Psalm Chapter 27

A Psalm of David.

Psalm 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?

This is a reminder to all who are going through a trial of being criticized, threatened or persecuted for their faith.

Jesus said:

Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

In reality the persecutors have much more to fear than those faithful to the cause of Christ.

Psalm 27:2 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.

God will avenge all who are faithful to Him even if they face death for the gospel's sake. David had trouble continually from the jealousy of King Saul. It broke David's heart because he had no desire to take Saul's place to be king. God chose David. He did not choose himself.

2Thessalonians 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

This doesn't mean God does not love enemies. He always prefers to save, but when people are stiff necked, stubborn and want to harm those that try to bring the great news of the gospel without being willing to stop, God has to bring vengeance and put a stop to the evil.

Psalm 27:4 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.

Imagine forever dwelling in the presence of God. Safe, secure, and forever happy. That will come to those that obey God and receive His salvation He provided.

Although verse 4 speaks of dwelling in God's presence forever, we can also think of desiring to be with other believers continually in a place of worship.

When one finds a church where people truly care about one another and are faithful to the word of God, it is one of the greatest treasures you can find in this day of much apostasy. We need fellow believers so much more as evil days approach.

There is another thought also to this verse. When one receives Jesus Christ into their hearts, He dwells with us in the person of the Holy Spirit. We will inherit the continual presence of the Lord but the good thing is that we don't have to wait until the Lord returns for this to happen. The minute one confesses His sins and comes to Jesus Christ, God sends the Holy Spirit to abide with him or her. We can continually seek to be filled with God's spirit and all the gifts of the spirit that will enable us to obey the calling God places upon our lives.

Jesus does more than forgive sins; He frees us from sin and gives us His Holy Spirit to dwell within us. All we have to do is ask to receive the Holy Spirit. We can walk in the continual presence of the Lord now. This is not a one time occurrence. We can continue to walk in the spirit and walk in faith.

It is still a walk by faith because there are times when it seems like the Lord is not with us, but He is with us every day after we come to Him.

Psalm 27:5 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.

God's presence will dwell with believers in times of trouble or in peace. We need Him continually. Those that obey God will be as one set upon a rock. A rock represents a solid foundation that cannot be moved. Those that forsake God, ignore God and have lost their fear of God are on a slippery slope that will fall and be broken up.

Psalm 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

It is sad to think about but God has to stop evil eventually or else it will continue forever.

Psalm 27:6 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.

This is why we sing praises to the Lord. He offers us salvation, eternal life, deliverance, joy, peace and all good things. Shame on us if we stop praising Him. Never make fun of or criticize those that praise the Lord.

Psalm 27:7 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.

Ask, seek, and find the true treasures from the Lord. Nothing on earth can compare to God's salvation and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Nothing.

2Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The message before Christ came the first time, was to turn from wickedness and seek God. The answer after Christ came is the same. Turn from sin or repent and seek God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus paid the price for sin for those both before and after Christ's entering the world. They may not have realized fully who Jesus Christ was in the Old Testament but if they repented of sin and turned to God, they were saved by the one who was coming to die for sins in the future. By repenting of sin and seeking God, it showed faith in God to provide that forgiveness of sin that was to come.

Isaiah 53 shows the sacrifice that was to come to pay the price of sin. Isaiah 53 clearly describes none other than Jesus Christ.

The wages of sin is death. Sin brings the eternal death of the soul in a place called hell. Sin had to be paid for by a spotless sacrifice. Jesus Christ was the only man that never sinned and was able to be that sacrifice.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Psalm 27:9 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.

To every one that believes and receives God's way of salvation through faith in His Son, Jesus, God dwells with them. Even if all, including your mother and father, forsake you, God will not forsake those that trust in Him. Rarely will a mom and dad forsake their children. It happens but rarely. God though will never forsake those that believe and trust in Him.

Psalm 27:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

We should continually ask God to teach us His ways. If we diligently seek, Him, He will make the way plain and easy to understand. We will not be in the dark. We receive what we desire to receive.

Psalm 27:12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

Enemies are those that oppose God, God's word and try to stop the spreading of the gospel. God will one day take vengeance on those that persecute His people.

Psalm 27:13 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.

This is where many of us fail. We do not wait on the Lord. We live in an instant generation and we want everything now. If it doesn't come, we think God has not heard us. Wait on the Lord. Stay in His presence. Continually seek His face. Don't give up. Enjoy His presence. Always repent of sin if you slip back into sin. Don't be satisfied to live a half-hearted Christian life.

How can we say we love God and ignore His commandments? How can we say we love God and ignore the main message of salvation. How can we say we love God and desire to return to sin? God gives us one to help.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

After coming to Christ and receiving His indwelling Holy Spirit, we are never alone.

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

God will not leave any believer alone. He sends a comforter. The Holy Ghost. Amen. -DC

Psalm 28

Psalm Index