Psalms 27:1-8

Of David.

1 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?

2 When the wicked advance against me to devour^[a] me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.

3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.

4 One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.

5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.

6 Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.

7 Hear my voice when I call, LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.

8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.

Psalms 27:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References

• 1. S 2 Samuel 22:29; Isaiah 60:19
• 2. S Exodus 15:2; S Psalms 3:8
• 3. Psalms 9:9
• 4. S Job 13:15; Psalms 56:4,11; Psalms 118:6
• 5. Psalms 9:3; Psalms 14:4; S Psalms 20:8; Psalms 37:24; Daniel 11:19; Romans 11:11
• 6. S Genesis 4:7; S Psalms 3:6
• 7. S Job 4:6
• 8. Luke 10:42; Psalms 90:17
• 9. Psalms 23:6; Psalms 26:8; Psalms 61:4
• 10. S Job 38:23
• 11. S Psalms 12:7
• 12. S Psalms 17:8; Psalms 31:20
• 13. Psalms 40:2
• 14. 2 Samuel 22:49; Psalms 3:3; Psalms 18:48
• 15. S Psalms 22:12
• 16. Psalms 50:14; Psalms 54:6; Psalms 107:22; Psalms 116:17
• 17. S Ezra 3:13; S Job 22:26
• 18. S Exodus 15:1
• 19. Psalms 33:2; Psalms 92:1; Psalms 147:7; S Ephesians 5:19
• 20. Psalms 5:3; Psalms 18:6; Psalms 55:17; Psalms 119:149; Psalms 130:2; Isaiah 28:23
• 21. S Psalms 4:1; Psalms 13:3
• 22. S 1 Chronicles 16:11

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "slander"