God Speaks
27 A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?
2 When evil people come to devour me,
when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
3 Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
I will remain confident.
4 The one thing I ask of the Lord—
the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
delighting in the Lord’s perfections
and meditating in his Temple.
5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
6 Then I will hold my head high
above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
singing and praising the Lord with music.
7 Hear me as I pray, O Lord.
Be merciful and answer me!
8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
9 Do not turn your back on me.
Do not reject your servant in anger.
You have always been my helper.
Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me,
O God of my salvation!
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the Lord will hold me close.
11 Teach me how to live, O Lord.
Lead me along the right path,
for my enemies are waiting for me.
12 Do not let me fall into their hands.
For they accuse me of things I’ve never done;
with every breath they threaten me with violence.
13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness
while I am here in the land of the living.
14 Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
28 A psalm of David.
1 I pray to you, O Lord, my rock.
Do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you are silent,
I might as well give up and die.
2 Listen to my prayer for mercy
as I cry out to you for help,
as I lift my hands toward your holy sanctuary.
3 Do not drag me away with the wicked—
with those who do evil—
those who speak friendly words to their neighbors
while planning evil in their hearts.
4 Give them the punishment they so richly deserve!
Measure it out in proportion to their wickedness.
Pay them back for all their evil deeds!
Give them a taste of what they have done to others.
5 They care nothing for what the Lord has done
or for what his hands have made.
So he will tear them down,
and they will never be rebuilt!
6 Praise the Lord!
For he has heard my cry for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
8 The Lord gives his people strength.
He is a safe fortress for his anointed king.
9 Save your people!
Bless Israel, your special possession.
Lead them like a shepherd,
and carry them in your arms forever.
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: Psalm 27 appears to be written from two vantage points: verses 1-6 speak about God and His work on behalf of the believer, while verses 7-14 speak to God regarding the future. Because the LORD is who He says He is and does what He says He will do, He can be trusted with everything in life. If one fears (has great reverential awe for) God, there is no need to fear anything else.
Psalm 28 concerns seeking God’s strengthening guidance against enemies both seen and unseen. At this writing, without provocation, Russia has invaded and tried to destroy Ukraine; however, God has heard the (likely millions of) prayers offered on behalf of these brave people including these psalms. God’s will shall be accomplished.
Prayer: Because You, LORD, are who You say You are, and You do what You say You will do, I can trust You with everything in my life or the lives of those about whom I am concerned. You are my light to show me the way. Since I fear You, LORD God, I don’t need to fear anything else. You are the bomb shelter I can run into whenever I am in danger. So why should I be scared? Whenever my enemies come against me, You make them stumble and fall. Even a mighty army doesn’t frighten me because I find my security in You. All I need is to see You smiling at me. Being with You, delighting in You, thinking on how wonderful You are gives me the confidence I need. You, great Father God, hide me and hold me tight. When I’m with You I can freely worship and sing praises to You, O LORD. Please listen and respond when I call out to You for help. Let’s talk as a father and his beloved child. Please don’t reject me or turn Your back on me. You are the one who rescues me. Even if my human parents abandon me, I know that You never will. Hold me close; never let me go. Teach me the right way to live. Don’t let me fall into the hands of my enemies. They make all kinds of false accusations and threats of violence against me, but I can count on Your goodness to keep me alive. Help me to wait patiently, bravely, and courageously for You, LORD. If You turn a deaf ear to me, I’ll likely be overcome by the enemy and die. Please bend down and listen to my cry for mercy. Don’t let those who seem friendly but plot wickedness in their hearts prevail. Punish them in proportion to their wickedness, the extent of which only You know. Tear them down so that they can never be rebuilt. Praise You, O LORD, for You have heard my prayer. You continue to give me strength and joy and shield me from permanent danger. I will trust You, praise You, and sing You songs of thanksgiving. You give strength to Your people (all who put their trust in You). You provide a place of safety for the leader You have chosen. Save and bless Your chosen people. Lead them like a shepherd forever. For the glory of Your name, Jesus. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will thank God for specific ways He has helped, rescued, and protected me.
- I will tell someone how He will do the same for them.
- I will tell God how much I trust Him and make sure that I really mean it.
- I will wait on the LORD, whatever that looks like in my situation.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.