Psalms 27

A Declaration of Trust

1

Of David.

1 Yahweh [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Yahweh [is] the refuge of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evildoers drew near against me to eat my flesh-- my adversaries and my enemies [who drew near] to me-- they themselves stumbled and fell.

3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart will not fear. Though war arise against me, [even] in this I [will] remain confident.

4 One [thing] I have asked from Yahweh; it I will seek: [that] I may dwell in the house of Yahweh all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of Yahweh, and to consider his temple.

5 Because he will hide me in his shelter in [the] day of trouble. He will conceal me in the hiding place of his tent. He will set me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head will be high over my enemies round about me. And I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to Yahweh.

7 Hear, O Yahweh, my voice [when] I call, and be gracious to me and answer me.

8 On your behalf my heart says, "Seek my face." Your face, O Yahweh, I do seek.

9 Do not hide your face from me; do not turn your servant away in anger. You have been my help; do not abandon nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.

10 If my father or my mother forsake me, then Yahweh will receive me.

11 Teach me, O Yahweh, your way, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.

12 Do not give me over to the desire of my enemies, because false witnesses have arisen against me, and [each] breathing out violence.

13 Surely I believe [that I will] see the goodness of Yahweh in [the] land of [the] living.

14 Wait for Yahweh. Be strong and let your heart show strength, and wait for Yahweh.

Psalms 27 Commentary

Chapter 27

The psalmist's faith. (1-6) His desire toward God, and expectation from him. (7-14)

Verses 1-6 The Lord, who is the believer's light, is the strength of his life; not only by whom, but in whom he lives and moves. In God let us strengthen ourselves. The gracious presence of God, his power, his promise, his readiness to hear prayer, the witness of his Spirit in the hearts of his people; these are the secret of his tabernacle, and in these the saints find cause for that holy security and peace of mind in which they dwell at ease. The psalmist prays for constant communion with God in holy ordinances. All God's children desire to dwell in their Father's house. Not to sojourn there as a wayfaring man, to tarry but for a night; or to dwell there for a time only, as the servant that abides not in the house for ever; but to dwell there all the days of their life, as children with a father. Do we hope that the praising of God will be the blessedness of our eternity? Surely then we ought to make it the business of our time. This he had at heart more than any thing. Whatever the Christian is as to this life, he considers the favour and service of God as the one thing needful. This he desires, prays for and seeks after, and in it he rejoices.

Verses 7-14 Wherever the believer is, he can find a way to the throne of grace by prayer. God calls us by his Spirit, by his word, by his worship, and by special providences, merciful and afflicting. When we are foolishly making court to lying vanities, God is, in love to us, calling us to seek our own mercies in him. The call is general, "Seek ye my face;" but we must apply it to ourselves, "I will seek it." The word does us no good, when we do not ourselves accept the exhortation: a gracious heart readily answers to the call of a gracious God, being made willing in the day of his power. The psalmist requests the favour of the Lord; the continuance of his presence with him; the benefit of Divine guidance, and the benefit of Divine protection. God's time to help those that trust in him, is, when all other helpers fail. He is a surer and better Friend than earthly parents are, or can be. What was the belief which supported the psalmist? That he should see the goodness of the Lord. There is nothing like the believing hope of eternal life, the foresights of that glory, and foretastes of those pleasures, to keep us from fainting under all calamities. In the mean time he should be strengthened to bear up under his burdens. Let us look unto the suffering Saviour, and pray in faith, not to be delivered into the hands of our enemies. Let us encourage each other to wait on the Lord, with patient expectation, and fervent prayer.

Footnotes

• [a]. The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm
• [b]. Or "temple"
• [c]. Or "inquire in"
• [d]. Or "and [each] a witness of violence"
• [e]. Hebrew text is uncertain

Chapter Summary

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.