Psalm 27
This morning I was meditating on Psalm 27. The psalmist compares the power of God and
the protection God gives him to the attacks his enemies bring against him. He speaks of the comforts God offers and
shares the desires of his own heart. We
can read this psalm historically; i.e. we can see how David felt and acted when
he was under attack. We can also read
this psalm instructionally; i.e. how God’s people can feel protected in the
face of persecution. This morning I read
Psalm 27 spiritually; i.e. I have a spiritual Enemy who is constantly plotting
against me, seeking to bring me down, and trying to keep me from rejoicing in
my God. As I meditated on the psalm I
focused my attention on specific nouns and verbs. I considered the words that relate to God’s
actions toward me, his child and compared them to the words that describe my
Enemy’s efforts against me. Then I
thought about how these truths work in my heart and bring about the kind of joy
and celebration that honors God. If you
have time, open your Bible to Psalm 27 and follow along.
Verses 1-3. God is Light,
Salvation, Stronghold. Since this is true
I need not fear the Enemy. My Enemy
advances against me, seeks to devour, attacks, besieges, and makes war. God makes them stumble and fall so I have no
fear and I have reason to be confident in God.
He shines his light into the darkness that surrounds the Enemy so I can
see my way. He reaches down and
surrounds me with his salvation so I cannot be harmed and then brings me into
his stronghold where no enemy can reach me.
At one time the warfare that raged around me caused me to stumble and fall but now I see God’s light and the enemies
are the ones who break themselves against the walls of his holy
stronghold! Confidence comes from
feeling God’s strength and
protection, not my own!
Verses 4-6. In light of what God
does for me I ask God for the following:
may I dwell, gaze, and seek. These
are words of relationship and communion. It helps me to think of these things as they
relate to human relationships. When I
began to love my wife I wanted to be with her, and look into her eyes, and seek
a deeper love and commitment. Most of my
children have moved out of my house and I can hardly wait for the times they
come to visit so I can be with them and enjoy them and build fresh
relationships with them. So it is with
the God who loves me. I want to be with
him and stand in wonder of his glory and seek to know him better.
That kind of relationship changes my perspective on the times of trouble
(v.5). He keeps me safe, hides me, and
sets me above danger. When my grandson
comes to visit, sometimes our dogs crowd around him and because he is so little
and such a new walker I have to sweep him up in my arms so he won’t be
overwhelmed and trampled. I keep him
above the fray of the excited dogs. This
is the picture I have of God lifting me above the destruction of the
Enemy. He keeps my head above the
confusion and the danger of the Enemy’s attacks (v. 6).
All of this leads to worship (v. 6).
Sacrifice, shouts of joy, singing, and music. Everything God does for me is meant to lead me
to acts of worship that bring glory to him.
I want to be careful not to stop short of worship because that is why
God redeemed me in the first place!
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