Psalm 27: hide and seek

Psalm 27
Of David.

(1) 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 the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.
(3) Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.

(4) One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
(5) For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.

(6) Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.

(7) Hear my voice when I call, LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.
(8) My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek.
(9) Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior.
(10) Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.
(11) Teach me your way, LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.
(12) Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations.

(13) I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
(14) Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

My friends, may you find joy in this little psalm!

Yet again, king David is in some sort of distress. But look at how this psalm begins and ends.

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?
Psalm 27:1

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:14

As we face trials in this life, let us remember that God is the one and only Light and Salvation. When darkness creeps around us, God is our light. Look up to see His light. When facing a pandemic or financial problems or a country tearing itself apart or neighbor fighting neighbor or just the uncertainty of the future, God is our Light in the darkness. And He is the same- yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

As Christians, as followers of Jesus, we always have hope. We always have a Light in the darkness of the world.

The Bible refers to God as light, but this is only direct time God is named “Light,” according to Bible scholars. In the New Testament, however, light is used to refer to the Messiah:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:1-5

David refers to God as his light, his salvation, and his strength.

Do you allow God to be your strength?

David was a great warrior. There are countless stories in the Old Testament of David’s courage and strength. The Bible also records information about David’s mighty warriors; the “three” and the “thirty” listed in 2 Samuel 23. These men of courage and glory in battle were loyal to David. Why? They followed David, why?

Because of his faith, for sure.

But also- David was strong, a leader, steadfast enough that great warriors looked up to him and would put their lives on the line to protect him and his name.

Yet, David did not find strength in himself; nor in his 3 or 30 Mighty Warriors.

David found his strength in the Lord.

Too often we lean on ourselves, our wisdom, our own strength. We look outward for help sometimes. But do we look upward? God is our light, our salvation, and our strength.

David had great faith.

Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war breaks out against me, even then I will be confident.
Psalm 27:3

What faith.

Friends, who is on our side? When the world is in chaos around us, be confident. When it feels as if all are against us, do not fear.

The LORD will fight for you; you need only be still.
Exodus 14:14

The Israelites heard these words through Moses as they faced the stormy Red Sea before them and the chariots of Egypt’s fighting men behind them.

How in the world could they be confident? How can we?

If this study of the Psalter, we know where David found his confidence . . .

One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life.
Psalm 27:4

Not twenty things I need- or these couple of needs-

But this ONE thing do I need in my life: to know God, to dwell in His presence.

But we get distracted, don’t we? We get overwhelmed or bored or prideful.

What really matters?

For in the days of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
Psalm 27:5

Seek after the Lord only, in the good times and the bad. When enemies surround us and war breaks out at our doorstep, dwell on the Lord. When we are dwelling on the Lord, He will keep us safe. He will protect us and hold us up, even setting us on a rock. The Rock.

What does it mean to seek after the Lord? My friends, when kids play hide and seek, the seeker is active. She is not waiting; she is urgently running around, listening for, and searching.

The only difference is that God is not hiding from us.

And finally,

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:13-14 NASB

David leans upon his salvation. He is saved. He knows that he will dwell with the Father after his life is over. But at the end of this psalm, we see David recognize that it is hopeless when we do not see the Lord in THIS life. In the land of the living.

Do not lose hope; do not despair.

But seek the Lord; actively seek the Lord. For this life, and for the next.

And He will shelter you and place you upon The Rock in this life.

Father in heaven, you are our rock, you only do we seek. Strengthen us to seek you in this life. Show us your goodness. Reveal yourself to us. As it feels like our enemies surround us and war breaks out near us, shelter us in your presence. Strengthen and protect us. Give us courage to walk in faith. Heal our land of the virus, protect our loved one, and strengthen your church. Amen.

Heidi xoxo