Psalm 27:3

3 Though an army should set itself in array against me, my heart shall not be afraid: though war should rise up against me, in this am I confident.

Psalm 27:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 27:3

Though an host should encamp against me
An host of the ungodly, as the Targum; though ever so many of them, even ten thousands of them, as in ( Psalms 3:6 ) ; should beset him on every side;

my heart shall not fear;
for not only the angels of the Lord encamped about him, as they do about all that fear the Lord; but salvation was appointed for walls and bulwarks about him; yea, the Lord himself was a wall of fire around him, and he was kept as in a garrison by the power of God;

though war should rise against me:
in all its terrible shapes:

in this [will] I [be] confident;
either in this war, in the midst of it; or in this that he had expressed, ( Psalms 27:1 ) ; that the Lord was his light, his salvation, and the strength of his life; so the Jewish writers ^F5: or as others ^F6, in this one thing, desired in ( Psalms 27:4 ) ; but either of the former senses is best, especially the latter of them. Saints need not be afraid, though there is a war within them between the flesh and spirit; and though without are fightings with Satan and his principalities and powers; since they may be confident of victory, and that they are more than conquerors, through Christ that has loved them.

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 Jarchi, Kimchi, & Aben Ezra in loc.
F6 Some in Aben Ezra in loc.

Psalm 27:3 In-Context

1 The Lord is my light and my Saviour; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the defender of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evil-doers drew nigh against me to eat up my flesh, my persecutors and mine enemies, they fainted and fell.

3 Though an army should set itself in array against me, my heart shall not be afraid: though war should rise up against me, in this am I confident.

4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, this will I earnestly seek: that I should dwell in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life, that I should behold the fair beauty of the Lord, and survey his temple.

5 For in the day of mine afflictions he hid me in his tabernacle: he sheltered me in the secret of his tabernacle; he set me up on a rock.

6 And now, behold, he has lifted up mine head over mine enemies: I went round and offered in his tabernacle the sacrifice of joy; I will sing even sing psalms to the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, my voice which I have uttered aloud: pity me, and hearken to me.

8 My heart said to thee, I have diligently sought thy face: thy face, O Lord, I will seek.

9 Turn not thy face away from me, turn not thou away from thy servant in anger: be thou my helper, forsake me not; and, O God my Saviour, overlook me not.

10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord has taken me to himself.

11 Teach me, O Lord, in thy way, and guide me in a right path, because of mine enemies.

12 Deliver me not over to the desire of them that afflict me; for unjust witnesses have risen up against me, and injustice has lied within herself.

13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and let thy heart be strengthened: yea wait on the Lord.