Psalm 27

SLIDE 1 A kid finds a magical lamp on the beach. When he rubs the lamp a genie appears and says: “What is your first wish?” The kid says: “I wish I were rich!” The genie replies: “It is done! What’s your second wish, Rich?”

A man stumbles across a lamp and rubs it. Out pops a genie who grants him three wishes. The man thinks a minute and says, “I’ve seen this before. Whatever I wish for will come back and bite me in some way.” The genie promises that won’t happen saying, “I’m so sure it won’t I’ll give you infinite wishes if it does.” The man replied, “Okay. I wish for a boomerang with teeth.”

A man throws a dollar coin into a wishing well and a genie pops out. The genie tells him “You have thrown the largest money value into this well since it has been built. You may have one wish.” The man promptly asks for a dragon. “Are you sure? That’s pretty big, and would probably give me away. Anything else?” The man says, “I want to learn how to fold a fitted sheet.” To which the genie replies, “What color dragon do you want?”

If you were granted one wish, what would it be? What would you want? While we know there are no genies in magic lamps waiting to grant us three wishes, God did grant Solomon a wish. SLIDE 2

That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” (2 Chronicles 1:7)

SLIDE 3 While he could have asked for fame and fortune, Solomon asked for wisdom to lead the people. Actually, that he asked for wisdom tells me he was pretty wise to begin with.

Turn to Psalm 27. In this psalm David is going to say what he’d ask for if he were granted one wish. Like his son Solomon, he doesn’t ask for fame and fortune either.

This superscription, like the one for Psalm 26, only tells us that it was written by David. About three hundred years before Jesus was born the Jews had the Old Testament books translated into Greek. That translation is known as the Septuagint. The superscription of this psalm in the Septuagint says that David wrote it “before he was anointed.” This means it was probably written when he was exiled from home and being hunted by King Saul and his men.

The psalm reveals that David was in great danger from violent evildoers who were lying about him and trying to kill him. Saul and his men certainly met this description. However, despite this difficult and dangerous situation, David was confident, courageous, and unafraid. In this psalm, David teaches us that when we know the Lord and trust him, he helps us overcome the fears that can paralyze our lives.

SLIDE 4 First, we see David’s confidence in God.

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. (Psalm 27:1-3)

These verses sound familiar. David once again describes his trouble and his trust in God. David alludes to the problem he’s facing. There is something going on that might have caused him to be afraid. David says that his enemies desire to devour or eat his flesh. He doesn’t mean that literally. They aren’t cannibals. David is picturing them as a pack of ravenous animals set on destroying him. He also mentions the threat of war and conflict. All of this is going on, but David is not calling out in fear or distress. He is instead, calling out in confidence that God is with him. As a result, he has nothing to fear. He has nothing to be afraid of. Even though there are some who seek to destroy him, he is confident that God will uphold him. As a result, it won’t be him that stumbles and falls, it will be him enemy.

SLDIE 5 Turn to 1 Samuel 17. Perhaps as David wrote this line in the psalm he was remembering his battle with Goliath. Picture in your mind David going out to face Goliath. David was in his teens. He still had a lot of growing to do. He was fighting a well seasoned Philistine soldier with years of experience. On top of that, Goliath was over eight feet tall. The armor and weapons he carried weighed over two hundred pounds. This was no small man and he was not impressed with David.

40 Then [David] took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine. 41 Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. 42 He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. 43 He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!” (1 Samuel 17:40-44)

SLIDE 6 If you’d looked out on the battlefield that day with Goliath staring down on David, who would you have placed your money on to win? On paper, this was as lopsided a battle as there could be. But who ended up falling to the ground? It was Goliath. If David, with God’s help, could defeat Goliath, what else could any other enemy do to him? Therefore, David could say with assurance that when his enemies attacked, it would be them who fell and not him.

In verse 1, David uses three words to describe God: light, salvation, and stronghold. Light is used to describe God’s holiness and truth. In Psalm 119, the psalmist compares God’s word to a light. SLIDE 7

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. (Psalm 119:105)

SLIDE 8 David said that God is his light. You’ll remember too that Jesus said that he is the light of the world. Light gets rid of darkness and fear. Light represents everything that is positive and good.

David also said that God is his salvation. It is God who rescues him and delivers him from trouble. As God rescued him from the lion and bear when they attacked his sheep and as God delivered him from Goliath, God would continue to deliver him from his enemies.

And then, David compared God to a stronghold or fortress that offered protection from an enemies attack. Martin Luther’s hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” was based on this description of God by David. David had nothing to fear because God was with him, for with God one is never outnumbered.

The tone of the psalm changes in verse 4. This change is so dramatic that some believe Psalm 27 to be the combination of two separate psalms. But what I think we see is a change from celebration to contemplation. After declaring his trust in God to deliver him, David contemplates what it is like to live in God’s deliverance. And it is here that we find David’s one desire, his wish.

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. (Psalm 27:4-6)

SLIDE 9 Second, we see David’s commitment to God.

What was the one things David asked for? What was the one thing he wanted? David desired to spend time with God and to live in his house. David’s public confidence in God grew from his private relationship with God. David took time to fellowship with the Lord is worship and prayer.

Listen to the different names David gives to God’s temple. SLIDE 10

House of the Lord (v. 4)

His temple (v. 4)

His dwelling (v. 5)

His sacred tent (v. 5, 6)

SLIDE 11 David knew as much as we do that God did not actually live in the tabernacle. God can’t be contained in a building no matter how large the building is. Instead, it represented God’s presence among them. God marked his presence with his people with the tabernacle.

Remember, at that time the house of God was not much more than a tent, the tabernacle. It was a very nice tent, but that’s what it was. The temple would not be built until after David died. Considering how far he lived from the tabernacle, it would be difficult to know how often he was able to visit it. And if this psalm were written while in exile as he ran from Saul, David would not have been allowed anywhere near the tabernacle. So David can’t just be talking about visiting Shiloh to worship God, but being in God’s presence in worship and prayer.

David says that his desire is to spend time with God and to gaze upon his beauty. David isn’t talking about God’s physical appearance, but God’s nature and character. Only those who seek God may see it. That’s why so many people never notice. God makes himself available to all who seek him. God told Zechariah: SLIDE 12

Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Return to me,” declares the LORD Almighty, “‘and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty. (Zechariah 1:3)

And James wrote: SLIDE 13

Come near to God and he will come near to you. (James 4:8a)

SLIDE 14 David only knew God under the old covenant and not the new one we are under. He was under a covenant based on law. We are under a covenant based on grace. If David loved and treasured God that much under the old covenant of law, how much more should we love and treasure God under the new one of grace?

Alexander Pope, a famous poet and author of the early 1700s, wrote:

Know then thyself, presume not God to scan; the proper study of mankind is man.

Pope said that we shouldn’t bother trying to discover what God is like, but we should focus more on ourselves. Get to know yourself. A century later, Charles Spurgeon, responded to Pope’s famous quip saying in his first published sermon:

It has been said by some one that “the proper study of mankind is man.” I will not oppose the idea, but I believe it is equally true that the proper study of God’s elect is God. The proper study of a Christian is the Godhead. The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of the great God whom he calls his Father.

There is nothing wrong with studying people, but the highest endeavor is the study of God. When we do we will see his wonder and greatness. David wanted to spend more time in God’s house that he might know God even better.

Because of his commitment to seeking and knowing God, David experienced God’s blessings. He lists some of those in verses 5 and 6. SLIDE 15

Keep him safe (5)

Hide him (v 5)

Set him upon a rock (v 5)

Exalt him above his enemies (6)

In his time of trouble, God would protect him. Notice, God didn’t promise David that he would have no trouble. Neither does God make that promise to us. In fact, Jesus said that while in this life we would have trouble. However, God is with us and Jesus promises us his peace. David understood this protection and peace of God.

SLIDE 16 In Middle Eastern culture hospitality is a top priority. If someone comes to visit you, you do all you can to make them comfortable. That includes protecting them.

In Genesis 19, in the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, we find when we consider a very disturbing incident. The two men of God have come into Lot’s house. Later that night the men of the city come to Lot and demand he turn the men over to them. In his effort to protect his guests, Lot offers them his two unmarried daughters to do with as they wanted. There is no way I would have made that proposal, but it illustrates the high importance Lot placed on hospitality and protecting his guests. He placed their lives even above the lives of his daughters.

David says that he will be safe in God’s dwelling. God will protect him. Even in the midst of trouble David will be safe. Because of this, David says that he will sing the praises of God.

After reading those first six verses we might be led to believe that David’s faith in God was solid as a rock and he never doubted. These next verses tell us otherwise. In them we see that David too felt like God wasn’t hearing his prayers. He too wondered if God had forgotten about him. But David also knew that what he felt wasn’t true and that he couldn’t trust his emotions.

SLIDE 17 Third, we hear David’s cry to God.

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. (Psalm 27:7-12)

David asks God to hear him because he wasn’t always sure that God was listening. He asks God not to hide from him because he wasn’t always sure that God wasn’t turning his back on him.

You probably know people who have blamed God when bad things happen. They trusted in God and attended church regularly, but then this tragic event happens and they blame God. As a result they stop praying and they stop worshiping.

But that was not the reaction of David. In those times David didn’t blame God or become despondent towards God. Instead, he sought God all the more. He would always seek God’s face. David also continues to refer to God as his savior. Because God had helped him in the past he knew God would help him again.

In verse 10 we have this strange line where David talks about his parents abandoning him. There’s no record of that happening and I don’t think it did. It didn’t happen nor do I think it would have happened. His parents loved him. But David was saying that if something that drastic were to happen God would still love him and take him in.

Through the prophet Isaiah God asked a similar rhetorical question: SLIDE 18

15 Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! 16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. (Isaiah 49:15-16)

SLIDE 19 Could a mother forget about her child? I don’t think so. God says it would be easier for a mother to forget about her feeding child than it would be for him to forget about his people. David knew that the love of God was greater than even the love of parents for their children. God loves us and will never forsake us.

In verse 11 we find a simple prayer for a life of discipleship that pleases God. Seek God’s ways. Ask him to teach them to you. David wasn’t seeking after his way, but God’s way. He wanted to do things God’s way because he knew God’s way is best.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus presented two ways, the narrow and the wide. SLIDE 20

13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

SLIDE 21 There’s God’s way and there’s the way of the world. The way of the world seems more attractive. It seems easier and more enjoyable. But God’s way is always right and it is always best. Therefore, we should always seek God’s way.

David also asks for a “straight path.” David is not asking for an easy path. He’s asking for a smooth or level path. It’s the same word David used in Psalm 26:12 when he talked about his feet standing on “level ground.” It is a secure place to stand. David isn’t asking that God take away every storm, but that God would give him a secure place to stand in the midst of the storm. David wants a strong place to stand in the face of his many enemies.

And then he repeats the theme of Psalm 26, stating that his enemies are telling lies about him, accusing him of things he’d never done. David asks that God would not let him fall into their hands.

SLIDE 22 And fourth, we see David’s courage in God.

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. (Psalm 27:13-14)

Once again David states his confidence in God. This time David is certain that he will see the goodness of God. There are some differences of opinion as to what David meant by the “land of the living.” Some believe David was saying he would receive God’s blessings before he died. Others believe David was referring to eternal life. It is sometimes difficult to know just what some Old Testament characters thought about the afterlife. The author of Hebrews talked about Abraham looking for a city not built with hands. He was referring to heaven. He wrote: SLIDE 23

15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. SLIDE 24 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country – a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:15-16)

SLIDE 25 It has often been said that this is not the land of the living, but the land of the dying. Only those who are still alive when Jesus returns will not see death. Heaven is the land of the living. It is the place of eternal life. David says that without this assurance he would have lost heart or given up. But he trusted in God and remained firm. There are so many things in which we might place our trust, but David’s trust was in God. It didn’t matter how things looked at the time, he was certain that God would see him through.

Because of that confidence, David encourages us to trust God as well. He tells us to wait, wait on God. God may not move as quickly as we would like, but we can be certain that he will. Do you remember what God said about waiting on him? SLIDE 26

30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:30-31)

SLIDE 27 To wait means more than to just sit around twiddling our thumbs until God acts on our behalf. It requires a seeking after God and his will for us. Charles Spurgeon put it like this:

Wait at his door with prayer; wait at his foot with humility; wait at his table with service; wait at his window with urgency.

David assures us that we should wait on God because he has waited and has never been disappointed and neither will we. As Stuart Hamblin wrote in one of his familiar songs:

I know not what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.

When we wait on the Lord we have nothing to fear.

David was willing to wait because there was nothing he wanted more than to be with God. Do you want to be with God? Do you love coming to his house to worship? That is what David wanted more than anything else, to live continually in the presence of God. Some would turn their backs on him. Others would fail him. But David was confident that God would always take care of him.