Psalm 27: Confidence to 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
Confidence in the Lord’s covenant faithfulness cements a foundation on which hope is built.
 
The foundation of David’s prayer is confidence- God alone is light, salvation, and stronghold (1). There is no need to fear. Hope is constructed through prayers of petition.

The problem (2-3): Enemies attack, encamp against, and make war with David. But he knows they will fall and their efforts will fail. Worship with this Psalm leads God’s people to wait for the Lord, finding courage in our hearts (14) in the midst of pain and problems.
 
The priority (4) of David is the tangible presence of the Lord. David desires to dwell with God, see the beauty of God (5), seek refuge in God (6), and find restoration through God (7). Through covenant, God restores His presence with his people. And His presence is power to persevere.
 
The perseverance of David is evident as he cries out to the Lord (7), re-committing to seek God’s face (8), fully trust in God (9), and hope in God alone (even more than family-10). God’s tangible presence is power to push forward.
 
The pilgrim journey (11) longs for level paths and protection from the enemy (12). Confidence in God believes we will see the goodness of the Lord in our lifetime, in the land of the living (13). The headwater of hope is concrete confidence God will bring His presence and His promises in fullness, a reality we celebrate through Christ alone. 
 
Jesus is the fulness of God’s covenant faithfulness, the foundation from which we build hope.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What observations do you make from today’s Psalm, especially David’s journey from confidence to hope?
 
-The problems do not go away, but God has come close. How does God’s presence and His promises fuel perseverance in our pilgrim journey?
 
-How does the finished work of Jesus and His presence with His people focus your faith on God’s promises and fuel hope?
 
Key Verse
13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!