Day 160: Psalm 27- Priority of Hope

​The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. 3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. 4 One thing have I asked 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 gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.
 
5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. 7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! 8 You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” 9 Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! 10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.
 
11 Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.
12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. 13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
 
Meditation
The Lord has used this Psalm to give Lisa strength and hope in difficult seasons of her journey. The priority is that this Psalm of confidence will give you strength to hope in the Lord, too.
 
The problem (1-3) may be unique to the psalmist but portrays an opportunity for us all. When we are overwhelmed by life’s circumstances we can commit the strength of our heart to the Lord, to not fear even in the face of great problems.
 
The priority (4) of the Psalmist is the presence of the Lord. Through His wilderness wanderings he wants to dwell with God, see the beauty of God (5), seek refuge in God (6), and find restoration through God (7).
 
The perseverance of the Psalmist is evident as he cries out to the Lord (7), responding to God’s grace through re-committing to his priority to seek God’s face (8), fully trusting in God (9), and hoping in God alone (even more than family-10).
 
The pilgrim journey (11) of the worshipping psalmist longs for level paths and protection from the enemy (12).  The promises of God give strength for the journey, believing we will see the goodness of the Lord in our lifetime, in the land of the living. This level of hope is only found in the promises of God.
 
No matter how difficult our problems we have the opportunity to share the priority of the Psalmist, persevering in keeping this priority on our pilgrim journey. Let your heart take courage, be strong in the Lord!
 
Richly Dwelling
-What is your priority in facing the problems of your life? What would it look like for your number one priority to be seeking the face of the Lord?
 
-Perseverance in our priorities is difficult. How can you find strength to persevere in trusting God’s promises?
 
-The Psalmist commands the singer to be strong and to have our hearts take courage! This (at least) means we remove the authority of our circumstances and return authority to the Lord who is working all things for our good and His glory. How are your next steps different if your heart takes courage and you are strong in the Lord?
 
Key Verse
13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!