The Rock—His Revelation.
Psalm 27:1-8, 14NKJV
A dear Christian lady was close to death when her minister came to visit her. He softy asked, “Sister, are you sinking?” She looked at him in disbelief and said nothing. Again he said, “Sister are you sinking?” She still could not believe that he would ask such a question. Summoning all her remaining strength, she raised her self up a little in her bed and said, “Sinking? Sinking?” “Did you ever know a person to sink through a rock?” And then she said, “If I had been standing on the sand I might sink; but, thank God, I am on the rock of ages, and there is no sinking there.”
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? 2 When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident. 4 One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: 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 inquire in His temple. 5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” 14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!
It’s His revelation, that is needed. It’s His revelation, that’s all I need.
The Psalmist David knew what it meant to go through deep distress. Take a look at some of the dangers listed in Psalm 27: The wicked came upon him, a host was encamped against him, war was raging against David, and he was in the midst of great trouble.
Psalm 27, Is David’s poetic praise to God before he was anointed king. David served his Lord, Yahweh. He didn’t take his service for granted.
There’s only one object, however, from what I can tell, in all the history of the Bible, that God routinely attached his presence to—the Ark of the Covenant.
Yet David could say with great confidence, Vs. 5, “God will hide me in the shelter of his secret tent, and set me high upon a rock.”
“As a believer you may tremble on the Rock of Ages, but the Rock will never tremble under you!” P.H
The 16th century theologian Martin Luther once experience a long period of worry and despondency. One day his wife dressed in black mourning clothes.
Who has died? Asked Luther. God, said his wife. God! said Luther, horrified. “How can you say such a thing?” She replied, “I am only saying what you are living.”
Luther realized that he indeed was living as if God were no longer alive and watching over them with love. He changed his outlook from gloom to gratitude.
Psalm 27:1TPT Yahweh is my revelation-light and the source of my salvation. I fear no one! I’ll never turn back and run, for you, Yahweh, surround and protect me.
Edgewood Ave in Atlanta, is not a place for the worried and faint at heart.
John 1:5TPT And this Light never fails to shine through darkness—Light that darkness could not overcome!
This light—Jesus, illuminates with a powerful glow, every dark crevice and corner. P.H
Follow the light—the light shines before you, let the light lead you, keep your mind and eyes on Him. His light produces eternal life, Forgiveness, Love, plus no condemnation.
1 John 1:5TPT This is the life-giving message we heard him share and it’s still ringing in our ears. We now repeat his words to you: God is pure light. You will never find even a trace of darkness in him.
These words, life-giving message is related semantically to “to evangelize or preach the [life-giving] gospel.”
Psalm 27:2TPT When evil ones come to destroy me, they will be the ones who turn back.
Christians are drawn to the light, and in-return, others, meaning, even those who intended to do evil, will be touched by the power of God. They will be turned back.
Testimonies from those who heard the gospel in the past. Maybe a family member, or a friend, or quite possible, just a normal person passing by.
1 John 3:8NKJV He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Psalm 27:3TPT My heart will not fear even if an army rises to attack. I will not be shaken, even if war is imminent.
Only the Lord can give such peace; Keep looking to this light, because His peace will arrive.
Isaiah 9:6NKJV For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Say this, “I refuse to allow fear to paralyze me.”
Psalm 27:4TPT Here’s the one thing I crave from Yahweh, the one thing I seek above all else: I want to live with him every moment in his house, beholding the marvelous beauty of Yahweh, filled with awe, delighting in his glory and grace. I want to contemplate in his temple.
A temple had not yet been built when David wrote this psalm. He was saying that he longs to be surrounded with God’s presence, enclosed and encircled with holiness.
God’s dwelling place becomes more about reception, and where is He received, rather than, a demographic place.
David desired to (contemplate) being surrounded by God’s heavenly host.
Psalm 27:4bTPT …beholding the marvelous beauty of Yahweh, filled with awe, delighting in his glory and grace…
“Beauty of Yahweh” (no’am) is not easily conveyed by one English word. It can also be translated “sweetness,” “pleasantness,” “friendliness,” “graciousness,” “goodness,” “loveliness,” “splendor,” or “delightfulness.”
Take each of these terms and read verse 4b again, inserting the possible alternatives.
Beholding the sweetness of Yahweh.
Beholding the pleasantness of Yahweh.
Beholding the friendliness of Yahweh.
Beholding the graciousness of Yahweh.
Beholding the loveliness of Yahweh.
Beholding the splendor of Yahweh.
Beholding the delightfulness of Yahweh.
We must be captured by the awesomeness of God each time we come before Him.
Getting in the presence of God changes our perspective. We begin to see through the lenses of God.
We have a dog by the name of Sophie, she’s a West Highland Terrier.
One thing Jenny and I have noticed, It doesn’t matter what she’s been doing, (wet from our swimming pool, dirty, stinky) when we sit down, she gets right up on our lap. Sophie just assumes that’s her rightful position.
Psalm 27:5-6TPT In the day of trouble, he will treasure me in his shelter, under the cover of his tent. He will lift me high upon a rock, out of reach from all my enemies who surround me. 6 Triumphant now, I’ll bring him my offerings of praise, singing and shouting with ecstatic joy! Yes, I will sing praises to Yahweh!
We shall all bring God praise, He’s always worthy. He shall, Treasure me in His shelter, He shall, keep me under the cover of His tent, He shall, He shall lift me high upon a rock.
1 Timothy 1:17KJV “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Psalm 27:7TPT Hear my cry. Show me mercy, and send the help I need!
Let’s break this verse 7 down:
Hear my cry. The believer’s life is solely a walk of faith. We believe that God hears our cry.
There’s not a lot of folks who want to hear someone crying. This word cry, also means, hear my passion, my longing, hear my praise and worship. Hear my plea.
2. Show me mercy. Everyone needs the mercies of the Lord. No one is exempt from needing the Lord’s mercies.
The prophet Jeremiah wrote in Lamentations 3:21-23NKJV This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
The Lord’s compassion, His mercies, and His faithfulness is new every morning.
3. Send the help I need. God’s got the remedy, He’s got the correct answer. He knows what to do. Who to send, a word you need.
Psalm 27:8TPT I heard your voice in my heart say, “Come, seek my face;”my inner being responded, “Yahweh, I’m seeking your face with all my heart.”
Desiring His ways above mine, Wanting His approval, His go ahead, or His stop, and wait, it’s not time.
Psalm 27:9-13, David is seeking for reassurance, (It’s human). He reminds God of his faithfulness in the past.
What are His attributes?
1. Omnipotent
2. Omnipresent
3. Omniscient
The last verse of, Psalm 27:14TPT Here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Don’t give up; don’t be impatient; be entwined as one with the Lord. Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope. Yes, keep on waiting—for he will never disappoint you!
This one thing I have learned—The Lord is faithful! Don’t give up, Don’t be impatient, be entwined as one with the Lord. Be brave, be courageous, never lose hope. Yes, keep waiting, He won’t disappoint.
Psalm 27:14TM I’m sure now I’ll see God’s goodness in the exuberant earth. Stay with God! Take heart. Don’t quit. I’ll say it again: Stay with God.
Benediction.
