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Psalm 27 Wait for the Lord

Mainpoint God knows our distress; trust in and seek after him as you wait.

Psalm 27 (ESV)

Of David.

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?

When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.

Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.

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.

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.

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.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me!

You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

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!

For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.

Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.

Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence.

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Questions

1. How does David describe the Lord?

a. v. 1: My light – What is a light like?

b. My salvation – I wonder what David means by “salvation”?

If you need saving, what kind of situation are you in?

c. What is the pronoun David uses?

i. “MY” – Not just any light or salvation, but personal to him.

2. In verse 1, what are the questions David asks? (Jewish poetry: repetition)

a. Whom shall I fear?

b. Of whom shall I be afraid?

3. What feeling do both of these questions have in common?

a. Fear: What sorts of things might David be afraid of? What causes us fear?

i. Physical danger

ii. Emotional distress

iii. Worry about the future

4. David actually names some things that he could be afraid of…

a. v. 2: evildoers assail me, eat up my flesh

b. v. 3: an army encamped against me

c. v. 3: war arises against me

5. But what is David’s resolution in the face of these fears? Who is David trusting?

a. v: 3: My heart shall not fear; yet I will be confident

b. back to verse 1: trusting in “MY light and MY salvation”

6. v. 4: What “one thing” does David ask the Lord for? (Sort of three things…)

a. “That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life”

b. “To gaze upon the beauty of the Lord”

c. “To inquire [meditate] in his temple”

7. WHY does he want these things? Next verse gives us a clue:

a. v. 5: FOR = BECAUSE … then David lists his reasons:

i. The Lord will hide me in his shelter

ii. The Lord will conceal me iii.

iii. The Lord will life me high upon a rock

8. Where does David feel safe? Why?

a. In God’s presence – because what is God to David?

i. light

ii. safety / salvation

iii. beautiful iv. personal! (“my”)

9. I wonder what it would feel like, when you’re in distress, to be able to hide in God’s shelter?

When you’re in a storm, where do you want to be?

10. What would it feel like to be lifted high on a rock?

When you’re in trouble, what does the ground around you feel like?

11. Skipping ahead a bit to v. 7: What does David ask God for this time?

a. Hear me, be gracious to me, answer me

12. What is God’s instruction to David?

a. v. 8: “Seek my face”

b. I wonder what it means to seek God’s face?

When you’re looking for someone in a crowd, what is that like? What are you looking for?

i. Recognition; safety; not lost

13. Skipping ahead a bit to v. 13-14: What are David’s final instructions for his readers – and himself?

a. Believe

b. Wait for the Lord

c. Be strong

d. Take courage

e. WAIT

14. What is waiting like?

What sorts of things do we wait for?

15. Why do we need to be “strong and courageous” while we wait?

a. Need to have patience: May not see God’s answers or provision right away

b. Need to trust in God’s goodness and God’s promises

c. Need to seek after God, not give up

d. Remember how God has provided in the past

• Ask for any prayer requests for today.

• Close in prayer, naming people and needs listed.

• End with a song, e.g.,

Summary

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

The Lord says to you, “Seek my face.” May your heart say to the Lord, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Prayer

Closing Song