Psalm 27 Commentary And Bible Study

Psalm 27 is one of the most popular psalms in the Bible. Here is commentary and Bible study on Psalm 27 written by David.

Psalm 27:1-2 “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 evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.”

For many years, David was running for his life from King Saul and his men who wanted to kill him but this psalm shows that David had a calm reassurance that God was His stronghold and was his light as well as his salvation so “of whom shall” he be afraid? In the dark nights of the soul, God is our light and so why should David be afraid? The answer of course is there is no one to fear because it will be his adversaries and foes “who stumble and fall” in the end.

Psalm 27:3 “Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. “

This was not just poetic language because David was often surrounded by the enemy but his heart still did not fear. Why? It was because his confidence was in God Who alone can deliver from such adversity.

Psalm 27:4 “One thing have I asked 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 gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”

David had the ability to see to the end of things even while the present conditions looked fatal. He asked only one thing; that he would “dwell in the house of the Lord” for eternity and today, he has had that request fulfilled. Don’t you, just like David, deeply desire “to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple?” I know I do.

Psalm 27:5-6 “For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.”

This psalm focuses on God as our shelter and not a literal cave or human hiding place. He is the One Who conceals “under the cover of his tent” and lifts us “high upon a rock” and not the cliffs and the caves. For Christians, that Rock is Christ (1st Cor 10:4).

Psalm 27:7-10 “Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.” Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.”

God’s face is that which David acknowledged that we should seek and so he prays to God to “not turn your servant away in anger” and do not “cast me off” or “forsake me” and God fulfills this promise to David because of David’s humility, repentance, and obedience. Everyone else might forsake us, even our parents, but God never will leave us or forsake us or leave us (Heb 13:5).

Psalm 27:11-12 “Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence.”

The crooked paths are the paths that all who are separated from God travel in life but for those who trust in God, He will lead them “on a level path because of” their enemies. Many had lied about David and breathed out threats of violence so he often had to seek out the Lord so that He would teach him the ways to go.

Psalm 27:13-14 “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

For those who believe in Christ, they know that they “shall look upon the goodness of the Lord” but today, like David, we must “wait for the Lord” and this enduring patience can help us to “be strong” and “take courage” but not because of our own efforts but it is because we “wait for the Lord!” God’s sovereign timing is always perfect. Ours? Not so much.

Conclusion

The psalms were really poetry put to music but they are also prayers. If you reach a dry season in your life and don’t know exactly what to pray, seek out the psalms and by seeking out the psalms, you are actually seeking out the Lord and for those who seek for the Lord, He will be found exactly as Isaiah wrote “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (55:6-7).

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.