Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.
David's prayer to God not to be silent at his cry (Psalms 28:1); nor to let him share the lot of the wicked, speak peace but plot mischief (Psalms 28:2-5) assured of being heard, he blesses the Lord (Psalms 28:6-8); application to the Lord's people, whose representative he is (Psalms 28:9). In the kindred psalm the oppressed godly man speaks; in our psalm the oppressed godly king (Psalms 28:8). The time is probably that of Absalom's rebellion (cf. Psalms 28:3).
My rock. "My rock" implies God's immovable faithfulness, (Psalms 18:2; Psalms 19:14, margin.)
Be not silent to me: lest if thou be silent. Two distinct Hebrew words are used for "be silent" The first х chaarash (H2790)] means to be deaf, and so mute; expressing that God heard not his prayers, and so gave him no answer. The second х chaashah (H2790)], to be still and silent. "To me ... to me" - literally, from me: implying distance on the part of God from the petitioner (Psalms 22:1), as contrasted with His drawing near to answer prayer. If thou continue silent and distant, I am undone. Still he does not gives up hope in the Lord, and say, 'I shall go down to the pit,' but I shall "become LIKE THEM that go down into the pit" - i:e., the dead (Isaiah 14:15; Isaiah 14:19). The thanksgiving in Psalms 30:3, "O Lord ... thou has kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit," beautifully contrasts with this prayer amidst trembling.