The Light of Our Salvation

Psalm 27

Possible Timing of the Psalm

Before David’s anointing as King

During Absalom’s rebellion

Courage in God

Closeness to God

Victory in God

Life in God

Courage in God

Source of this courage - 1

The LORD is my light and salvation / strength of my life - 1

Light - comfort and awareness

Salvation - saving grace from troubles.

Strength - “stronghold” - JFB: “security against all violence”

Whom shall I fear? Of whom shall I be afraid? - 1

Important question - Who or what will you fear in life?

Surely we recognize it’s okay to be afraid. Fear is not the sin.

The action spurred on by fear is what defines us.

NOTE: David is not diminishing the intensity of the threat - but he knows that God is mightier than anything that opposes him.

God is David’s source of encouragement, comfort, strength, focus, and determination.

Trusting in God’s Protection - 2,3, 5

Threats fail by their own power - 2 Ps. 14:4; 2 Tim. 2:18

“To eat up my flesh” - intimidating!

Psalm 14:4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And do not call on the Lord?

2 Timothy 2:18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.

Armies do not intimidate - 3

“My heart shall not fear” - Restraint in light of what God has provided. Ps. 56:9-11

Psalm 56:9–11 When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me. In God (I will praise His word), In the Lord (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Even if “war” comes against him, he is confident in the “one thing” he seeks (4)

What is so important that would allow one to be confident in the face of an army?

God will Protect - 5

“time of trouble” - day of evil, misery, wickedness - Lk. 22:41-44

Many sources for this in our lives. How did Jesus react to his “day of evil”?

Luke 22:41–44 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Jesus trusted His Father even when He knew everyone on earth would turn against Him.

Pavilion - from root word, “to cover, veil” sok Gen. 33:17; Ps. 76:1-3

Genesis 33:17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, built himself a house, and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.

Psalm 76:1–3 In Judah God is known; His name is great in Israel. In Salem also is His tabernacle, And His dwelling place in Zion. There He broke the arrows of the bow, The shield and sword of battle. Selah

Closeness with God

He Sought One Thing - 4

If this is in the time of Absalom, David has been forced from Jerusalem and cannot worship God in the tabernacle.

Nonetheless, his focus and heart is upon being close to his God.

Recall, this thought is what allows the writer to face down an army without fear! (v.3)

Does dwelling with God fill you with courage in that you could face down an army?

Call for God to Hear - 7

David knows that an answer is only from God’s mercy. He does not inherently deserve an answer.

Agreement to Seek the Lord - 8

David responds to God’s open invitation, “seek My face”, and did so. Ps. 34:4

Psalm 34:4 “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.”

Heading: Psalm 34:title A Psalm of David When He Pretended Madness Before Abimelech, Who Drove Him Away, and He Departed.

The history of David’s descendants will be judged upon whether they “seek the LORD”.

Remember the failure of Rehoboam. 2 Chron. 12:14

2 Chronicles 12:14 And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord.

Rehoboam rejected wisdom and split the Kingdom of Israel over it.

Asa - 2 Chronicles 14:7

Jehoshaphat - 2 Chronicles 22:9

Uzziah - 2 Chronicles 26:5

Asa - 2 Chronicles 14:7 Therefore he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and make walls around them, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us, because we have sought the Lord our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.

Asa stopped most of the idol worship in his day.

Jehoshaphat - 2 Chronicles 22:9 Then he searched for Ahaziah; and they caught him (he was hiding in Samaria), and brought him to Jehu. When they had killed him, they buried him, “because,” they said, “he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart.” So the house of Ahaziah had no one to assume power over the kingdom.

During the time Jehu reigned in northern Israel. His deeds stopped the wickedness of Ahab’s house. Jehu still did the sins of Jeroboam, but Jehoshaphat’s faithful legacy shines.

Uzziah - 2 Chronicles 26:5 He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.

Before Uzziah was lifted up in pride, he worked to remove idolatry in Judah.

NOTE: This is not exhaustive. Others like Hezekiah and Josiah are certainly important to note in this context.

Asaph agreed to seek the LORD. Ps. 77:2

Psalm 77:2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; My soul refused to be comforted.

Pleading for the Lord to be Near - 9

You feel the desperation and pleading in David’s voice here.

He is pressing for God to be near him.

We have felt this way when we have been in trouble.

“do not forsake me” is a good thing to pray! Deut. 31:6; 1 Kings 8:57-58; Heb. 13:5-6

The encouragement of Moses

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

The great words of Solomon

1 Kings 8:57–58 May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. May He not leave us nor forsake us, that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, which He commanded our fathers.

The eternal promise

Hebrews 13:5–6 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

If we ask for something we KNOW God will do, then we know the answer is always yes!

Victory in God

Head lifted up above all enemies - 6

Exalted over our foes. Phil. 2:5-11

Philippians 2:5–11 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Rejoicing in song over the defeat of wickedness. Eph. 5:19-21

Ephesians 5:19–21 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Knowing that if the Closest Abandon, the Lord is still There - 10

This is not a literal statement.

No evidence that David’s parents ever abandoned him.

David is saying “Even if my father and mother forsake me, The LORD will be there for me.”

Desire to be Taught by God - 11

“lead me in a smooth path” Is. 40:4

Smooth - level ground.

Isaiah 40:4 Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth;

This is not about our material existence, but our spiritual opportunity.

“because of my enemies”

“on account of” - In spite of the enemies before him, David is begging God to make his way easy.

When God gives us victory, He ensures our “smooth path”.

If we trust in the LORD and seek Him, there is no danger from anyone or anything.

Remember this when the world tries to scare us into compliance with sin!

Desire to be saved by God - 12

Life in God

Lost heart unless he had seen God’s goodness in this life - 13

It’s important to note that this was something David saw in his life - NOT something that he hoped for someday.

ESV - “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!”

Is David’s faith our faith?

Wait on the LORD - 14

“Wait” - “qwh” - “kee-vah” - every reference expecting something POSITIVE from the LORD.

An expectation or hope of good things, specifically things from the LORD.

David wants his audience to be strong, patient, not to give up or lose heart.

David’s charge to Solomon. What if he were saying it to us? 1 Kings 2:2-4

1 Kings 2:2–4 “I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. And keep the charge of the Lord your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; that the Lord may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,’ He said, ‘you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

Reality - Paul the Apostle says it to us! 1 Cor. 16:13-14

1 Corinthians 16:13–14 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.

Applications

Jesus is our Light, our Salvation, our strength. Jn. 8:12; 10:11

John 8:12 “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.””

John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

Jesus sought the “one thing” of dwelling in the Father’s temple. Mark 1:35

Mark 1:35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

No sins to ask forgiveness for, yet He made time to spend it with his Father.

God expects us to ask him for what we want/need. James 1:5-8

James 1:5–8 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

We are called to seek the LORD. Matt. 5:6; 6:33; Heb. 11:6

Matt. 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.”

Matt. 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Jesus knew the faithfulness of His Father. Matt. 12:48-50; 23:37

Matthew 12:48–50 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

Matt. 23:37 ““O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”

Jesus surrendered to darkness so that we can be saved through Him. Acts 4:27-28

Acts 4:27–28 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.

Passages to remember with Psalm 27:

Romans 8:31-39; 2 Cor. 4:7-8; 5:6-10; Phil. 1:12-13

Romans 8:31–39 NKJV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Corinthians 4:7–8 NKJV

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

2 Corinthians 5:6–10 NKJV

So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Philippians 1:21–23 NKJV

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.