Wait and Take Courage



Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear?  Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?


When evildoers came at me to eat up my flesh, even my adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell. Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war should rise against me, even then I will be confident.


One thing I have asked of Yahweh, that I will seek after, that I may dwell in Yahweh's house all the days of my life, to see Yahweh's beauty, and to inquire in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me secretly in his pavilion. In the covert of his tabernacle he will hide me. He will lift me up on a rock.


Now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me. I will offer sacrifices of joy in his tent. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to Yahweh.


Here, Yahweh, when I cry with my voice. Have mercy also on me, and answer me. When you said, "Seek my face," my heart said to you, "I will seek your face, Yahweh." Don't hide your face from me. Don't put your servant away in anger. You have been my help. Don't abandon me, neither forsake me, God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, then Yahweh will take me up. Teach me your way, Yahweh. Lead me in a straight path, because of my enemies. Don't deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen up against me, such as breathe out cruelty.


I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of Yahweh in the land of the living. Wait for Yahweh. Be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for Yahweh.
—Psalm 27 WEB*


This psalm of David is a great anthem of praise. David expresses his confidence in the Lord, prays for continued victory, and rejoices in his waiting on 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 the 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 verse 10, David describes a hypothetical situation. 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.


* WEB - The World English Bible, a Public Domain, Modern English translation of the Holy Bible developed by Rainbow Missions, Inc. URL: ebible.org

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