Introduction: Some commentators say that it is a Psalm belonging to the captivity, and upon that system it may be well interpreted. And yet others contend that it was written by David after he had been in danger of losing his life by the hand of a gigantic Philistine. David would have perished had he not been aided by Abishai (2Sa 21:17). After this battle, David was counselled by his subjects not to go out to battle any more, lest he should extinguish the light of Israel. Commentators site Psalms 27 as David’s reply.
David found his home in God when he was fearful. This is a psalm of David that speaks to my heart in a powerful way. Some see David was a controversial figure in the Old Testament because he was a deeply flawed person. Yet, David always gave particular attention to his spiritual life throughout his lifetime. He made some terrible mistakes and did some awful things in his life, but I guess the key to understanding David is that he was truly teachable, genuinely humble, quick to correct his behavior, and he valued what was going on in his inner life. He paid attention to his conscience; he wanted to live connected to God.
David had all kinds of problems. We are introduced to him first a simple shepherd, the youngest son of Jesse. Later He anointed and pronounced to be Israel’s future King, yet it was years after Samuel’s anointing that he finally became king. David was pursued by enemies, the Philistines and his father-in-law and king, Saul. While Saul was the king of Israel, he nearly lost his mind because of envy and jealousy against David. David’s life story can be found in the books of 1 and 2 Samuel in the Old Testament. They tell the story of a godly man who had all kinds of reasons to be afraid. Probably facing the last of the sons of Anak, was one of his most fearful times.
2 Samuel 21:15, the story of some additional conflicts with the Philistines, which happened in the latter end of David's reign. Though he had subdued them, they were still Philistines in the Land. They could not bring a vast army onto the battlefield, yet they had four giant champions, the brothers of Goliath leading them. They took all occasions to disturb the peace of Israel, to challenge them, or make incursions upon them. One might think, a seasoned king like David would remain in the safety of his castle, no he goes to the battlefield once again.
In 2Sa 21:15, King David himself was engaged with one of the giants. David, though old, desired not to rest at ease, but he went down in person to fight against the Philistines. He has grown old, but his courage is intact. In this engagement David finds himself exhausted. His mind seems to have betrayed his body. He knows what to do yet lacks the physical strength to do it.
There David is in distress and great danger. King David thought he could bear the burden of war as well as he had done before. His will was good, and he hoped he could do as at other times. But he found himself deceived; age had cut his hair, and, after a little toil, he waxed faint. His body could not keep pace with his mind. The champion of the Philistines was soon aware of his advantage over David, perceived that David's strength failed him, and being himself strong and well-armed, he thought to slay David; but God was not in his thoughts. The giant did not realize that in that very day He and his brother would perish. The enemies of God's people are often very strong, very subtle, and very sure of success, like Isbibenob, but there is no strength, nor counsel, nor confidence against
the Lord.
God knows how to send relief to his children. God sent relief and wonderfully rescued David by the hand of Abishai. Abishai came seasonably or at the right season to bring relief. Notice same courageous spirit in David was in his men. Abishai's courage and fidelity to his king and to Israel on full display. He saved David’s life by bravely putting his own life in danger. God brought him to David's aid at the very moment of his extremity. God never leads soldier into battle alone, he always by their side. When Abishai came to David’s rescue, he relieved his fainting spirit, smote the Philistine giant, and killed him. Apparently Abishai stood back and allowed David to have a hand in slaying the giant. David fainted, but he did not flee; though his strength failed him, he bravely kept his ground, and then God sent him this help in a time of need. David thankfully accepted help and came out a victorious conqueror. In spiritual conflicts, even strong saints sometimes wax faint; then Satan attacks them furiously; but those that stand their ground and resist him shall be relieved and made more than conquerors.
David's servants because of this encounter, resolved that David should never expose himself to this kind of danger anymore. They had easily persuaded him not to fight against Absalom (2Sa 18:3), but against the Philistines David desired to go, till, having had this narrow escape, it was resolved in council, and confirmed with an oath, that the light of Israel (its guide and glory, so David was) should never be put again into such hazard of being blown out. The lives of those who are as valuable to their country as David was ought to be preserved with a double care, both by themselves and others. And so this beautiful Psalm speaks to us today.
Ps 27:1 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? 2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
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. 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. 6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. 9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. 10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.
11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. 12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
1 We are empowered to deal with problem when we know who the Lord is. My Light and My Salvation
When he was hiding from his enemies, David would talk to himself. And he would write poems, songs. It's true that sometimes we don't really know how we feel until we write down our thoughts on paper and then read them. And the conversation David had with himself was one that he shared with God. In the conversation, David would process who God was to him.
There are many negative ways of looking at God, some of which we have been taught in our childhood by people who did not know any better. Sometimes we look at God as harsh, we look at God as being very hard judge, we look at God as being very distant. But here David says: “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?"
David understands God as his light. The one who illumines his path. When he was in hiding, David spent a lot of time hiding in caves. Dark, dank caves. David experience in God, light, illumination, understanding. And he said so.
2 We are empowered to deal with problem when we know what the Lord is. My Stronghold, My hiding Place
David also understands God as his salvation. if David was going to be saved from any one of the perilous situations, he found himself in, and if he was going to rely upon someone to save him, he was going to rely on God. He says that God is the stronghold of his life. Do you know what that means? Stronghold? A stronghold is a defensive structure: Psalms 9:9 The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. God protects me in an inaccessible place, a refuge.
So because the Lord is David's light and salvation, because the Lord is the stronghold of his life, he asks himself Who Shall I Fear? It's a rhetorical question, because since David is protected by the one who is the greatest and most powerful, ultimately does not need to live in fear. Rather, he chooses to live in loving Trust of God. When the wicked advance against me to devour him, it is his enemies and foes who will stumble and fall. “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.”
3 We are empowered to deal with problem when we believe to see good. Both now in the land of the living and in the future
David believes to see the goodness of the Lord. David's confidence in God is so great that he anticipates that even when he is the target of people who want to destroy him, he anticipates that they, rather than him, will stumble and fall. He doesn't present this as a question. He presents it as a fact. How does that kind of confidence, Empower David to deal with his problems? David raised his level of expectation. “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.”
I think this is one reason that people look to David as being someone we can learn from as we grow spiritually. Again, he was a deeply flawed man who did some very terrible things in his life, but those mistakes, those sins did not define who he was. He wasn't defined by his mistakes, and he wasn't defined by what anybody else did to him or how anybody else thought of him.
The thing that defined David is expressed well in verse 4 and 5. David didn't ask for Stuff. He didn't ask for a new car or a new house. He didn't view God as cosmic Santa Claus. Rather, he respected God as being truly beautiful, precious, holy, and Worthy of his whole life's devotion.
David was eager to be close to God. He wanted to dwell in God's home. He had such an understanding of the goodness of God that he wanted to simply gaze upon, appreciate, God's Beauty. And notice David's reference to the house of the Lord and the temple. David understood that God reveals himself to a people group, and not just individuals. So, within the understanding of the Old Testament law, and how they were taught to approach God, David sought to approach God as well.
There’s something very beautiful about David’s connection with God. Something wonderful came out of his moments of reflection. So wonderful that 3000 years later, we are reading his thoughts and can be encouraged by his journey with God. Finally, David explains why he did not give up or give in, “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Our spiritual empowerment comes as we know who the Lord is personally, and intimately. He is my light and my salvation. As we know what the Lord is, He is my stronghold, and my hiding place. Finally, our spiritual empowerment comes as we believe to see the goodness of the Lord.
