Psalms 27:5-14

5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his tabernacle; in the secret of his tent shall he hide me; he shall set me high upon a rock.

6 And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round about me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in his tabernacle; 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 My heart has spoken unto me from thee, Seek my face. Thy face, O LORD, will I seek.

9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy slave away in anger: thou hast been my help; do not leave me or forsake me, O God of my saving health.

10 For my father and my mother have left me, and the LORD has taken me up.

11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a right path because of my enemies.

12 Deliver me not over unto the will of my 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 for the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, for the LORD.

Psalms 27:5-14 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.