Psalms 27

1 The LORD is my ¹light and my ²salvation; ³whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold^[a] of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evildoers assail me to ⁴eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.

3 ⁵Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet^[b] I will be confident.

4 ⁶One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may ⁷dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon ⁸the beauty of the LORD and to inquire^[c] in his temple.

5 For he will ⁹hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will ¹⁰lift me high upon a rock.

6 And now my ¹¹head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of ¹²joy; ¹³I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

7 ¹⁴Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me!

8 You have said, ¹⁵"Seek^[d] my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, LORD, do I seek."^[e]

9 ¹⁶Hide 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, ¹⁷O God of my salvation!

10 For ¹⁸my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will ¹⁹take me in.

11 ²⁰Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on ²¹a level path because of my enemies.

12 ²²Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for ²³false witnesses have risen against me, and they ²⁴breathe out violence.

13 I believe^[f] that I shall look upon ²⁵the goodness of the LORD in ²⁶the land of the living!

14 ²⁷Wait for the LORD; ²⁸be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

Psalms 27 Commentary

Chapter 27

The psalmist's faith. (1-6) His desire toward God, and expectation from him. (7-14)

Verses 1-6 The Lord, who is the believer's light, is the strength of his life; not only by whom, but in whom he lives and moves. In God let us strengthen ourselves. The gracious presence of God, his power, his promise, his readiness to hear prayer, the witness of his Spirit in the hearts of his people; these are the secret of his tabernacle, and in these the saints find cause for that holy security and peace of mind in which they dwell at ease. The psalmist prays for constant communion with God in holy ordinances. All God's children desire to dwell in their Father's house. Not to sojourn there as a wayfaring man, to tarry but for a night; or to dwell there for a time only, as the servant that abides not in the house for ever; but to dwell there all the days of their life, as children with a father. Do we hope that the praising of God will be the blessedness of our eternity? Surely then we ought to make it the business of our time. This he had at heart more than any thing. Whatever the Christian is as to this life, he considers the favour and service of God as the one thing needful. This he desires, prays for and seeks after, and in it he rejoices.

Verses 7-14 Wherever the believer is, he can find a way to the throne of grace by prayer. God calls us by his Spirit, by his word, by his worship, and by special providences, merciful and afflicting. When we are foolishly making court to lying vanities, God is, in love to us, calling us to seek our own mercies in him. The call is general, "Seek ye my face;" but we must apply it to ourselves, "I will seek it." The word does us no good, when we do not ourselves accept the exhortation: a gracious heart readily answers to the call of a gracious God, being made willing in the day of his power. The psalmist requests the favour of the Lord; the continuance of his presence with him; the benefit of Divine guidance, and the benefit of Divine protection. God's time to help those that trust in him, is, when all other helpers fail. He is a surer and better Friend than earthly parents are, or can be. What was the belief which supported the psalmist? That he should see the goodness of the Lord. There is nothing like the believing hope of eternal life, the foresights of that glory, and foretastes of those pleasures, to keep us from fainting under all calamities. In the mean time he should be strengthened to bear up under his burdens. Let us look unto the suffering Saviour, and pray in faith, not to be delivered into the hands of our enemies. Let us encourage each other to wait on the Lord, with patient expectation, and fervent prayer.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 60:20; Micah 7:8; [Psalms 84:11]
• 2. Psalms 118:14; Exodus 15:2; Isaiah 12:2; Isaiah 62:11
• 3. See Psalms 23:4
• 4. Psalms 14:4
• 5. Psalms 3:6
• 6. [Psalms 26:8; Psalms 84:1, 2]
• 7. Psalms 23:6; Psalms 65:4; [Luke 2:37]
• 8. Psalms 90:17
• 9. Psalms 31:20; [Psalms 91:1; Job 5:21; Isaiah 4:6]
• 10. Psalms 40:2
• 11. Psalms 3:3
• 12. [Numbers 10:10]
• 13. Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16
• 14. Psalms 30:10
• 15. Psalms 24:6; Psalms 105:4
• 16. Psalms 69:17; Psalms 102:2; Psalms 143:7
• 17. See Psalms 24:5
• 18. [Isaiah 49:15; Isaiah 63:16]
• 19. [Isaiah 40:11]
• 20. See Psalms 25:4
• 21. [Psalms 5:8]
• 22. Psalms 41:2
• 23. Psalms 35:11; [1 Kings 21:13; Matthew 26:59, 60; Mark 14:55, 56]
• 24. Acts 9:1
• 25. Exodus 33:19
• 26. Psalms 52:5; Psalms 116:9; Psalms 142:5; Job 28:13
• 27. Psalms 37:34; Psalms 62:5; Proverbs 20:22
• 28. Psalms 31:24; Deuteronomy 31:7; Josh. 1:6, 9, 18

Footnotes

• [a]. Or refuge
• [b]. Or in this
• [c]. Or meditate
• [d]. The command (seek) is addressed to more than one person
• [e]. The meaning of the Hebrew verse is uncertain
• [f]. Other Hebrew manuscripts Oh! Had I not believed

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 27

\\<<[A Psalm] of David>>\\. The Septuagint interpreters add to this title, "before he was anointed". David was anointed three times, first when a youth in his father's house; but this psalm could not be written before that time, because he had not had then any experience of war, nor could be in any immediate apprehension of it, as here suggested; he was anointed a second time, after the death of Saul at Hebron, by the men of Judah; before that time indeed he had been harassed by Saul, and distressed by the Amalekites, and was driven from the public worship of God, to which he has a respect, Ps 27:4; and he was a third time anointed, by the elders of Israel, king over all Israel; and between the death of Saul and this unction there was a war between the house of David and the house of Saul; but what is referred to is not certain, nor is it of moment, since these words are neither in the Hebrew text, nor in the Chaldee paraphrase. Theodoret is of opinion this psalm was written by David when he fled from Saul, and came to Ahimelech the priest.