protection from any threat.

• in him (בּוֹ - bo):

  • Highlights the exclusivity and directedness of the psalmist's trust. The preposition "in" signifies complete reliance and dwelling within God's presence or protection.

• my heart (לִבִּי - libbi):

  • In Hebrew thought, the "heart" (lev or lebab) is the center of the person—intellect, emotion, will, and conscience. It denotes an inner, complete, and holistic trust, not merely intellectual assent but deep, experiential reliance.

• trusts (בָּטָח - batach):

  • Signifies confident, unwavering reliance, security, and leaning upon. It implies a settled and firm conviction, despite external appearances, that God will deliver.

• and I am helped (וְנַעֲזָרְתִּי - v’na'azarti):

  • Derived from azar (to help, support, succor), this is in the Niph'al stem, indicating a passive or reflexive sense, meaning "I have been helped" or "I was aided." This emphasizes that the help comes from outside the psalmist, from God directly. It confirms the tangible outcome of the trust.

• my heart exults (וַיַּעֲלֹז לִבִּי - va-ya'aloz libbi):

  • Alaz means to rejoice, triumph, or exult, often with loud acclamations of joy. This highlights the overwhelming emotional response of gratitude and victory, extending to the very core of his being (heart).

• and with my song (וּמִשִּׁירִי - u-mishshiri):

  • Shir means a song, often referring to a hymn or psalm. This specifies the outward expression of the inner joy—praise offered to God through music and lyrical declaration.

• I give thanks to him (אוֹדֶנּוּ - odennu):

  • From yadah, meaning to confess, praise, or give thanks, often with extended hands in adoration. It expresses heartfelt acknowledgment and worship for God's gracious actions.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "The Lord is my strength and my shield": This opening phrase establishes the foundation of the psalmist's security. It asserts God's exclusive nature as protector and provider of ability, distinguishing Him from human or material dependencies. It implicitly stands against contemporary polytheistic beliefs or trust in worldly powers.
  • "in him my heart trusts": This phrase underlines the locus of faith. Trust is placed entirely in God, not merely in a concept or idea, but in the personal, covenantal YHWH. The "heart" emphasizes that this is an integrated, complete reliance of the whole inner person.
  • "and I am helped": This denotes the direct and verifiable consequence of placing trust in God. It confirms divine intervention and aid, transforming potential distress into a testimony of salvation. This highlights the practical and experiential nature of faith.
  • "my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him": This final clause presents the joyful, public outpouring of gratitude. The help received elicits profound internal joy, which is then expressed externally through vocal praise and thanksgiving. It completes the cycle, demonstrating that God's deliverance prompts sincere worship and acknowledgment of His goodness. This is a common pattern in Psalms: lament to trust to deliverance to praise.

Psalm 28 7 Bonus section

The three distinct clauses in this verse (God as strength/shield; trust/help; exultation/thanksgiving) represent a complete theological and experiential loop:

1. Who God Is: The attribute of God (Strength, Shield).
2. Man's Response & God's Action: Man's trust leading to God's help.
3. Man's Joyful Outcome: Heart exults, expressed through song and thanksgiving.This progression reflects the essence of biblical faith: identifying God for who He is, trusting Him completely, experiencing His divine intervention, and responding with overwhelming joy and worship. It reinforces that divine aid is tied to faith, and divine aid inspires praise, thus deepening the worshiper's relationship with YHWH. The verse embodies a movement from initial crisis (implied by the preceding context) to crisis averted and then to celebration, illustrating the transformative power of a lived relationship with the living God.

Psalm 28 7 Commentary

Psalm 28:7 is a profound declaration of personal experience with the living God, YHWH. It is a pivot point in the psalm, transitioning from David's fervent supplication and distress in the preceding verses to a vibrant expression of praise. This sudden shift signifies a deep assurance or direct experience of God's immediate response and intervention.

The description of the Lord as "my strength" and "my shield" underscores His dual role as both the inner source of resilience and the external protector. He doesn't just offer strength, He is the strength, enabling the psalmist to endure and overcome. As a "shield," He actively guards and defends from harm, providing impenetrable security against spiritual and physical assaults. This contrasts sharply with relying on human might, armies, or self-effort for security, common beliefs in the ancient Near East and a perpetual temptation for humanity.

The verse emphasizes "my heart trusts," pointing to a full and sincere reliance of the inner being—intellect, emotion, and will—on God. This isn't superficial faith but a deeply embedded confidence. The immediate outcome, "and I am helped," validates this trust, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. The sequence is critical: trust in God leads directly to receiving His help. This help is not a delayed promise but a present reality that transformed David's circumstances.

The final elements, "my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him," illustrate the proper and joyful response to God's gracious help. The exultation springs from the innermost being, radiating outward through song. Thanksgiving in this context is not merely a polite gesture but a deep, heartfelt expression of worship and acknowledgment of God's goodness and power. It seals the cycle of faith, experience, and worship. Practically, this verse teaches that genuine trust in God leads to experienced deliverance, which naturally culminates in unbridled joy and sincere praise. When God helps us, our proper response is to glorify Him, sharing His faithfulness through our joyous testimony.