If God Be For Us

Psalm 27:1-14

A Psalm of David.

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)

David was depending on God for his salvation and guidance.  Ephesians 2:8-10 tells us the Christian’s salvation is completely the result of God’s actions.  “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”  It is the spirit of God who guides us. 

Because it was God who saved him, David had nothing to fear.  As Christians, we don’t need to fear anyone either.  Romans 8:31 asks, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”  After all, in John 10:27-29, Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.”  We are kept by the power of God, and only someone stronger than God could take us away from him.  Such a being does not exist.

“When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.  Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.” (Psalm 27:2-3)

David had seen his enemies defeated when they tried to destroy him.  He was confident that it wouldn’t matter how many might attack, or what their tactics might be, the results would be the same.  God would still win the victory, and will not forsake him.

    

“One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; 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.  For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.  And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.” (Psalm 27:4-6)

David wanted to spend his life always in the presence of the Lord, beholding his glory.  He was sure that this would result in his being securely anchored and result in his being exalted above his enemies.      II Corinthians 3:18  tells us that as Christians, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”  The more closely we draw to the Lord, the more like him we will become. 

“Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.  When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.  Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.  When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.” (Psalm 27:7-10)

David had committed to seek the Lord with his whole heart.  As a result, he had the right to expect God to keep his promises.  In Hebrews 13:5-6, we are commanded, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”  We no longer need to worry about worldly security because we have assurance of God’s presence and power. 

“Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.  Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.  I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:11-13)

David was aware of the temptation to go along with the people around him.  He asks that God would guide him in the proper path so he would not fall into the hands of his enemies.  Without his faith in God to guide him, he would already have given up. 

“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. ” (Psalm 27:14)

We as Christians need learn to trust God, waiting on him to strengthen us and give us the victory.