What does Psalm 28:4 mean?
As part of his plea for God to hear his cries, David also asks God to bring justice to those who do evil. This is a common theme of Scripture: asking God to bring justice, rather than declaring one's intent to take vengeance (Leviticus 19:18; Romans 12:19). Even in the Old Testament, there is a clear understanding that God, not man, is meant to be the One who delivers justice (Deuteronomy 32:35).David knows vengeance belongs to the Lord, because only God is free from sin. This psalm asks the Lord to punish evil persons "according to their work…their deeds…the work of their hands." This means more than simply punishing them "for" sin. David is also asking that these evil ones would suffer consequences corresponding to the seriousness of their crimes.
Scripture predicts a final judgment on sin, called "the great white throne." There, those whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life are cast into the lake of fire, after evidence of their sinful life is presented. "The dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done" (Revelation 20:12). Every sinner who rejects Jesus as Savior in this life (John 3:36) will face Him as judge in the next life. He will measure to every unsaved sinner exactly what he deserves. Only those who are saved—sinners who have accepted grace—will be spared from their deserved fate (Psalm 103:10; 1 John 1:9).
