Psalms 28:2

The first line recurs in Psalms 31:22.

when I cry A stronger word than that in Psalms 28:1, meaning to cry for help.

when I lift up my hands The attitude of prayer (Psalms 63:4; 1 Timothy 2:8), the outward symbol of an uplifted heart (Psalms 25:1).

toward thy holy oracle Lit., as R.V. marg., toward the innermost place of thy sanctuary, i.e. the most holy place, where the Ark, the symbol of God's Presence among His people, was. See 1Ki 6:16 ff; 1 Kings 8:6. The rendering oracle, following Jerome's oraculum, rests upon a wrong derivation. The word does not in itself denote the place where God answers. It is used elsewhere only in the accounts of the building of the Temple (1 Kings 6-8; 1 Kings 2 Chronicles 3-5). The worshipper naturally turns as he prays towards Jehovah's dwelling-place in heaven (1 Kings 8:22), or its earthly counterpart (1 Kings 8:30 ff.). Cp. Psalms 5:7.