Psalms 27:0 ¶ A Psalm of David.
Yet another song written by Israel’s shepherd king.
Psalms 27:1 ¶ 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?
David begins this song declaring the LORD to be his light, his happiness (from the Hebrew) and his salvation, his deliverance, safety and prosperity (all from the Hebrew). He also declares the LORD to be his strength, his defense, the fortress that protects him. Because he trusts in the LORD, he has no reason to fear. It stands out to me that David is rejoicing in a personal relationship with the LORD.
David is on a spiritual mountain top at this point and looking through spiritually enlightened eyes. He is praising the LORD with confidence based on past experience as stated in the next verse. Remembering how the LORD has provided for us in the past is one way of staying strong in one’s faith in times of adversity.
This verse reminds me of the words of Paul.
Romans 8:31 “If God be for us, who can be against us?”
Psalms 27:2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
Psalms 27:3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
David remembered times that the LORD had delivered him from his enemies and caused them to fall in defeat. He is confident that even if surrounded by an army and war break out against him, he would not be afraid; he would stay confident that the LORD would deliver him.
Psalms 27:4 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.
David declares that the thing most important to him, the thing that he wants above everything else and strives for is to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of his life. Why? Most importantly, to behold the beauty of the LORD, to see the LORD with his own eyes, and to inspect and admire (from Hebrew for “behold”) His temple, the place of His dwelling to enjoy its wonders (from Webster’s definition for “admire”).
I guess we would all answer differently if we were asked what we most looked forward to when getting to heaven. I would have to agree with David that to see the beauty of the LORD is first, with the addition of the fact that I will see Him clothed in His righteousness and with no taint of sin about me.
To be able to explore His dwelling place I think is a reference to all the wonders that the LORD has prepared for His people once He brings us into His presence.
Psalms 27:5 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.
Psalms 27:6 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.
David is confident that in time of trouble, the LORD will provide a cover of protection (from Hebrew root for “pavilion”) over him. The next part of verse 5 basically repeats the first part for emphasis. He then goes on to say that the LORD will raise him up in strength, pictured as being set upon a rock. The LORD will exalt him over his enemies; he is confident of victory in the LORD. Because of the LORD’s provision, David purposes to offer sacrifices of joy in the tabernacle. These sacrifices include songs of praise that he sings to the LORD. The writer of Hebrews affirms that such praise is recognized as a sacrifice.
Hebrews 13:15 “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
Psalms 27:7 ¶ Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
Psalms 27:8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
As so often seen in the psalms, David seems to have a mood swing. David calls out to the LORD to listen to him and answer him with mercy. To seek God’s face is a reference to prayer, continuing in context from the previous verses. David knew that the LORD delights in the prayers of His people, and he taught that truth to his son Solomon as recorded in Proverbs.
Proverbs 15:8 “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.”
For that reason alone we should strive to have a strong prayer life; and if my experience is any indication, it takes desire, discipline and commitment. I do much better at having a running conversation with the LORD throughout the day rather than setting aside blocks of time for concentrated prayer. After some sixty years, I am still working at that.
Beautiful comment from Spurgeon on verse 8: “In this verse we are taught that if we would have the Lord hear our voice, we must be careful to respond to His voice. The true heart should echo the will of God as the rocks among the Alps repeat in sweetest music the notes of the peasant's horn.”
And another (v7): “Mercy is the hope of sinners and the refuge of saints.”
Psalms 27:9 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.
Psalms 27:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.
Though David completely trusted God’s faithfulness, he was well aware of his own weakness. He was concerned that God not respond to him in anger (because of sin would be implied). He pleads with the LORD not to leave Him and addresses Him as the “God of my salvation,” from a position of personal relationship. David is confident that though he might be forsaken by those who should love him the most, his parents, the LORD would gather him in as His own.
Psalms 27:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
Psalms 27:12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
David asks the LORD to teach him and guide him to stay on the path of righteousness (from Hebrew for “plain”) as opposed to his enemies. He asks the LORD not to give him over to his enemies in light of false testimony against him.
Another beautiful comment from Spurgeon: “This prayer evinces an humble sense of personal ignorance, great teachableness of spirit, and cheerful obedience of heart. ‘Lead me in a plain path.’ Help is here sought as well as direction; we not only need a map of the way, but a guide to assist us in the journey.”
Psalms 27:13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
The words “I had fainted” have been added by the translators for clarification. The key truth is that David was confident that he would experience God’s goodness in his lifetime on this earth. The implication is that this truth is what motivated David.
Psalms 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
I thought the Hebrew for “wait” was interesting—“ to bind together…to expect:—gather (together), look, patiently, tarry, wait (for, on, upon).” It seems to be a call to the people hearing this song to gather together in expectation of the LORD’s provision for them. He calls for them to be strong and courageous and the LORD will give them strong hearts that will prevail in times of adversity. He then closes with a word of exclamation to that truth.
Spurgeon: “Wait at his door with prayer; wait at his foot with humility; wait at his table with service; wait at his window with expectancy.”
Psalms 28:0 ¶ A Psalm of David.
Another prayer of David expressed in song.
Spurgeon: “The thorn at the breast of the nightingale was said by the old naturalists to make it sing: David's griefs made him eloquent in holy psalmody.”
Psalms 28:1 ¶ Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.
Psalms 28:2 Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.
This psalm opens with David crying out to the LORD and pleading with Him to listen to him. He identifies the LORD as his rock, the source of his strength (both spiritually and physically). He laments that if the LORD does not answer him, he will die; he is desperate.
Verse 2 is basically an exclamation point to verse 1. He paints a picture of lifting up his hands in prayer toward the tabernacle.
Spurgeon: “Uplifted hands have ever been a form of devout posture, and are intended to signify a reaching upward towards God, a readiness, an eagerness to receive the blessing sought after. We stretch out empty hands, for we are beggars; we lift them up, for we seek heavenly supplies; we lift them towards the mercy seat of Jesus, for there our expectation dwells.”
Psalms 28:3 Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.
David begs the LORD not to let him die among the wicked; he doesn’t want to be associated with wicked men even in death. In this instance, he identifies the wicked as those that are hypocrites. It would seem that he has found out that some who appeared to be his friends have plotted against him.
Psalms 28:4 Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.
Psalms 28:5 Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.
David asks the LORD to judge these wicked men relative to their evil actions. I liked the way the NLT phrased it: “Give them the punishment they so richly deserve! Measure it out in proportion to their wickedness. Pay them back for all their evil deeds! Give them a taste of what they have done to others.”
David is confident that the LORD will destroy these evil men because they have rejected God as their LORD and disregarded all His works, and they will never be allowed to recover.
It’s not hard to believe that God will judge the wicked. I think the harder part sometimes is knowing that the LORD will judge in what He deems to be the appropriate time, and for some that will be at the great white throne judgment. In our flesh, we want immediate judgment.
These verses bring to mind the words of Paul to the Romans.
Romans 1:18–19 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.”
Psalms 28:6 ¶ Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.
Psalms 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
David begins to praise the LORD for answering his prayers. Again, he declares that the LORD is his strength, adding that He is also his protector. The king confidently declares that the LORD helps him because he trusts Him as his LORD. That is the reason his heart rejoices and he is motivated to sing this song of praise.
Another Spurgeon gem: “They who pray well, will soon praise well: prayer and praise are the two lips of the soul; two bells to ring out sweet and acceptable music in the ears of God…. A song is the soul's fittest method of giving vent to its happiness, it were well if we were more like the singing lark, and less like the croaking raven.”
Psalms 28:8 The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.
Psalms 28:9 Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.
After speaking of his personal relationship with the LORD, David declares that the LORD is the strength of His people Israel as well as the One that gives the king, His anointed, victory. He asks the LORD to save His people and bless them by providing for their needs. His desire is for the people of Israel to be in a blessed position before the LORD forever.