Psalms 27:1-6

Psalm 27

1

Of David.

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation. Should I fear anyone? The LORD is a fortress protecting my life. Should I be frightened of anything?

2 When evildoers come at me trying to eat me up— it's they, my foes and my enemies, who stumble and fall!

3 If an army camps against me, my heart won't be afraid. If war comes up against me, I will continue to trust in this:

4 I have asked one thing from the LORD— it's all I seek: to live in the LORD's house all the days of my life, seeing the LORD's beauty and constantly adoring his temple.

5 Because he will shelter me in his own dwelling during troubling times; he will hide me in a secret place in his own tent; he will set me up high, safe on a rock.

6 Now my head is higher than the enemies surrounding me, and I will offer sacrifices in God's tent— sacrifices with shouts of joy! I will sing and praise the LORD.

Psalms 27:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 27

\\<<[A Psalm] of David>>\\. The Septuagint interpreters add to this title, "before he was anointed". David was anointed three times, first when a youth in his father's house; but this psalm could not be written before that time, because he had not had then any experience of war, nor could be in any immediate apprehension of it, as here suggested; he was anointed a second time, after the death of Saul at Hebron, by the men of Judah; before that time indeed he had been harassed by Saul, and distressed by the Amalekites, and was driven from the public worship of God, to which he has a respect, Ps 27:4; and he was a third time anointed, by the elders of Israel, king over all Israel; and between the death of Saul and this unction there was a war between the house of David and the house of Saul; but what is referred to is not certain, nor is it of moment, since these words are neither in the Hebrew text, nor in the Chaldee paraphrase. Theodoret is of opinion this psalm was written by David when he fled from Saul, and came to Ahimelech the priest.