Psalm 27:1-6 HOPE IN THE MIDST OF YOUR BATTLES Jer. 17:7. “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is,” Paul, 1 Cor. 13:13. “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity,” Hope is “A deep settled confidence that God will keep His promises!” I. OUR CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD PROVIDES HOPE v. 1-3 David's personal faith in the Lord. verse 1. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? A. Confidence In The Person Of The Lord 1 The LORD is my light 1. As Light, God delivers His people from Darkness – Col 1:13. “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:,” As Light God guides our Steps – (Psa. 37:23; The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. John 16:13; Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. Psa. 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.) 2. As Salvation God delivers His people from Damnation – John 5:24. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life,” John 10:28; And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 1 Pet. 1:5; Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 3. As Strength God delivers His people from Defeat - 1 Cor. 15:57. “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ,” Rom. 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 2 Cor. 2:14; Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. Isa. 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. B. Confidence In The Performance Of The Lord 2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. God did not fail him in the past, and He will not fail today. The God we serve is unchangeable, Mal. 3:6; For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Heb. 13:8. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. II. OUR COMMITMENT TO THE LORD PROVIDES HOPE v. 4 One thing have I desired 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 behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. A. He Is Committed To Living Near The Lord – that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, Psalm 84:1 How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! 2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. There will be a commitment to prayer and to Bible study. There will be a commitment to public and private worship. James 4:8. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. B. He Is Committed To Loving The Lord – David wants to “behold the beauty of the Lord.” he wants to “seek His face.” John 4:24. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. C. He Is Committed To Leaning On The Lord – and to enquire in his temple. David looks beyond his own abilities and sees the limitless provisions of the Lord. We are invited to pray, Jer. 33:3; Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Matt. 11:28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. We are promised that God will hear and answer our prayers, Isa. 65:24; And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
John 14:13-14; And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. John 16:23-24. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. Phil. 4:6-7; Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. III. OUR COMFORT IN THE LORD PROVIDES HOPE v. 5-6 A.God Has A Sheltered Place For Us – v. 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. A king’s pavilion was a tent that erected in the middle of the army’s camp. The Bible tells us that “your life is hid with Christ in God”, Col. 3:3 B.God Has A Secret Place For Us – v. 5 in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; “tabernacle” brings to mind the place of worship. The “secret” refers to the “holy of holies”. The Holy of Holies was a place where the very presence of God dwelt and the glory of God could be seen. Stephen, Acts 7:55-56! But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. C.God Has A Secure Place For Us – v. 5-6 he shall set me up upon a rock. 6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: Psa. 40:1-2. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. Isa. 40:31. But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. D. God Has A Special Place For Us – v. 6 therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Heb. 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
