“A PSALM OF
TRUST”
God created man with a wide range of emotions. Under various circumstances, we express these emotions. Some are stronger and more pronounced than others. One of the stronger emotions is fear! In fact fear is the first emotion expressed by man following his fall into sin (Genesis 3:10). Just what is fear?
Fear is a natural human emotion. Fear is the natural response to human tragedy. We experience fear in a state of uncertainty about many things. We experience fear when we come to grips with our inability to cope with present or potential problems. We experience fear of people. The Bible tells us that “the fear of man brings a snare.”
On the other hand, fear is good if it’s the right kind of
fear (Proverbs 1:7).
If we put all of these in a boiling pot, they would boil down to one thing: Fear results when our personal preservation or the preservation of loved ones is threatened! Fear comes in the wake of life’s threats. What do we do with fear? Do we live with it – or do we turn those threats and fears into a challenge – a challenge to trust God.
David certainly experienced great fear and in his fear, turned to his Heavenly Father. Psalm 27 is a song of fearless trust in God.
In verses 1-3 we see David’s confidence in God. The basis for this confidence is found in Ecclesiastes 4:12 “A threefold cord is not easily broken.” The three-fold cord here is God’s grace that holds David in the grip of stability.
• The LORD is my light (first strand)
YHWH “self existent one who reveals Himself”. The LORD becomes the personal and present need of His people (I John 1:5; John 8:12; Eph 5:8). The first thing God said was “let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). Light is our essential need. There must be light for any kind of meaningful existence.
For a believer to exist in a world of hatred, darkness and confusion, we have to have God’s mind, God’s perception of life. We must have God’s illumination in our own personal affairs (verses 12-14; I 2:16; 1:30; James 1:5).
• The LORD is my salvation (second strand)
Salvation = “deliverance, safety, health.” For David salvation took the form of deliverance from danger. David was being delivered from danger all his life.
Salvation for the believer is a package. CHRIST is our salvation from eternal danger (Ephesians 2:8,9). CHRIST is our salvation from present danger (I Corinthians 1:18). There is a sense in which the believer is experiencing God’s deliverance throughout the entirety of his life - deliverance from self-doubts, fear, uncontrolled emotions, internal conflict. These things are more devastating than human enemies could ever be.
• The LORD is the strength of my life (third strand)
A place of safety or protection – cf cities of refuge (Numbers 35:6; Proverbs 18:10,11; II Corinthians 10:5; Ephesians 6:10-17). The LORD is the defense from a vicious unseen enemy.
So the LORD is our confidence. Meditate upon these wonderful truths this week and we’ll take up more of Psalm 27 in our next pen pulpit. God bless and have a wonderful week.
In CHRIST’S eternal love,