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Psalm 27
David sustains his faith by the power of God
A Psalm of David.

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.
Psalms 27:1-14 (KJV)


Life.

It’s path takes many strange turns. We come upon trials and situations that we never could have imagined. Many times, these situations are fearful.

David is talking here in the 27th Psalm about a horrible and fearful situation in his own life. But please note that the dilemma is not David’s main focus. The Lord is his main focus. This is illustrated by the fact that the first line of his Psalm is “The LORD is my light and my salvation…”. Secondly he mentions the problem in a general way; “…whom shall I fear?”

“The Lord” (specific) vs “whom” (vague, nebulous).

In times of confusion and turmoil, we need to stay focused on the source of our help. ”I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth” Psalm 121 Satan’s job is to destroy us. To do that, he will try to overwhelm and distract us with the sheer volume of troubles.

Please note that in Psalm 27, on the “trouble” side of the equation David mentions enemies, foes, an host, and false witnesses; all plural.

But on the “solution” side of the equation, it is always singular;

 The LORD is my light and my salvation vs 1
 the LORD is the strength of my life vs 1
 One thing have I desired of the LORD vs 4
 to behold the beauty of the LORD vs 4
 He shall hide me in His pavilion vs 5
 in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me vs 5
 he shall set me up upon a rock vs 5
 etc

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but there is one answer to all afflictions: God.

Peter was distracted by many waves. His solution was to turn his eyes upon the one and only Jesus.

In verse 8 of our text, David reminds himself of that which God reminded him. “When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.” Let us repeatedly remind ourselves of this when the winds and waves of trouble are whipping about our heads. He is our refuge, our tabernacle, our rock. Focus, focus, focus - on the face of the Lord, not on the troubles.