Passage: Psalm 27
The Big Idea
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” David faces armies and betrayal with confidence, because his one desire is to dwell with the Lord, gaze on His beauty and seek Him. Jesus is that light, that salvation and that true temple. The psalm ends with the hardest and best instruction: wait on the Lord.
Reflections
The Lord is my light and my salvation (v. 1). Jesus says He is the light (John 8:12), and He is my salvation. It’s all about You, Jesus, so I don’t need to fear. All strength is supplied through Your covenant of grace. Darkness flees from Your light. He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
When the wicked came against me (vv. 2-3). Evil comes to tempt and devour. When I trust and live by the flesh, it feeds and wins. But when Jesus is my light and strength, it must fall. No matter what I face, there’s confidence in my heart, because Your life is in me, even if the worst happens.
One thing I have desired (v. 4). Desire and seeking are my heart’s response to grace. One thing: dwelling. He dwells with us, and we abide in Him through humility and faith.
- To behold the beauty of the Lord: constantly gazing at the perfection of God and His character.
- To inquire in His temple: coming to Him, asking for all my needs.
The temple foreshadowed the New Covenant in Jesus. So to behold His beauty and inquire in His temple is to look to and ask of Jesus.
In the time of trouble He shall hide me (v. 5). My only hope is His action, not mine. I could try, but I’d fail. He hides me and sets me on the Rock.
Now my head shall be lifted up (v. 6). My enemies try to drag my thoughts lower. But You lift my head. Then I’ll bring You what You really want: joy, sacrifices of joy, a song rising from the heart.
Hear, O Lord, when I cry (v. 7). Cry out. Ask. Have faith. These are the ways of grace: I cry, You answer, and I depend on Your mercy.
“Seek My face.” My heart said, “Your face, Lord, I will seek” (v. 8). Your command is to pursue relationship with You, and You’ve put the response in my heart. Yes, I want You, even though I don’t always seek You. Please put that desire in my heart more consistently. Fix my desires.
Do not hide Your face from me (vv. 9-10). Without grace, I’d face rejection. With grace, I’m never forsaken. You’re more loving and faithful than even my most dependable loved ones. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me.
Teach me Your way (vv. 11-12). Relationship comes first, and then You transform me through it. You’ll teach me and lead me. You’re in control, even when false witnesses rise up. You alone keep me from evil. I can’t save myself from my circumstances.
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed (v. 13). I struggle to believe. Lord, help my unbelief. Believing in Your goodness is the only way to a healthy heart: believing Your goodness is really for me, that You love me and will always be good to me. Open my eyes to Your goodness around me, and help me show it to others.
Wait on the Lord (v. 14). I wish things moved faster. But it’s better to wait: in Your house, in Your Word, trusting You to do it all. I need courage, not my own, but Your strength working in my heart. Waiting on You in humility and faith is all I want. Then I’ll rise in Your power. Use me, Father.
Grace Takeaway
What’s your “one thing”? Make it Him. Behold His beauty, ask Him for everything, and wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart.
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