SIH’s Think On These Things: Psalms 27:14

Psalms 27: [A Psalm] of David. The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?When the wicked, [even] mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this [will] I [be] confident. One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Hear, O LORD, [when] I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.[When thou saidst], Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Hide not thy face [far] from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.[I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.  

As we will see in our series, King David addresses many of the same issues that each and every one of us faces when we are in the midst of the most difficult, fearful situations of life. May the Lord honor this study in His Word, by granting to us the truths of this Psalm and their practical application to our life.  

EXPOSITION:  

In our text for today, David concludes his Psalm on dealing with the fearful times of our lives. Keep in mind that, so far, we have seen:  

1. David’s confidence in the Lord (vs 1-3)
2. David’s desire of the Lord (vs 4-5)
3. David’s praise of the Lord (vs 6)
4. David’s request for God’s presence (vs 7-11)
5. David’s request for deliverance from his enemies (vs 12)
6. David’s motivation to persevere in the midst of his difficulties (vs 13)

  Now, in this final section of the Psalm, David reaches out to each one of us with words of encouragement as we, too, face the fearful times of our lives.  

David’s words of encouragement to others…  

Psalms 27:14 “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”  

David encourages us to do two things in times of hardship, opposition, and fear:  

“Wait on the LORD:

First of all, David instructs us to “wait on the Lord”.   The word “wait” comes to us from a Hebrew word that means “to collect hopefully” or “to gather together expectantly”.   The idea David is expressing to us is the need to collect:

1. our needs

2. truths about His person and work

3. His promises to us.  

Then, based upon this “collection”, wait for Him expectantly.  

In other words, when we understand who He is and what He can do for us, then we become aware of His great promises of care, protection and enablement that He gives to us, we can confidently expect our needs to be met.  

 

be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart:

Secondly, David encourages us to “be of good courage”.

This can only be done if we are waiting upon Him.   In other words, because we are expecting the Lord to intervene on our behalf, then we can take control of our fears and put them aside.   There is nothing to fear, He will step in and meet our every need. Perhaps this will be by taking the situation from us, or perhaps, it will be by standing with us in the midst of the trial. In either case, we can boldly face the fearful times, knowing He is with us.  

wait, I say, on the LORD.”

David in summary, emphasizes the need to “Wait on the Lord”    

APPLICATION:  

Folks may we always learn to wait upon the Lord in times of trials. In doing so, we are submitting to His will for our lives, allowing Him to intervene without our interference, and standing boldly against our opposition through His gracious enablement.  

“A Song of degrees. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants [look] unto the hand of their masters, [and] as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes [wait] upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.” (Psalms 123:1-2)

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SIH’s Think On These Things: Psalms 27:13

Psalms 27: [A Psalm] of David. The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?When the wicked, [even] mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this [will] I [be] confident. One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Hear, O LORD, [when] I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.[When thou saidst], Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Hide not thy face [far] from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.[I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.  

As we will see in our series, King David addresses many of the same issues that each and every one of us faces when we are in the midst of the most difficult, fearful situations of life. May the Lord honor this study in His Word, by granting to us the truths of this Psalm and their practical application to our life.  

EXPOSITION:  

In our text for today, David now helps us to understand the source of his strength in the midst of the fearful times of his life…   Psa 27:13 KJV I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.      

I had fainted,

In this part of David’s psalm, we can see his acknowledging that, without Christ, he cannot stand in the fearful times of his life. It is of utmost importance for each of us to recognize our weakness during times of opposition. In doing so, we will be more careful to look to the Lord and rely upon Him and remember His gracious workings in times past…  

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and [why] art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him [for] the help of his countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. [Yet] the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song [shall be] with me, [and] my prayer unto the God of my life.” (Psalms 42:5-8)        

unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

David’s great source of encouragement and strength was founded in his belief that the Lord will continue to bless him during his time of heartache and fear. The “goodness of the Lord” describes the Lord’s workings whereby He mercifully works: 1. in a pleasing, delightful fashion 2. in a merciful fashion 3. bringing about that which is beneficial   David believed the Lord would show him mercy, work on his behalf, and in doing so, bring joy to David’s heart.   This is what kept David going in the midst of such horrific trials.  

APPLICATION:  

Folks, as we go about our day and face the trials and fears that may come our way, let’s remember that we are a needy people. Our greatest need is for the Lord’s loving intervention in our lives.   May we look to Him in faith, remembering His past deliverances in our lives, and trust Him for His continuing watch care over us.   Then we can allow the Lord’s perspective blessings on our behalf encourage, strengthen and give us boldness as we face the difficult situations of life.  

“And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou [art but] a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered [it] out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught [him] by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.” (1 Samuel 17:32-37)  

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SIH’s Think On These Things: Psalms 27:12

Psalms 27: [A Psalm] of David. The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?When the wicked, [even] mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this [will] I [be] confident. One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Hear, O LORD, [when] I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.[When thou saidst], Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Hide not thy face [far] from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.[I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. 

As we will see in our series, King David addresses many of the same issues that each and every one of us faces when we are in the midst of the most difficult, fearful situations of life. May the Lord honor this study in His Word, by granting to us the truths of this Psalm and their practical application to our life.  

EXPOSITION:  

In our text for today, David now continues his prayer, coming before the Lord with his requests…  

Psa 27:12 KJV Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.    

Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies:

Another way to describe David’s request of the Lord is …“Do not hand me over to the selfish desires of my enemies” In this request we can learn at least two different principles:  

First of all, David recognized that the Lord was the One with the ultimate control of his life. He was under the Lord’s control and, therefore, the only way David would become a victim to his enemies would be it his Lord allowed it to be so (the Lord “delivering” him to his enemies).  

Secondly, David recognized that his enemies desires were based upon selfishness. The Hebrew word translated “will” describes the natural, carnal will of man that is greedy, selfish, and demands satiation. This selfish will of fallen man is in direct opposition to the will of His Lord who, due to His great love for us, He only works for our benefit and His glory.  

If we put these two truths together, David could rest assured that, if he fell into the hands of his enemies, His Lord would have to allow it to take place for David’s benefit.  

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward [man] is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory;While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)     for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

David describes his enemies in two different ways: First of all, David describes them as “false witnesses”. In other words, they were men who lied about David’s deeds and motivations. David loved the Lord and sought to serve Him with his life, but was pictured as an evildoer who was motivated by selfish interests.  

Secondly, David describes them as “such as breathe out cruelty” This description teaches us that the enemies of David were cruel by nature, naturally being hateful, unforgiving and abusive to all that were around them.  

Can you imagine what these people were like? They were mean people motivated by selfishness. Their only concern was themselves and would go to any lengths to secure benefits for themselves. Probably all of us have run across people that were similar to these people.

However, the enemies in David’s day were thirsting for his blood, desiring to take his life. For us today, normally, those who are abusive around us will not desire nor attempt to kill us.    

APPLICATION:  

What can we learn about dealing with the fearful times of life from this devotional?   Well, first of all we need to always remember that, if we are one of the Lord’s, we can rest assured we are secure in His hands. No one can take our salvation from us, nor can they remove us from His sovereign control in all areas of our lives.

Because of this we can rest assured that NO evil will befall us unless it is for our good and His glory.  

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand.” (John 10:28-29)  

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.”   (Romans 8:28)  

Secondly, those who would oppose us and wish us harm are, in actuality, helping us to remember how blessed we are as the people of God. The slight discomfort we might feel when we are being opposed by others is a small taste of what it would be like if the Lord we served a selfish tyrant.

However, thanks be to our Lord, we serve a gracious, loving, kind, and merciful Lord that only desires the best for His people… and brings the best to pass everyday of our lives. What a wonderful Lord we serve!   When we think of these things, it helps us to realize that we do not have things as bad as we may sometimes think!  

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SIH’s Think On These Things: Psalms 27:11

Psalms 27: [A Psalm] of David. The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?When the wicked, [even] mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this [will] I [be] confident. One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Hear, O LORD, [when] I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.[When thou saidst], Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Hide not thy face [far] from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.[I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.  
As we will see in our series, King David addresses many of the same issues that each and every one of us faces when we are in the midst of the most difficult, fearful situations of life. May the Lord honor this study in His Word, by granting to us the truths of this Psalm and their practical application to our life.  
EXPOSITION:  
In our text for today, David now continues his prayer coming before the Lord with his requests…  
Psa 27:11 KJV “Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.”   “Teach me thy way, O LORD,
David now requests the Lord to “teach me thy way”. Please notice that David did not say” teach me the way to get out of this situation”, no, all he desired was to be shown the path the Lord would have him to take, whether it would end in removal from his situation, or cause him to remain in it.  All he wanted was to fulfill the Lord’s will for his life.    
and lead me in a plain path,
David wanted the Lord to lead him on a path that was clear and straight. In other words, he wanted the Lord’s path to be easy to see and walk upon so that there was no chance of him accidently getting off the course the Lord had laid for his life.  
“Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips [shall be] right things.For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness [is] an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth [are] in righteousness; [there is] nothing froward or perverse in them.They [are] all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.” (Proverbs 8:6-9)      
because of mine enemies.”
David was very concerned about his testimony before others, especially his enemies. David’s desire was to be able to easily follow the Lord’s path for his life so that he might not fall into temptation and fall into sin, giving his enemies a reason to accuse him and bring dishonor to David and the Lord that he served.  
“Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.Teach me to do thy will; for thou [art] my God: thy spirit [is] good; lead me into the land of uprightness.” (Psalms 143:8-10)    
APPLICATION:  
One of the great burdens upon David’s heart during his time in the midst of the fearful events of his life, was the need to keep the Lord’s will and retain a good testimony in the eyes of others. David knew for this to happen, the Lord would have to intervene in his life, show him His will clearly, and enable him to fulfill that will.   When faced with the fearful times of life, may we all keep our attention fixed on the Lord and His will for our lives, seeking to honor and glorify Him in all that we do.  
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SIH’s Think On These Things: Psalms 27:10

Psalms 27: [A Psalm] of David. The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?When the wicked, [even] mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this [will] I [be] confident. One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Hear, O LORD, [when] I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.[When thou saidst], Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Hide not thy face [far] from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.[I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.  
As we will see in our series, King David addresses many of the same issues that each and every one of us faces when we are in the midst of the most difficult, fearful situations of life. May the Lord honor this study in His Word, by granting to us the truths of this Psalm and their practical application to our life.  
EXPOSITION:  
In our text for today, David now continues his prayer coming before the Lord with his requests…   Psa 27:10 KJV When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.      

When my father and my mother forsake me,
The relationship between a parent and a child should be one of the closest, loving relationships that can be found among mankind. After all, the Lord has given parents the responsibility to protect, train, discipline and support their children in every way possible, for the good of the child and the glory of the Lord.  
During the course of David’s life, which included facing many difficult fearful times, he had learned that even his parents were unable, or unwilling to fulfill their responsibilities. The greater lesson to be learned from this statement is that the closest of allies can, and will, fail us…
“Put not your trust in princes, [nor] in the son of man, in whom [there is] no help.His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” (Psalms 146:3-4)     then the LORD will take me up.
Keep in mind, the natural inclination of parents should be to come to the aid of their children and giving their all to protect, encourage and strengthen them. How much more does that hold true with our heavenly Father? The Lord, alone, is our perfect refuge in times of need…    
“I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, [and set me] in a large place. The LORD [is] on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see [my desire] upon them that hate me.[It is] better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” (Psalms 118:5-8)   “
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.” Psa 103:13 KJV    
APPLICATION:  
In this devotional for this morning, we can see that David understood the dangers inherent in trusting in mankind during the fearful times of our lives. Because of the fallen nature of man, we can never fully trust them to always work for our good. Not so with our Lord. Our Lord alone will work perfectly on our behalf, loving us, caring for us, and protecting us, while we are yet in the midst of the storms of life.  
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, [and] from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth [shall be thy] shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; [nor] for the arrow [that] flieth by day;[Nor] for the pestilence [that] walketh in darkness; [nor] for the destruction [that] wasteth at noonday.A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; [but] it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.” (Psalms 91:1-8)  
May we always look to our Lord in times of great distress and upheaval, knowing that He, alone, is our certain refuge in the storm.  
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SIH’s Think On These Things: Psalms 27:9

Psalms 27: [A Psalm] of David. The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?When the wicked, [even] mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this [will] I [be] confident. One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Hear, O LORD, [when] I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.[When thou saidst], Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Hide not thy face [far] from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.[I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.  

As we will see in our series, King David addresses many of the same issues that each and every one of us faces when we are in the midst of the most difficult, fearful situations of life. May the Lord honor this study in His Word, by granting to us the truths of this Psalm and their practical application to our life.  

EXPOSITION:  

In our text for today, David now continues his prayer by making more specific requests of Him…   Psa 27:9 KJV Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.    

Hide not thy face far from me;

Request #4: The Lord to continue to reveal Himself to David.

David desired the Lord to reveal Himself to David during this time of fear. The more David could see the Lord’s greatness, wisdom, strength and glory in his life, the less scared he would be. Previously, David had asked the Lord to allow him to see the Lord at work in His life. Now David is asking the Lord to allow him to see His Person as an encouragement to David.  

 

put not thy servant away in anger:

Request #5: The Lord to remain close to David, withholding His anger by forgiving him of is sin.

“Lord do not turn away from me in anger due to my sin”.  David is requesting the Lord’s forgiveness for any sin he has committed, thus assuring the Lord’s closeness in his time of need. During the fearful times of our life, it is so important for us to know that we are forgiven, and eternally secure based upon the work of Christ on the cross. In doing so, we are assured of His never-ending love and presence in our lives…

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”   (Romans 8:35-39)  

 

thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

Request #6:

The Lord to not abandon or turn away from David David recalls the many times the Lord had given him aid during times of trials or granted him deliverance from them. David recognized his weaknesses during those trying times of life. But he also recognized the Lord’s ability to ALWAYS strengthen those areas of need. Now David asks the Lord to accompany him, realizing his great need of the Lord as he walked down this fearful path of life.  

 

APPLICATION:

In our look at David’s requests to the Lord during the fearful times of life, we have seen David’s many requests…

#1: The Lord to “hear” his requests. #2: The Lord’s mercy to be shown to David #3: The Lord to answer the requests of David #4: The Lord to reveal Himself to David. #5: The Lord to withholding His anger by forgiving David’s sin. #6: The Lord to not abandon or turn away from David

But it the midst of all these requests, David determined to desire, and then accept, the Lord’s will for his life.   Please note that all of the above requests, we can see David’s great desire for the Lord’s continuing presence and intervention in His life during this fearful time. David has yet to verbalize specific requests concerning the current situation he was facing.  

This speaks volumes to us about what David considered his most important needs. His greatest need was not to be delivered from His enemies…. It was to be certain the Lord was with Him. His most fervent desires did not center on his assurance of deliverance from his trials, but his assurance of the Lord’s protective intervention in his life.  

What a wonderful example and testimony David is leaving for us in this Psalm. To put it very simply, David is saying…. Our greatest need is life is not comfort nor an easing of our trials… it is Christ’s presence in our lives!  

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence [is] fulness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore.” (Psalms 16:11)      

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SIH’s Think On These Things: Psalms 27:7

Psalms 27: [A Psalm] of David. The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?When the wicked, [even] mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this [will] I [be] confident. One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Hear, O LORD, [when] I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.[When thou saidst], Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Hide not thy face [far] from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.[I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.  

As we will see in our series, King David addresses many of the same issues that each and every one of us faces when we are in the midst of the most difficult, fearful situations of life. May the Lord honor this study in His Word, by granting to us the truths of this Psalm and their practical application to our life.  

EXPOSITION:  

David now begins to bring his requests before the Lord…

Psalms 27:7 Hear, O LORD, [when] I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.[When thou saidst], Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.    

The first appeal to the Lord that is made is for the Lord’s gracious acceptance of the requests he is about to make…  

Hear, O LORD, [when] I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

Request #1: David now asks the Lord to “hear” his requests.

The idea of “hear” involves not only perceiving his requests but placing His attention upon them. It is one thing to hear a request, it is another thing to really pay attention to it, consider it, and act accordingly upon it. David understood he did not deserve for the Lord to hear nor actively consider his requests. The Lord owed him nothing. And yet, David also understood the Lord’s love, mercy and grace. He knew that the Lord, as a loving heavenly Father, would accept his requests and act in his best interest.

David’s requests would be in the form of a “cry”.  In the Hebrew language the word translated “cry” means “to address by name”. In other words, as David presented his appeals to the Lord, he would be crying out to God by His name (Jehovah, Deliverer, Merciful One, Defender, Almighty, etc etc). He would be recognizing who He was and what He has done for His people.   have mercy also upon me,

Request #2: The Lord’s mercy to be shown to David

Now we see that David asks the Lord to show him His mercy. David understands that he does not deserve for his requests to be granted. That is why he asks the Lord to intervene in his life by His mercy. What does mercy mean?  The most basic definition of “mercy” throughout both Old and New Testaments is the idea of withholding something harmful to those who deserve to be harmed. The greatest example of this is the Lord withholding the Lake of Fire to each one of us (as sinners who deserve to be punished eternally). So too, is this case. David is saying that, because he is a sinner by nature and choice, he deserves to live in a fallen world that is filled with trials, difficulties, sorrows and fears. The Lord could very justly allow David to face these evils unaided and without any divine intervention. His only option is to plead for the mercy of the Lord to intervene in this situation and come to his aid and defense.   and answer me.

Request #3: The Lord to answer the requests of David

David asks that the Lord might intervene in such a way that David can perceive the workings of the Lord in his midst. We all know what it feels like to come before the Lord with our requests and not sense His presence and intervention in our situation. We feel as if we are all alone and He has left us.

Although every Christian, by faith, understands that the Lord will never leave nor forsake us, and He ALWAYS answers our prayers, we still desire to sense the Lord is at work in our lives during troublesome times. This is what David is requesting of the Lord.  

 

[When thou saidst], Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

David’s declaration of submission to His will.

David, as he brings his requests to the Lord, he verbally proclaims the submissive spirit that lies within him. He simply explains that he is acting according to the revealed will of God for his life. The Lord has told us in His Word to seek His face and that is what David is attempting to do. May we all be in submission to His will as we bring our requests before Him.

May we all be able to say to the Lord “not my will but thine be done” just as Christ set the example for us at Gethsemane.  

 

APPLICATION: As David begins to bring his requests before the Lord, he takes the time to humbly ask His Lord to hear his requests, show him His mercy, and to reveal himself to the Lord. As he approached the Lord he retained a spirit of submission to the Lord’s will and a willing to do whatever the Lord may desire for His life. May we all make sure that our attitude aligns itself with that of King David as we bring our requests before our loving, merciful Lord.

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SIH’s Think On These Things: Psalms 27:6

Psalms 27: [A Psalm] of David. The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?When the wicked, [even] mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this [will] I [be] confident. One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Hear, O LORD, [when] I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.[When thou saidst], Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Hide not thy face [far] from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.[I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.  

As we will see in our series, King David addresses many of the same issues that each and every one of us faces when we are in the midst of the most difficult, fearful situations of life. May the Lord honor this study in His Word, by granting to us the truths of this Psalm and their practical application to our life.  

EXPOSITION:

In this part of our text, David explains, due to his knowledge of the protection given to him by His Lord, what his attitude can be in the midst of life’s storms… Psalms 27:6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.  

 

And now

Based upon David’s close walk with the Lord, and his knowledge of the Lord’s protecting hand of grace…    

 

 

shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me:

He found himself being encouraged and strengthened (head lifted up) even while his enemies surrounded him. In other words, he was encouraged and strengthened while yet under the burden of the fearful event taking place. He had not been delivered, yet found encouragement knowing that his Lord was with Him in the midst of it all.  

 

 

therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

Because he knew that his Lord was with him… David joyfully worshiped and sang praises to his Lord.    

APPLICATION:

As we come to a greater realization of the Lord’s protecting presence in our lives in the midst of the fearful times that we face, let us by faith bring Him joyful praise and honor for all He does for us. Let us never take the Lord, His presence and His blessings for granted, but always appreciate and glorify Him for all He does for us!  

“To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.   He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, [and] established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, [even] praise unto our God: many shall see [it], and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed [is] that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.Many, O LORD my God, [are] thy wonderful works [which] thou hast done, and thy thoughts [which are] to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: [if] I would declare and speak [of them], they are more than can be numbered.” (Psalms 40:1-5)  

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SIH’s Think On These Things: Psalms 27:5

Psalms 27: [A Psalm] of David. The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?When the wicked, [even] mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this [will] I [be] confident. One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Hear, O LORD, [when] I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.[When thou saidst], Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Hide not thy face [far] from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.[I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.  

As we will see in our series, King David addresses many of the same issues that each and every one of us faces when we are in the midst of the most difficult, fearful situations of life. May the Lord honor this study in His Word, by granting to us the truths of this Psalm and their practical application to our life.  

EXPOSITION:  

In this part of our text, David explains one of the reasons why he so greatly desired a close walk with the Lord…  Psalms 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.  

David understood that the Lord was the only One that he could rely upon, with certainty, as a help during times fo great fearful trials of life.  

 

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion:

David describes a fearful time of life as “the time of trouble” (the day of danger of harm). It was during those times that David could run to the Lord, who would protectively cover David in His den.  

 

in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me;

David further describes the Lord’s protection as covering David in the hidden places of His tent.  

 

he shall set me up upon a rock.

The Lord’s protection of David could also be pictured as the Lord holding David up over the tempest that raged beneath him. David said that the Lord would “set me up” (to lift up high using the hand or rod). In doing so, the Lord was placing David upon “a rock” (giving him firmness and stability). David understood the need to retain a close relationship to the One that would truly be there for him no matter what he may face in life. Although his family, friends and acquaintances would all eventually fail him, the Lord would never fail.  

Always remember the promise the Lord gave to His physical chosen nation (the Israelites) and remember this same Lord will be faithful to His spiritually chosen nation (the Israel Of God) as well … “And the LORD, he [it is] that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)  

 

APPLICATION:  

Folks let us draw near to our Lord, and in doing so He will draw near to us as our Protector, Guide and Deliverer during the very difficult times of our lives. How are we to do this? We can do this by trusting in Him and His enabling grace to rid our lives of sin (through prayer and the application of His Word). And then submitting our cleansed being to His use for His honor and His glory! …

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”   (Hebrews 10:22)  

“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and [your] joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (James 4:6-10)  

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SIH’s Think On These Things: Psalms 27:4

Psalms 27: [A Psalm] of David. The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?When the wicked, [even] mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this [will] I [be] confident. One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Hear, O LORD, [when] I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.[When thou saidst], Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Hide not thy face [far] from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.[I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. 

As we will see in our series, King David addresses many of the same issues that each and every one of us faces when we are in the midst of the most difficult, fearful situations of life.

May the Lord honor this study in His Word, by granting to us the truths of this Psalm and their practical application to our life.  

EXPOSITION:

In this part of our text, we have clearly revealed David’s great desire for an intimate relationship with His Lord.  

Psalms 27:4 “One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.”    

“One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after”

The intensity of His desire for intimacy with the Lord is reflected in his outward actions.  He came before the Lord urgently requesting and actively, diligently, pursuing fellowship with Him. David understood that a close relationship with the Lord was the lifeblood of anyone facing fearful times in his life. To know that the Lord is close to us, guiding us, and protecting us is like a stream of life-sustaining water in the midst of the desert of stressful and uncertain times of life.    

“that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,”

David describes intimacy with the Lord as dwelling in His house. Keep in mind, in the Old Testament times, the Lord displayed His presence in both the tabernacle (in David’s day and prior) and in the temple (Solomon’s day until NT times).   His presence is described as Him, literally, dwelling in these two houses of worship.

Now, David tells us that he desired “to dwell in the house of the Lord” (to live where God lived). The most intimate of relationships are had when people live together in the same place.

How long did David desire to enjoy a close relationship with His Lord? “All the days of my life”.  He didn’t say “when I am facing the fearful times of life”. No, David desired a close walk with Him 24/7. Why was this?   Communion is a wonderful blessing for His people at all times… in good times and bad, in times of plenty and need, in times of joy and sorrow.

In any condition of life, it is a great blessing to be close to our Lord. It is only the desire of a carnal, or immature Christian to desire the Lord’s presence only in the bad times of life. A mature, spiritual Christian will enjoy His presence at all times.  

“to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.”

David’s close walk with the Lord would allow him to “gaze at” (behold) Him in His greatness. In other words, David wanted to learn more about Him, who He was and what He does. Not only that, but David also desired to be more receptive of the Lord’s will for his life. The word for “enquire” comes from a Hebrew word for “plough”, this word is describing opening up the soil to receive seed and then bring forth fruit. David wanted to come before the Lord with an open heart, seeking to receive His Word (as seed), which would result in David’s bearing of fruit for the Lord’s glory and honor.  

 

APPLICATION:

Folks, as we continue to mature as Christian’s let us all, like King David, seek to continue in the presence of Almighty God. In doing so, we will learn more about Him, His works among men, and His desires for our life.   When this knowledge of Him is received into a softened heart, spiritual growth and bearing spiritual fruit will increase…even during the fearful times of life.

“Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (Isaiah 41:10)  

SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org

SIH Text Blog: http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/

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SIH’s Think On These Things: Psalms 27:3

Psalms 27: [A Psalm] of David. The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?When the wicked, [even] mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this [will] I [be] confident. One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Hear, O LORD, [when] I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.[When thou saidst], Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Hide not thy face [far] from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.[I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
As we will see in our series, King David addresses many of the same issues that each and every one of us faces when we are in the midst of the most difficult, fearful situations of life. May the Lord honor this study in His Word, by granting to us the truths of this Psalm and their practical application to our life.  
EXPOSITION:
Psalms 27:3 “Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this [will] I [be] confident.”
What great faith is being shown by King David!
Even if an army of warriors would plant themselves against him, David’s innermost parts would not be terrified. Although a war would be waged against him, he would still be assured.   What was the basis of his great confidence?   Remember the context of this passage…
In vs 1, we saw that David recalled the Lord’s greatness and His role in David’s life as his “light”, “salvation” and “strength of life”… “The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” In vs
2, David remembered examples of the past deliverances that the Lord had brought to pass…. “When the wicked, [even] mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.” These principles gave David his great assurance in the midst of life’s trials. This assurance rested upon His knowledge of the Lord’s greatness, His enabling graces, and His past deliverances.  

APPLICATION:
In the midst of the fearful times of our lives, it is important that we spend plenty of time in the Word of the Lord. It is in His Word that we can learn more of His greatness, His protective intervention in the lives of His people and His deliverances of the saints of old.
It is in these areas of His Word that we will find rest in the midst of the storm…
“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, [and] strengthenedst me [with] strength in my soul. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great [is] the glory of the LORD.” (Psalms 138:2-5) SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org SIH Text Blog: http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/ SIH Video Blog: http://youtube.com/settledinheaven/ SIH Email: settledinheaven@gmail.com

SIH’s Think On These Things: Psalms 27:2

Psalms 27: [A Psalm] of David. The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?When the wicked, [even] mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this [will] I [be] confident. One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Hear, O LORD, [when] I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.[When thou saidst], Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Hide not thy face [far] from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.[I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

As we will see in our series, King David addresses many of the same issues that each and every one of us faces when we are in the midst of the most difficult, fearful situations of life. May the Lord honor this study in His Word, by granting to us the truths of this Psalm and their practical application to our life.  

EXPOSITION:

Psalms 27:2 - “When the wicked, [even] mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.”

David, in the midst of his fearful circumstances, took time to think back at how the Lord had protected him in times past. His description of the Lord’s intervention is very interesting indeed.   First of all, he clearly recalled the source of his past trial. He described those who opposed him as:

1. “the wicked” (one who causes spoil, or one who makes worthless, one who breaks) David recognized the danger he was in. He recognized that the intent of these men was to break him, render him useless to be used of God and no longer beneficial to those around him.  

2. “mine enemies” (one who places in a tight place, one who causes distress) David recognized how they would go about breaking him. They would try to trick him, “corner” him in a place where he could not find safety from them. He would be placed in a seeming unescapable situation.  

3. “my foes came upon me to eat my flesh” (one who is an enemy, one who is hates) David understood their true motive.  They hated David. This was perhaps from jealousy, or perhaps from his service to the Lord or some other reason.   The bottom line was that they were working to fulfill their own fleshly desires and to profit from David’s fall (much like a person kills and eats the flesh of an animal to satisfy their hunger)  

From these titles, we can see David had a great factual understanding of the situation he faced. He clearly understood the actual danger that he faced, the different pitfalls that awaited him, and the driving force behind the circumstance he was in. This is a great lesson for us all. We are to seek God’s face and ask Him to open our eyes to the genuine situation we are facing. We are to ask Him to not allow us to make unreasonable assumptions, nor exaggerate, nor understate the trial that we are facing.  

But David also recognized that, in the past, they had been defeated through the Lord’s intervention… “they stumbled and fell”.

In spite of their great desire to overcome David, the Lord’s intervention brought about the ultimate failure of his enemies.  David called these past victories to his remembrance to encourage and strengthen his heart in the midst of the life storm he was facing.  

APPLICATION:

Folks, when we are faced with difficult trials in our lives, let’s always seek the Lord’s clarity concerning it. As the Lord shows us the actual situation that we are facing, no matter how formidable our opposition may be, we re already overcomers through faith in Him… “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith.Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5)  

Also, let’s take a moment to encourage ourselves in the midst of the struggles of life by thinking back to our past trials and the gracious deliverances He has granted to us! ”He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD [is] gracious and full of compassion.” (Psalms 111:4)  

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SIH’s Think On These Things: Psalms 27:1

Psalms 27: [A Psalm] of David. The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?When the wicked, [even] mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this [will] I [be] confident. One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Hear, O LORD, [when] I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.[When thou saidst], Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Hide not thy face [far] from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.[I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.  

As we will see in our series, King David addresses many of the same issues that each and every one of us faces when we are in the midst of the most difficult, fearful situations of life. May the Lord honor this study in His Word, by granting to us the truths of this Psalm and their practical application to our life.  

EXPOSITION:  Psalms 27:1  “[A Psalm] of David. The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”  

In this opening verse of Psalm 27: we find David describing the Lord in three different ways:

1. “my light” or “the One that opens my eyes of perception and understanding” David is acknowledging the Lord was the source of all knowledge, understanding and wisdom. It was the Lord, and the Lord alone, that could enable David to understand the appropriate response to the difficulties he faced in life.

2. “my salvation” or “my Deliverer” – David knew that the Lord was the only One that could bring him through his fiery trials unharmed. By giving the Lord the title “Deliverer”, David was not implying the Lord would always, immediately, remove his trials from him. On the contrary, David was simply stating that he knew that his trial would not last forever and that the Lord would keep him safe in the midst of it.

3. “the strength of my life” or “the place of defense and safety of my life” – David, though previously life experiences had learned that, during times of great difficulty, it was to the Lord that he was to flee. Other family members, friends, and acquaintances could never be fully relied upon. Many of David’s closest companions and family members had failed him during the course of his life. But there was One that was ALWAYS faithful to David, being a sure rock of strength, defense and safety for him…. His Lord!  

 

Along with David’s acknowledgment of his need of the Lord during times of great distress, he also came to another conclusion as well…. Because of His Lord, he never needed to fear. David used two different words to describe his fear.

In the phrase “whom shall I fear?” , we find the Hebrew word “yare”; while in the phrase “whom shall I be afraid?”, we find the Hebrew word “pachad” used.

By understanding the difference between these two words, we can gain important insight into the fear we face in our lives…

1. “yare” - describes the cause of fear. Basically, this word carries with it the idea of something that is harmful and overwhelming. This helps us to understand that the greatest cause of our fear involves seeing something as a threat and believing that we will be overwhelmed and unable to stand against it nor stop it from taking place.

2. “pachad” –describes the results of fear. This word carries with it the idea of trembling, startled, terrified and weakened (due to shock). This helps us to understand the effects that will be manifested in our lives when fear indwells us. We will find ourselves:

a. recognizing our total impotence against it and unmotivated to attempt to stand against the threat;

b. mentally paralyzed and unable to make proper decisions;

c. possessing a distorted view of the situation and, therefore, be unable to recognize the appropriate course of action to take.  

APPLICATION: What is the remedy for this fear? For the Christian, it is to keep our minds on our Lord, His everlasting presence in our lives, His promises given to us, and His Sovereignty over all situations in our lives.

Stop and think about it…

1. If we recognize He is in control of all our life’s circumstances (Daniel 4:34-35) and that He promises that all things will work for our good (Romans 8:28), we will come to a quick recognition that even this trial will not harm us but is placed in our life for our benefit and spiritual growth.

2. When we understand He will always be with us and will constantly work on our behalf (Romans 8:35-40), we will come to an understanding that this threat will not overtake us, but will be constantly under the control of a loving Lord.

These truths will do away with both causes of our fear that David has outlined for us.

Therefore, we will be able to stand strongly in the face of the trial at hand knowing our Lord is with us every step of the way… “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called [thee] by thy name; thou [art] mine… When thou passest through the waters, I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I [am] the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour:…”  (Isaiah 43:1-3)  

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SIH’s Think On These Things: Psalms 27 Introduction

   SIH’s Think On These Things: Psalms 27: Intro    
Our next devotional series will be coming from Psalms 27:…
1) [A Psalm] of David. The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2) When the wicked, [even] mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3) Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this [will] I [be] confident. 4) One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. 5) For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 6) And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; 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) [When thou saidst], Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. 9) Hide not thy face [far] from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. 10) When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. 11) Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. 12) Deliver me not over unto the will of mine 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 on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.    

Introduction To This Psalm

Most people believe Psalms 27: was written by King David. David faced many trials, heartaches and opposition during the course of his life. It was certainly during one of these trying times that David wrote this Psalm. There are many who believe this Psalm was written when David was being hunted down by King Saul, others believe it was when David’s son, Absalom, sought his life.  Still others believe that other events in David’s life were occurring at the time that this Psalm was written.   There seems to be no certainty in this issue and from the context it is very difficult to come to any firm conclusion.  
This Psalm is divided into seven parts:

1. David’s confidence in the Lord (vs 1-3)
2. David’s desire of the Lord (vs 4-5)
3. David’s praise of the Lord (vs 6)
4. David’s request for God’s presence (vs 7-11)
5. David’s request for deliverance from his enemies (vs 12)
6. David’s motivation to persevere in the midst of his difficulties (vs 13)
7. David’s words of encouragement to others (vs 14)

  As we will see in our series, King David addresses many of the same issues that each and every one of us faces when we are in the midst of the most difficult situations of life. May the Lord honor this study in His Word, by granting to us the truths of this Psalm and their practical application to our life.  
EXPOSITION: “The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
The very first section of our text gives to us the main theme that will run throughout this Psalm. With the Lord on our side, we can overcome any difficulty that we may face in life.  With Him, there is nothing to be feared as we live our life in the midst of a sin-sick world. In tomorrow’s devotional, we will begin to look at these verses in detail.  
APPLICATION: As I read through this Psalm, Romans 8:31-32 repeatedly came to my mind. As Christians, we can have the absolute assurance that our Lord will be with us and care for us, no matter what great hardships we may face. How can we know this? It is because He gave us His Son so that we might be redeemed…
“What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32)  
Hebrews 13:5-6 then adds to this thought by reminding us of the key to ridding our lives of fear in the face of life’s struggles …
“…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Hebrews 13:5b-6)
As those redeemed by His precious blood, may we all come to a greater appreciation of His presence in our lives and His constant, faithful watch care over our lives.  May we all enter into our new day with a spirit of boldness knowing that our Lord has given His all to us, and therefore, has proved to us He will always be with us and care for us no matter what our day may hold.  
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To Love As Jesus Loved: Summary Of Our Study

“And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away…   And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity. (1 Corinthians 13:3-8, 13)  

We have come to an end of our devotional series “To Love As Jesus Loved”. During this series, we have seen an incredible display of love in the life of Christ. Christ’s love for His Father, and for those who were given to Him by His Father, was put on display for all of us to recognize, learn of and imitate.

Keep in mind, the outstanding characteristic of Godly love is a willingness to sacrifice oneself for the beloved. The Apostle Paul reminds us of this basic principle in Galatians 2:19-20…  

 

For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

Through the testimony of the law, the lost individual sees their need of a Savior. As the lost one comes to Christ, he is made dead to the law (no longer under the penalty of the law) and given a new life of service to God.  

 

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:

The newly saved individual has been transformed. They have been made dead to the old way of living under the domination of their fleshly desires. They now are alive to Christ, living a new lifestyle of obedience to Christ. The new believer has been given a new standing before God, a new set of desires, new responsibilities and a new eternal home in the presence of God.

This is what is meant by the believer being made “a new creature” in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17) Paul reminds us that another aspect of our new lifestyle is the empowerment we receive through the sanctifying power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  It is only by Christ’s grace shown to us through the indwelling Spirit that we can live transformed lifestyles of service to Him.  

 

and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Paul, now emphasizes that living obediently is trusting the Lord day by day. The faith that believers exercise on a daily basis is a gift that comes from Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The same Lord that gave us a new lifestyle and enabled us to serve is the same Lord that loved us and exhibited that love for us by giving His life for us.    

Our Lesson To Be Learned:

May we all follow His great example of love by giving of ourselves for Him and those who are around us. be willing to give of ourselves for our Lord and those around us, motivated by the love of Christ in our hearts. In doing so, we will be living lives that are pleasing and acceptable to God…

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” (Ephesians 5:1-2)  

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To Love As Jesus Loved: “Charity Endureth All Things”

“And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away…   And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity. (1 Corinthians 13:3-8, 13)

The Lord’s great love moved Him to willingly accept horrible false accusations, abuse and even death.  

Christ’s Life:  

The Characteristic of Scriptural Love: Perseveres Under A Heavy Burden

What great patience and perseverance is shown by our Lord as He withstood this abuse. Especially when we keep in mind that, at any time, He could have called legions of angels to come and rescue Him from this great burden of abuse that was placed upon Him…

“Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.” (Matthew 26:52-56)  

What was the motivating force behind Christ’s willingness to suffer long under this mistreatment? It was His love for His Heavenly Father and the people that His Father had given to Him:  

1. His love for His Father – Christ was driven to fulfill His Father’s will for His life which included facing this horrible abuse.

“But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.” (John 14:31) Christ declared His love for His Father through His obedience to His Father’s will.

“But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:7-11) Christ’s submission to abuse and death did it as an act of obedience to the Father. This same faithful obedience resulted in His exaltation as Lord over all.  

“Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;” (Hebrews 5:7-9) It was through His sufferings that Christ learned of obedience. Likewise, it was through His suffering that He became the Savior of His people. In Isaiah 53:1-12, we find a prophetic compilation of the many types of suffering that was borne by Christ as an act of love and obedience to His Father.    

 

2. His love for the people given to Him by the Father – Christ’s great love for His people drove Him to willingly bear the horrible abuse, and in doing so, paid the price for their sins.

“And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1:5-6)    

 

Our Lesson To Be Learned:

May we be willing to give of ourselves for our Lord and those around us, motivated by the love of Christ in our hearts…

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” (Ephesians 5:1-2)

“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,May be able to comprehend with all saints what [is] the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16-19)