READ: Ps. 27:1–14: … The LORD is my light and my salvation … One thing I have desired of the LORD … That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life … He shall hide me in His pavilion … Lead me in a smooth path … I would have lost heart, unless I had believed … Wait on the LORD … He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say …
Evildoers seek David’s life, but David is full of confidence in the LORD. He continually strengthens himself in Him. He is his life’s strength (v.1). An example: when the Amalekites, arch-enemies of Israel and David, burned the city of Ziklag with fire and carried off all the wives and children of David and his men who lived there, David and the people were first exceedingly distressed (1 Sam. 30:1–6). Then the people even wanted to stone David, but we read in 1 Sam. 30:6: “But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.”
God makes Himself known to His children as light and salvation. The image of God as light occurs frequently in God’s Word. Christ is also characterized in this way (John 1:4–5, 9). Here the meaning is especially this: God changes the darkness of evildoers into light; He gives deliverance and salvation.
David connects these: “My light and my salvation.” God also makes Himself known as the Almighty who gives His own life strength, so that they need fear no one (vv.2–3).
David now expresses his great desire: always to have communion with the LORD (v.4), to enjoy His help and protection (v.5), and to praise and glorify Him for it (v.6).
He describes his desire for that intimate communion with the LORD as follows: “One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: 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 inquire in His temple.” David wants to continue seeking the gracious face of the LORD in order to live under His blessed favor (vv.8–9; cf. Num. 6:24–26). Everyone may forsake him, if only the LORD does not forsake him (v.10).
David pleads with the LORD to show him the right way, now that adversaries are seeking his fall. Finally, faith and trust in the LORD give him deliverance in all things. May the LORD strengthen that faith.
Do you have the same desire as David?
Singing: Ps. 27:2,4,6