Presented August 27, 2006
THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND SALVATION
PSALM 27
Tonight we continue our study of the Psalms. Here is another psalm of David we know little of its background. It could be one of a number of occasions – both early and late in his life.
In this psalm we David as he trusts in God and desires to be in His presence. These attitudes are prevalent BEFORE he issues a prayer to Him. Let us talk about these things for a few moments.
I. David Trusts The Lord (1-3)
A. The Lord (Jehovah) is described as light, strength and salvation.
1. David’s confidence began with an understanding of his God. 3 descriptions:
a.
Light
– John 1:4-5.
What about us? Do we see the light of our Lord? (John 8:12, 9:5)
Light also associated with heaven itself – Revelation 21:23. There it is
described as the glory of God illuminating and “the Lamb is its light.”
Is His word a lamp to our feet and a light to our paths? (119:105) Also
2 Peter 1:19, “and so we have the prophetic word which you do well to heed as
a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star
rises in our hearts.”
b. Salvation – David understood God’s power to deliver him in this life – he had seen this over and over. Note Psalm 18:2. Where do we find out about salvation? In the light.
Consider this quote from H. Macmillan, D.D. as he relates the two: Light and salvation: -- The combination of the two ideas, "light and salvation," is very suggestive. Light is essential to life, health, and growth. What wonderful medicinal efficacy it possesses! There is no tonic like it. It imparts that green hue by means of which the plant changes inorganic into organic matter, creates and conserves what everything else consumes and destroys, and acts as the mediator between the world of death and the world of life. Take away the light from man, and immediately he becomes a prey to the dead, inert forces of nature. The tissues of his body degenerate, and the powers of his mind decay. It affects the stature, the blood, the hair, the liver, the whole body inwardly and outwardly. Under solar radiation, sickness is more speedily cured, wounds heal more rapidly, and the healthy acquire fresh vigour and elevated vitality. It is difficult even to express the full enjoyment of all the senses, except by metaphors drawn from light. Owing to this healing, life-giving power of natural light, we see how it becomes the salvation of the natural man. And in regard to our souls, the Lord is our salvation because He is our light. The plant instinctively and inevitably turns to the sunlight, wherever it is, because the sunlight is its salvation, its very life. Shut out from the light, it can neither live nor grow. A plant growing in a cellar, where but a feeble ray of light penetrates, is a dwarfed and forced growth, exhausting all there is in its seed or bulb mechanically, but adding no new material of growth, without any sign of inward vitality or promise of perennial production. It is a weak, blanched ghost of a plant, without any sap in its veins, or colour in its leaves, without any power to produce blossoms or fruit. But bring the miserable shadow of life out into the open sunshine, and it recovers itself; its white, brittle stem becomes green and full of sap; its leaves assume their natural vivid hue, and open out their blades in the golden air. The whole plant revives as if by magic, and speedily puts forth its beautiful blossom and fruit. What the sunlight is to the plant, God is to the soul. (from The Biblical Illustrator Copyright (c) 2002 AGES and Biblesoft, Inc.)
Without light there is NO salvation!
c.
Strength
– David knew there was power with
God. Exactly when this psalm was written we do not know, but we know that early
in his life God had delivered him from a lion and a bear. And we know his
confidence in Him as he faced Goliath.
Remember if God is on your side, you ARE the majority. Phil 4:13 – “I can do
all things…”
1 John 4:4- He is greater that he who is in the world.
B. Because of this trust he is not afraid
1. WE have noted two types of fear before – reverence and terror. Because David trusted God he saw no real reason to fear man.
2. Let’s talk about fearing man for a moment – while men may intimidate us, and dealing with them will (and should) bring apprehension (lest we be arrogant), we should not ultimately be afraid of them. Remember Matthew 10:28, Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
3.
Note vs. 2-3 of our text. David can look back and see
the times when the Lord was there and how he had delivered them. Therefore, he
has no reason to be afraid to do what he needs to do and face whom he needs to
face.
In Philippians 2:27-28 we are told, “Only let your conduct be worthy of the
gospel…that you stand fast in one spirit… not in any way terrified by your
adversaries,…”
C.
How fearful are we? Consider martyrs through the
ages. IF facing death like them, would our faith waiver? If faced with
difficult tasks, do we trust God as we decide? How do we react when we are
apprehensive? Do we simply cower or press on in spite of our fears.
Remember Revelation 21:8
NOTE: Often times it is much later when we look back at the overall picture
that we see the hand of God in our lives. Not while we are in the midst of a
raging battle. BUT, if we are wise, when we are fighting for our lives right now
we will remember that He HAS BEEN there and will continue to be so trusting Him.
II. David desires to be in the presence of the Lord (4-6)
A. He desires these things, he seeks after them
1. Note first it is ONE thing – a single-minded person. Luke 10:42, Phil 3:13
2. He desired it – it was something he really wanted. He hungered and thirsted for it, much we hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matt. 5:6).
3.
That I will seek – as the one searching for the pearl
of great price – Matt. 13:45-46. He doesn’t wait for it to fall in his lap – he
is going to do all he can to achieve his desire.
Luke 13:24 – “strive to enter through the narrow gate.”
B. He desires to dwell in the house of the Lord.
1. Background – in this I believe this psalm to be written at one of those times when David is fleeing enemies. He is no longer in Jerusalem and forbidden the opportunity to worship and serve God as he desires to.
2.
There are two ways to dwell with the Lord -
In heaven for all of eternity (1 Peter 1:3-5)
While on earth – as we assemble where He commands
David wanted BOTH! And so should we.
C. What does he desire to do?
1. Behold the beauty of the Lord – he knows how grand His Lord really is. I see the picture of one in AWE of being in His presence. Psalm 63:2
2. Inquire in His temple – what a privilege to be able to approach God with your needs. WE CAN DO THAT – in prayer?
3. Hide in Him – what a privilege to be able to turn to Him with our greatest troubles. WE CAN DO THAT – by casting our cares and burdens upon Him - Matt. 11:28-30, 1 Peter 5:7.
4. Offer sacrifices – that is how we give back to God – freely and willingly. WE CAN DO THAT – by giving (not just on Sundays). We give ourselves, our time, talents, etc.
5. Sing praises to the Lord – we sing when we are joyful or when we WANT TO be joyful (which ought to be as frequently as possible). WE CAN DO THAT – when we assemble together (Ephesians 5:19), and even throughout the week – sing to God – be joyful and praise Him. Philippians 4:4.
D. How much do we desire to dwell with the Lord?
1. In heaven - 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, Phil 1:21-23.
2. NOW while on earth. – by assembling with the saints, and living a pure life where we are always in His presence (Matt. 5:8). Cherish and use whatever time you are given on this earth.
III. David’s Prayer (7-14)
A. An observation: When Jesus gave the “model prayer” He began with praising God (Matthew 6:9). That is what David does in this psalm. He first praises God and acknowledges his place before Him. David utters his desires to be right with God and be with God – WITHOUT pretense. He doesn’t need it.
B. What does he pray for?
1. That God will hear him (we know that he already believes this). He is saying, listen as I make my request.
2.
Do not hide your face from me (8-10). He WANTS to see
God. Notice that he begins by saying, “you told me to seek your face and I have
from the bottom of my heart.” As he says, “Do not hide…” I see a request for the
Lord to help David find Him.
He also requests that the Lord not turn away from him in anger. This could mean
that David is addressing His Lord with some sin that he is repenting of OR he
has observed how the Lord has turned against those who reject Him (like King
Saul).
I suspect it is the latter, because in his next statement he expresses how God
has been there for him. Even when his physical family turned on him, God was
there.
We ought to make similar requests – considering His word. When we study – our
desire ought to be to know Him better (Phil 3:9-10) and His will for us.
Do we see the Lord there for us at all times, even when others are not? 2
Timothy 4:17, 3:11, etc.
ARE we more fearful of God or man rejecting us?
3.
Teach me your way (11) -
David wanted to be right with God – Psalm 119:10, Proverbs 2:6-9.
“Lead me in a smooth path”, “level path” (NASU), “plain path” (KJV) – David
wants a straightforward and honest path. Not necessarily one without challenges
(e.g. Matt. 7:14). BUT he wants to be able to endure and safely navigate the
path.
NOTE also how David requests that the Lord LEAD him in that path – as a guide,
there with him.
4.
Do not deliver me to my enemies (12). His request
(possibly physical) was that he not be overcome by his (and the Lord’s) enemies.
Jesus said to pray, “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”
Matthew 6:13
5.
Wherever David was, his motivation was to return to
where the Lord was (13).
He had hope and it was a driving force in his life. It helped him stay the
course. 1 John 3:1-3
How much do we miss the Lord and His people when we are away from them?
6.
Wait on the Lord (14).
David concludes with the challenge to wait on the Lord’s timing. David wants
the blessings of the Lord and I am sure he wanted them right then, but he
understood that in would happen in God’s time.
Thus we can again see the faith of David as he shows his trust in God. He is willing to wait on Him to accomplish His will His way. What about us? Is the Lord really our strength, salvation and light? Do we trust him?