Friday - Psalm 27 verses 1-11
This Psalm easily divides into two parts - verses 1-6 speak about Faith and verses 7-14 speak of Fear.
Verse 1 begins triumphantly, almost like a trumpet call of faith is sounded. Here are words of confidence and challenge, spoken from the heart of faith. The Lord is Light, Salvation and a Fortress - therefore the man of faith has no cause to fear. Such faith has confidence in God because of deliverance in the past (verse 2) and his faith also has strength for the future (verse 3). These first three verses inform us that faith in God embraces the totality of a man's life - the past, the present and the future. The Lord God, who had helped in times past, is his strength for today and will be his hope and fortress for tomorrow. God will not fail him in days to come because God has not failed him in times past. The Psalmist says that if we can trust in Almighty God we can be confident that no matter what comes our way God will see us through.
Verses 4-6 speak of a deep longing of the heart of the man of faith after God. Here is the constant need of every man - a clear vision of God, one which is constant before us. These are beautiful and powerful words. What words of confidence and assurance the Psalmist speaks of God's protection in time of trouble. The Psalmist knows that the safest place to be in time of trouble is in the Lord's embrace. But it is much more than an embrace - he speaks of God actively hiding him from trouble and of putting him on a secure footing when the storms batter him.
Verses 7-8 he is so confident of God's protection that even though his enemies surround him he says that God, not himself, but God will lift his head above it all and knowing this he will lift his voice in praise. How amazing in times of great danger and trouble we can still praise God. Yet when you think of the great hymns that have been written in times of trouble - Rock of Ages, It is well with my soul etc
Verses 9-11 are a prayer asking for God to be attentive to his cry for mercy in this time of trouble. Isn't that what we all want when trouble hits our little boat - we want to know that God hears, that God knows and that God cares? The Psalmist, and we often find ourselves in a similar place, cries for mercy from God. Then in verse 10 he listens to the Word of God which tells him to seek the face of God - which means to pray and he proclaims that this is what he will do and what he does. We should write this verse deep into our hearts and minds this week - turn to God in prayer not as a last resort but in obedience to His word because as verse 11 tells us - God is our helper, He is our salvation and knowing that we know He will neither leave us nor forsake us.
This is another great Psalm for those times when life is tough and trouble assails our hearts and lives. It is a Psalm of great encouragement. A Psalm which lifts the soul and lifts our focus from ourselves up to God. I pray it will be a blessing to you not just today as you read this letter but in the days to come.
Amen.
Verse 1 begins triumphantly, almost like a trumpet call of faith is sounded. Here are words of confidence and challenge, spoken from the heart of faith. The Lord is Light, Salvation and a Fortress - therefore the man of faith has no cause to fear. Such faith has confidence in God because of deliverance in the past (verse 2) and his faith also has strength for the future (verse 3). These first three verses inform us that faith in God embraces the totality of a man's life - the past, the present and the future. The Lord God, who had helped in times past, is his strength for today and will be his hope and fortress for tomorrow. God will not fail him in days to come because God has not failed him in times past. The Psalmist says that if we can trust in Almighty God we can be confident that no matter what comes our way God will see us through.
Verses 4-6 speak of a deep longing of the heart of the man of faith after God. Here is the constant need of every man - a clear vision of God, one which is constant before us. These are beautiful and powerful words. What words of confidence and assurance the Psalmist speaks of God's protection in time of trouble. The Psalmist knows that the safest place to be in time of trouble is in the Lord's embrace. But it is much more than an embrace - he speaks of God actively hiding him from trouble and of putting him on a secure footing when the storms batter him.
Verses 7-8 he is so confident of God's protection that even though his enemies surround him he says that God, not himself, but God will lift his head above it all and knowing this he will lift his voice in praise. How amazing in times of great danger and trouble we can still praise God. Yet when you think of the great hymns that have been written in times of trouble - Rock of Ages, It is well with my soul etc
Verses 9-11 are a prayer asking for God to be attentive to his cry for mercy in this time of trouble. Isn't that what we all want when trouble hits our little boat - we want to know that God hears, that God knows and that God cares? The Psalmist, and we often find ourselves in a similar place, cries for mercy from God. Then in verse 10 he listens to the Word of God which tells him to seek the face of God - which means to pray and he proclaims that this is what he will do and what he does. We should write this verse deep into our hearts and minds this week - turn to God in prayer not as a last resort but in obedience to His word because as verse 11 tells us - God is our helper, He is our salvation and knowing that we know He will neither leave us nor forsake us.
This is another great Psalm for those times when life is tough and trouble assails our hearts and lives. It is a Psalm of great encouragement. A Psalm which lifts the soul and lifts our focus from ourselves up to God. I pray it will be a blessing to you not just today as you read this letter but in the days to come.
Amen.