Psalm 27- ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear?’

 

Psalm 27-  ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear?’

 As part of the Wednesday Congregation, we say a psalm each week together, why not read this psalm at home and think a little deeper about.

Have you ever found yourself lost in a dark place, when suddenly a light is turned on, and now you can find your way out safely? Ps 27 is a bit like that, but when we look at it closely it can almost feel like two separate psalms hinge together in the middle.  

The first part is full of confidence in Yahweh [the LORD] — v1, “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?”  The second part is a cry to Yahweh in a moment of rejection and false accusation — v7, “Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.”

What holds these two parts together is the cry of David’s heart in v4: “One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life.” His desire is simply seek the presence of Yahweh, to pursue Him, and to remain close to Him whatever is happening around him.

Ps 27 was written by King David, probably as he reflected on the time when Saul — his king and his own father-in-law — turned against him, falsely accused him, and tried to have him killed. A time of mixed emotions: deep trust and confidence in Yahweh, yet also the pain of rejection.  Yet, David’s heart stayed fixed on the presence of Yahweh, and he cries out, v11, “Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path.”

The psalm ends with David declaring to himself and to others, v13, that he is still confident in Yahweh — that regardless of the situation, he will see the goodness of the Lord. His final instruction is simple, v14 ‘Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord’

Living It Out

Ps 27 invites us to hold confidence and honesty together — to trust The Lord while bring to Him our fears, worries and disappointments. Like David, to focus on seeking The Lord’s presence, not our situations. Trusting and waiting on Him.

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