Psalm 27: Confidence in Yahweh

A Song of Faith and Trust

 

David wrote this Psalm during a difficult time in his life. There are many guesses of when this was (1 Sam 22, 23; 2 Sam 21:16–17), but we cannot be sure. It fits in with a number of the difficult times in his life. It also helps us in the difficult times in our lives if we have a genuine faith in the God of the Bible. This Psalm can encourage us in the dark valleys. Psalms 26–28 all address the true worship of Yahweh. The worshiper is evaluated for sincerity in Psalm 26, he finds a safe haven in God’s house in Psalm 27, and he prays before the holy of hollies and receives his answer in Psalm 28. Psalm 27 is a Confidence Psalm, as is: Psalm 11, 16, 23, 62, 91, 121, 125, 131.

 

I. Confidence in Yahweh’s providential presence (past faithfulness) vs. 1–3

 

A. The LORD (Yahweh) is my Light. God is Light (1 John 1:5). Light is holiness, truth, joy, goodness, vitality and the opposite of darkness, distress, uncertainty, doubt, spiritual conflict, and powers of darkness.

B. The LORD is my Salvation. Deliverance from danger by God.  The opposite is to be captured and killed by your enemies.

C. The LORD is my Refuge. A stronghold, sanctuary, safe haven like a modern bomb shelter that is designed to resist the strongest attack. The opposite of being in a refuge is being on the front lines of a battle when your side is losing.

D. The one who has faith in Yahweh knows His providential presence and thus does not need to fear anyone or anything. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” (Rom 8:31) See Rom 8:32–39. When fear grips your heart, remember your God.

E. The believer can withstand the attacks of individual evil men who come after him like a lion or a pack of wolves because the LORD is his protector. People can devour us with their words.

Disease can devour our bodies. God is more powerful than evil men or evil things. Exod 14:19

F. The believer can withstand the attack of national enemies. (Enemies, foes, army, war) Those that attack the nation of Israel sought the life of king David.  Those that attack the church have a hatred for King Jesus and all who belong to Him.

G. The Sovereign God causes the enemies to stumble and fall. They will not ultimately win.

H. David’s inner man is full of faith and devoid of fear because his confidence is in Yahweh.

I. Can we also replace our fears with faith, our worry with worship?

 

II.  Prayer for Yahweh’s Presence (longing for worship) vs. 4–6

 

A. David deeply desires to worship God in his temple because he is seeking after God himself. Matt 6:33 (In the Bible, God seeks man, and real believers seek God. The Bible does not call lost people who want to be entertained “seekers.”  “Awakened sinners” is a better term for someone who is desiring salvation and is under the conviction of the Holy Spirit.)

B. The temple, the house of the LORD had not yet been constructed. This longing for continually being in God’s presence goes beyond the earthly assembly and tabernacle to heaven itself.

C. The beauty of Yahweh includes His glorious presence and His love and compassion for His own people. Nothing displaces fear of men better than the worship of the true God of the Bible.

D. To seek God in His temple is to prayerfully surrender to God’s will and Word.

E. Being in God’s presence can fully satisfy the desires of the believer’s heart.

F. David would inquire of the LORD before going to battle (1 Kgs 22:7; 1 Chr 20:3–14).

G. When he knew he was following God’s will he had assurance of God’s protection.

H. When we follow God’s will in the Bible we can trust Him to control the outcomes even in dangerous places.

I. God’s protection of his obedient children is awesome. (Shelter, Rock, exaltation)

J. God providential interventions should cause us to sing praises to Him. Rejoicing removes fear.

We follow God’s regulations for worship with an engaged heart and mind.

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

 

III. Prayer for Yahweh’s Presence (abandonment and dependence) vs. 7–12

 

A. David is earnest and direct in his prayer for God’s mercy and help right now.

B. David has abandoned himself to Yahweh. Once we have met our human responsibility, we must leave the results with God in faith.

C. David is fully dependant upon God. No one else will do.

D. God is reliable even when our family fails us. He is the only dependable one who keeps His covenant promises. Only God can fully satisfy the needs of a human heart.

(During Saul’s search for David to kill him, David’s parents would be put to death if they appeared to supportive. This is Hebrew poetry, so focus on the main point.) God is trustworthy.

E. David prays for guidance to do God’s will and to experience great fellowship with God.

F. “Straight paths” are obstacle free, smooth walkways. God provides safety.

G. David prays for victory over his enemies. They desire his destruction. They tell lies and plan violence against him. Yahweh can stop them in their tracts.

 

IV. Confidence in Yahweh’s providential presence (present need) vs. 13–14

 

A. David has brought his needs to the LORD in prayer.

B. Now he trust in Yahweh to answer his prayer for immediate help.

C. David believes Yahweh will come to aid of His loyal followers.

D. God’s goodness will show up in fellowship, protection, guidance, and victory.

E. David is confident in God and His covenant name, Yahweh.

F. David anticipates victory on earth, “the land of the living.”

F. Trust leads David to “wait for Yahweh” to act. He is walking by faith.

G. David encourage other believers to be “strong and take heart.” Josh 1:6–9, 18

^ESV 1 Corinthians 16:13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

H. Faith enables the believer to access the grace to handle the most difficult trial.

^ESV 2 Timothy 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted

Have faith in God, He’s on His thrown, Have faith in God, he cares for his own. He cannot fail, He must prevail, have faith in God, have faith in God.