Psalm 27: A Psalm of Trust in God
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12/14/08 AM
Text: Psalm 27:1-6
Introduction
You don’t have to look far to see signs of trouble in the world today. Every newspaper, news report, and talk radio show are full of stories of troubles people are facing today. As the Bible says we will have anxieties but we are to "cast all of our anxieties on him." We all want solutions to the fear problem. We all want answers to anxiety. We are looking for something to relieve us from our fears, something to reassure us. We’re looking for some source of security that will instill a perfect confidence and peace within our hearts.
Some people look for that security in their bank account. Some seek that reassurance in a relationship. Others placed their trust in the government, latest drug, etc. None of these are real solutions because none of them offer total security or absolute reassurance. No amount of money, success, or any position in life can truly give you peace in every situation. So the question becomes, "How can I have victory over fear?" That answer to this important question is given in Psalm 27 which says in effect "Trust in God!"
I.Confidence In God
A.Light, Salvation, and Defense (v1)
1.As this psalm begins, David professes his personal faith in God through the use of the personal pronoun “my”: My light, My Salvation.
2.We often relate darkness to times of uncertainty and stress.
a.Walking into a room in total darkness we have all felt that hesitation, caution, and apprehension because you are fearful about making a wrong turn are walking into something. The same would not be true when the lights are on.
b.It is the same way in life, there are troubling, dark times in which are fear is increased because we don’t know which way to go or what to do, and we are in the dark.
c.David has nothing to fear because he has recognized that the Lord is in his light in dark and fearful times.
3.And more, God is his salvation.
a.The Hebrew word carries the thought of deliverance or rescue and is the same root word from which the name of Jesus is derived.
b.With God giving us light and rescue, David is able to ask the rhetorical question: “Whom shall I fear?”
4.David next confesses God as the defense of his life.
a.The Hebrew word for defense conveys the meaning of a defensible position, a stronghold, or a place of refuge.
Proverbs 18:10 (NASB) The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.
b.And again David asks the rhetorical question: “Whom shall I dread?”
B.Against all enemies and all circumstance. (v2-3)
1.Whether individuals, a “host”, or total war, David had nothing to fear with God on his side.
Romans 8:31b (NASB) If God is for us, who is against us?
2.David’s confidence was spoken from the experience of his life
3.He had faced wild beasts, the giant Goliath, persecution from Saul and whole nations arrayed against him but he was ever confident in God.
4.The same confidence may be ours as well for David shows us how to obtain this for ourselves.
II.A Singular Focus
A.The one thing:
1.David expresses the longing of his heart, the one thing from which his confidence grew. It is the same thing expressed by Paul:
Philippians 3:13a-14 (NASB) …but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
2.David seeks a three-fold response to he singular longing of his heart:
a.To dwell in the house of the Lord
b.To behold the beauty of the Lord
c.And to meditate in the temple of the Lord.
3.By seeking this for his life, David came to know the light, and salvation, and refuge of the Lord and he was able to put fear aside.
B.We are called to follow the example of David
1.John 15:4a (NASB) Abide in Me and I in you
a.The Greek verb for “abide” means “to dwell, to remain.” When we come to Jesus and receive His spirit we live in Him, we dwell in Him, and His presence dwells within us.
2.When we come to see and know Jesus, we see God.
a.John 14:9b (NASB) He who has seen Me has seen the Father
b.In beholding Jesus we are able to become more like him
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NASB) But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
3.We are to meditate on God and His word
a.2 Timothy 2:15 (NASB) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
b.In the Hebrew the meaning of meditate is “to muse over.”
c.In the Christian context meditation differs from the approach of New Age and Eastern Philosophies which seek to empty the mind or focus on a single word or phrase to achieve a mystical experience.
Philippians 4:8 (NASB) Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
d.The scripture makes it clear that we strive to fill our minds and our hearts with the Word of God so that we may better understand His will.
C.Protection and Triumph and Praise v5-6
1.When trouble comes, the results of David’s singular seeking of God were first protection in the house of the Lord.
a.The holy of holies is where we also enter by way of Jesus, our High Priest
2.Not a minor victory but one which raised him above his enemies, on the firm footing God provides.
John 16:33 (NASB) “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
3.And in his victory, David gives thanksgiving and praise to God.
Hebrews 13:15 (NASB) Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
Conclusion
By seeking God, David came to know the light, and salvation, and refuge of the Lord and he was able to put fear aside.
Invitation
