Psalmen 27

1 Een psalm van David. De HEERE is mijn Licht en mijn Heil, voor wien zou ik vrezen? De HEERE is mijns levens kracht, voor wien zou ik vervaard zijn?

2 Als de bozen, mijn tegenpartijen, en mijn vijanden tegen mij, tot mij naderden, om mijn vlees te eten, stieten zij zelven aan, en vielen.

3 Ofschoon mij een leger belegerde, mijn hart zou niet vrezen; ofschoon een oorlog tegen mij opstond, zo vertrouw ik hierop.

4 Een ding heb ik van den HEERE begeerd, dat zal ik zoeken: dat ik al de dagen mijns levens mocht wonen in het huis des HEEREN, om de liefelijkheid des HEEREN te aanschouwen, en te onderzoeken in Zijn tempel.

5 Want Hij versteekt mij in Zijn hut, ten dage des kwaads; Hij verbergt mij in het verborgene Zijner tent; Hij verhoogt mij op een rotssteen.

6 Ook nu zal mijn hoofd verhoogd worden boven mijn vijanden, die rondom mij zijn, en ik zal in Zijn tent offeranden des geklanks offeren; ik zal zingen, ja, psalmzingen den HEERE.

7 Hoor, HEERE! mijn stem, als ik roep; en wees mij genadig, en antwoord mij.

8 Mijn hart zegt tot U: Gij zegt: Zoek Mijn aangezicht; ik zoek Uw aangezicht, o HEERE!

9 Verberg Uw aangezicht niet voor mij, keer Uw knecht niet af in toorn; Gij zijt mijn Hulp geweest, begeef mij niet, en verlaat mij niet, o God mijns heils!

10 Want mijn vader en mijn moeder hebben mij verlaten, maar de HEERE zal mij aannemen.

11 HEERE! leer mij Uw weg, en leid mij in het rechte pad, om mijner verspieders wil.

12 Geef mij niet over in de begeerte mijner tegenpartijders; want valse getuigen zijn tegen mij opgestaan, mitsgaders die wrevel uitblaast.

13 Zo ik niet had geloofd, dat ik het goede des HEEREN zou zien in het land der levenden, ik ware vergaan.

14 Wacht op den HEERE, zijt sterk, en Hij zal uw hart versterken, ja, wacht op den HEERE.

Psalmen 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.

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.