Summary
Reflecting on God’s goodness to us and to others in days past helps us to feel and express confidence in God to follow through on his promises. As we reflect on times when God has been our help in the days before, and has been a help to fellow believers in ages past, we are encouraged to express confidence in the present day.
Psalm 27 expresses David’s confidence in God to deliver him from opposition. David expresses confidence in God, confidence in God’s presence in the sanctuary, confidence that God would deliver him expressed through prayer, and confidence in waiting for God to act.
Our passage explained
v1-6
David’s psalm begins by expressing confidence in God. God is “my light and my salvation” who illumines David’s path and delivers him from enemies, so “whom shall I fear?” (v.1). He reinforces this idea by describing God as “the stronghold of my life” so he has no reason to be afraid.
David’s confidence in God as a deliverer and a stable protection against foes is expanded through two examples of attack. Firstly, when evil men attack to “eat up my flesh” (either metaphorical wild enemies or slanderers) it is they who “stumble and fall” (v.2). Secondly, even if an “army encamp against me” cutting off Jerusalem from food or “war arise against me” (v.3) he will still be confident in God to deliver.
Next we see confidence in God’s presence in the sanctuary. David asks in verse four of God “that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.” David wants to dwell in God’s presence and remain there as a place of joy.
In God’s presence, David would most fully know God’s protection. There God “will hide me in his shelter…conceal me under the cover of his tent” and “lift me high upon a rock” safely away from trouble (v.5). Because of this protection his “head shall be lifted up” above his enemies and David will respond in thanksgiving by “offer[ing] in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD” (v.6).
v7-11
Then the psalm shifts to express David’s confident prayer for deliverance. He cries to God to show compassion in his time of need (v.7), and acknowledges he is seeking God’s presence to bring his request (v.8; cf. Deut. 4:29). Despite this, he knows he can only come to God’s presence if God allows it, so asks that God “hide not your face from me” nor refuse to speak to him, God’s servant (v.9).
David approaches God because he is confident that God has helped him before. He acknowledges that, as one of God’s servants, God has helped him in the past (v.9). So he asks God to “Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation!” (v.9). David then figuratively refers to the covenant God made with him (2 Sam. 7) in verse ten, where he describes God as having replaced his parents by adopting him.
v12-14
David concludes his confident prayer by asking God to teach him and “lead me on a level path” (v.12, cf. Psalm 25) because enemies have plans for him. He asks God not to deliver him into their hands, because they are slandering him and threatening violence (v.13). Perhaps they are foreign nations who do not want to see David and his people following God’s ways.
The psalm concludes with David expressing confidence in God to act by waiting. David is confident he will experience God’s goodness when he is alive (v.13). On this basis, David proclaims “Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” (v.14). He is confident that God will respond at the right time, in the right way. Rather than despair, David counsels all who hear to wait and allow God time to answer his prayer.
Our passage applied
As difficult as it is (and as David suggests by encouraging strength and courage), we do well to listen to David’s advice and wait. We want results instantly, but often the answer comes with time, continued prayer, and courageous waiting. God does not respond instantly to our whims, but as Sovereign King acts as he wills and pleases. We should give him time to respond.
As we wait, we join David in showing confidence in God to respond in keeping with his promises. We do not know precisely how he will respond, but the evidence of the past shows God will protect and deliver his people, whether it is momentary opposition or delivery from sin and death’s dominion through the Cross.
As we confidently wait for God to fulfil his promises, we can join David in singing of our desire to enjoy fellowship with God forever. What we enjoy now through the Holy Spirit’s dwelling in us will one day be fulfilled when we see God face to face.
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