“My Light and My Salvation” - Psalm 27 (Day 1)
With a new week comes a new Psalm to sit with, meditate on, and soak up its goodness. So we now turn our attention to Psalm 27, a piece of Scripture credited to David. The drastic change in David's tone throughout Psalm 27 has led many scholars to believe two different psalms were woven together into what we have now. David's confidence in the Lord seen in the first half of Psalm 27 is replaced by pleading, seeking, struggling, and David crying out for God's presence. Praise gives way to lament which gives way back to praise again.
Anyone who has found themselves in crisis, periods of waiting, or trying circumstances understands Psalm 27 isn't two separate psalms, but an accurate representation of the human experience, the highs and the lows, of navigating troubling times. What we do in the waiting matters more than we realize - it is here where our faith gets tested, formed, and shaped. Seeking God, meditating on His Word, and learning to walk in His ways brings good to our troubling times by drawing us closer to Him.
Maybe that’s where you find yourself right now - dealing with that rollercoaster of emotions, facing troubles, and residing smack dab in that “in between” place that comes with waiting. Before we begin our journey through Psalm 27, I want to provide space for you to pray and share with God what's on your mind and heart. Pray that you would sense God’s presence, direction, and voice not only during your devotional time, but as you go about your day.
I invite you to follow along in your Bible as we read Psalm 27 together. As you do, pay attention and make note of any words, phrases, or themes that stand out to you.
Psalm 27 says this:
The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked advance against me to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.
One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.
Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Do not hide your face from me; do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior.
Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.
Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.
Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations.
I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
That’s a lot to unpack and an impossible task to do in today’s devotional - but that’s the beauty of sitting with a single Psalm for an entire week. It enables us to take our time, slow down, and chew on all its wisdom. So, let's read Psalm 27 once again, but this time, just the first three verses:
The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked advance against me to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.
Take a moment to reflect on what we just read quietly:
What served as the source of David’s confidence amid the adversity he faced?
From a young shepherd boy to running from King Saul to the trials he encountered as King of Israel - heartache, adversity, and danger were overarching themes of David's life. Even still, in a season of trouble, a song of confidence rose from David's lips in Psalm 27 in which he described God as his light, salvation, and stronghold - descriptors later used to refer to Jesus in the Gospels and New Testament. These powerful words speak not only to David’s confidence in the Lord, but also to a profound understanding of God’s character that he had learned and experienced relationally.
We might not face battles as dire as David’s, but every day each one of us find ourselves in a fight. Sometimes these battles rage inside our heart and mind. Other times they involve people - strained relationships, hurtful words, and painful actions. Then there are those things beyond our control - difficult news, uncertainty in our world, and loss. In a way, these act as enemies as they threaten to undermine our confidence in God and tempt us to question His character. Knowing God changes how we respond to our circumstances. It’s one thing to think of God as a provider, protector, and savior; it’s something entirely different when you can declare He is those things and so much more from personal experience.
Take a moment and consider…WHAT BATTLES ARE YOU FACING IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW?
Often when we find ourselves in the midst of our battle, our tendency is to rely on anything other than God. Most of us have a go-to list of things we run to in an effort to fix our situation on our own. We lean on our own ability, resources, and knowledge hoping that is enough to carry us through. We might overly rely on friends to hold things together, others may turn to things that simply numb the pain but will never fix the problem. David recognized that all these efforts were ultimately futile, and only left one frustrated. Rather than our last resort, God should be the first place we run to for protection, peace, and purpose. He wants to fight for us. It’s at the end of ourselves where we declare and experience God as our strength. When we are weak, He is strong. Relying on His strength means we need not fear, but step securely into the battle.
So, as we begin to wrap up our time together, we want to provide you some space to respond to what we read and maybe to what God is trying to say to you through Psalm 27. First, take a moment to process this question…THINK BACK TO YOUR CURRENT BATTLE. WHO OR WHAT ARE YOU RELYING ON, OTHER THAN GOD, TO MAKE IT THROUGH?
Another question to consider is this…WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE TO TRUST GOD AS YOUR STRENGTH IN THIS SITUATION?
PRAYER
Father God,
Be strong when we are weak. Be light in our dark times. Be our rescuer in our distress.
No matter what comes our way, we need not fear because You are all of those things and so much more.
Amen.