What does Psalm 28:2 mean?

David was mindful of right worship as he prayed. The tabernacle in Jerusalem was the site where God met His people and displayed His glory. This is the "holy sanctuary" to which David refers.

Daniel, living many centuries after David, was also mindful of right worship. When he heard that King Darius had issued an edict prohibiting his subjects from making a request to any god or man except himself or be executed (Daniel 6:6–9), Daniel continued to pray to the Lord. "He went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously" (Daniel 6:10).

As part of his prayer, David asks for both mercy and help. Believers today receive encouragement to offer a similar prayer. Hebrews 4:16 states: "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." "Mercy" implies not suffering deserved consequences, while "help" and "grace" both imply something actively and freely given.