My Light and My Salvation

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
--Psalm 27 KJV Bible

This psalm of David is a great anthem of praise. In the psalm, David expresses his confidence in the Lord, prays for continued victory, and rejoices in his waiting on the Lord.

In verses 1 through 6, David is confident in the Lord. In verse 1, David affirms that the Lord dispels all of David's darkness, guarantees David victory over his enemies, and defends David against all attacks. In verse 4 David shares that his one great desire is to dwell "in the house" of the Lord--to live in God's presence. Before David's son Solomon built the first temple for the Ark of the Covenant, the Ark was kept in a very elaborate tent--a tabernacle; in Hebrew, "mishkan," meaning shelter or dwelling; a place in which one lives. The Ark represented the divine presence of God, so by providing a dwelling for the Ark, the Israelites by extension provided a dwelling for God. In verse 5, David trusts that in the day of trouble, God will protect David by hiding him within tabernacle in the most secret place; where the Ark itself was kept, in the Holy of Holies--in God's very presence. In verse 6, David is sure that is head will be "lifted up," or that he will be victorious over his enemies.

In verses 7 through 12, David asks thc Lord for continued victory. In verse 10, David is not stating a fact, but instead a hypothetical. David is certain that if things got so bad that even his father and mother deserted him, the Lord would adopt David as His own child.

In verses 13 through 14, David rejoices in his waiting on the Lord. David is sure he would not have survived if he had not been confident that the Lord would come to save him. David waits in hope and grows strong and courageous in the waiting.

O Lord, in my darkest times, be my Light. Dispel my darkest fears. I know that You will come to me; that You will save me. And I draw strength and courage in the waiting.

-

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Lamentations 3:22-23 – Even Through the Bad, God is Faithful

The Abomination and the Tribulation

When Will These Things Happen?