THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION
Psalm 27:1, 4-9
William S. Epps, Senior Pastor
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1The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 4One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. 5For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 6And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore, will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. 7Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
9Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. Psalm 27:1, 4-9
Introduction
Psalms has been labeled as the prayer book of the Bible. In its pages we find some of the most precious passages in all of scripture. There are those who begin this book as an introduction to the Bible in order to couch the scripture in the soil of the ground in which it has originated and grown. The psalms express - with great intensity and concern - the basic issues of life; they run the whole gamut of life with all of its diversity, the good, the bad and the ugly, the right, the wrong and the upside- down; the ins and outs as well as all the roundabouts. Read the psalms for yourself and let their words resonate in your spirit and speak to you where you are. I am sure that more than one of them will speak to your heart in a special way.
Psalm 27 is another one of those milestone psalms that has captured the attention of people and spoken to them in special ways throughout the ages. Charles Spurgeon’s volumes on the Psalms is entitled, The Treasury of David. David was one of the most colorful characters in Israel’s history. His legacy looms large throughout biblical pages. It is believed that David composed 73 of the psalms.
Consider what it means that the Psalms address
the basic issues of life of which fear is one.
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In this psalm the poet sounds forth his sure confidence in his God, Psalms 27:1-3, and his desire of communion with God, Psalms 27:4-6. He then prays a prayer of supplication, petitioning the Lord to hear him, Psalms 27:7-12, and concludes with an acknowledgment of the sustaining power of faith and an exhortation to others to follow his example.
All of us have had to face times of fear in our lives. Sometimes we are afraid for good reason, and other times our fears are irrational.
I read the story of a little boy who was finally old enough to start going to school. As the time approached, his parents noticed that he was suddenly having fears about school. They tried to find out what he was afraid of. First they asked if he was afraid of the teachers, but he assured them that that wasn’t it. Next they asked him if it was a fear of bullies, but he told them it wasn’t that either. Then they asked him if it was because he didn’t want to leave his Mom and younger brother home alone all day. But he assured them this was not the case. Finally, he admitted the reasons for his fear. He told them, "I don’t want to go to school because I don’t want the same thing to happen to me that happened to cousin Raymond. As soon as he started school, all his teeth began to fall out!"
Our fears may not be that simple, but whenever we are afraid, we can turn to the Bible for the answer to our fears. God caused David to write Psalm 27 which addresses this problem. Although we may be facing a difficult situation in our life, we can learn from this psalm what to do when we are afraid.
Consider what it means to face your fears with
faith and confidence in the Lord.
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Tuesday, January 24, 2023 |
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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?
This is a psalm of confidence in God.
Because the Lord is my light, salvation and strength, I will not be afraid.
This psalm begins with two questions – whom shall I fear and of whom shall I be afraid. And David gives us three reasons not be afraid. He tells us that the Lord is our light, the Lord is our salvation, and the Lord is the strength of our life. These are all good reasons for us not to be frightened. Let’s take them one at a time.
The Lord is your light. "Light" which makes all things visible, was the first made of all visible things; and whether God did it for our example, or no, I know not, but ever since, in imitation of what the Lord does, the first thing we do when we intend to do anything, is to get "light." Fear usually comes from facing the unknown and feeling surrounded by darkness. God sends light to penetrate the darkness. His light shines wisdom and understanding in our heart so that we can see God’s power over our problems and we can trust in God’s care for us. You need to be able to see clearly, discern correctly and perceive accurately. Lord help us to see you more clearly, follow you more nearly and love you more dearly. Let the Lord be your light, dispelling disbelief, darkness and dread of destruction.
Consider what it means to have the Lord as your light when you are afraid.
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Wednesday, January 25, 2023 |
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The Lord is your salvation – We have been saved from what threatens our existence and the destruction we cause ourselves. God’s protecting hand is upon us to keep us and to deliver us. Because we are in God’s hands we have no reason to be afraid. We are safe in God’s hands and care. “My times are in your hand: deliver me from the hand of my enemies” (Psalm 31:15). Remember the old Negro spiritual, He’s got the whole world in his hands. He’s got you and me brother, in his hands.
We know that our times are in God’s hands and care.
Consider what it means for the Lord to be your
salvation in times of fear of destruction.
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Thursday, January 26, 2023 |
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The Lord is the strength of your life - The Hebrew word for stronghold is a word derived from the root word which means "strength" and indicates a shelter, sanctuary, safe haven, stronghold, fortress, or refuge. God is a stronghold in that God strengthens us. God makes us strong - emotionally, physically, psychologically, mentally, and spiritually strong, to withstand any assaults or attacks. God is a fortress in that we are surrounded by a protective wall of God’s grace. Nothing can penetrate God’s protection. And God is a refuge in that no matter what may assail us, we are given a spirit of courage to face the turmoil faithfully.
Even though fears may come, let us remember that God is our light, our salvation, and our strength. The Lord will give us the fortitude to overcome our panic. God is the light by which we see and interpret our reality, the spirit by which we survive and God is the strength by which we carry on. So why should we be afraid. “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)
Consider what it means for the Lord
to be the strength of your life.
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Because the Lord is my light, salvation and strength, I desire one thing only. I have singularity of focus.
Verse 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord that may I seek after. Divided aims tend to distract, disappoint and distress. Sometime we try to do too many things and get pulled in different directions and thus diminish our capabilities. The psalmist says that because the Lord is my light, salvation, and strength, I have singularity of focus. That will I seek after. The desire that directs our energy into productivity is singularly focused. That is what commitment is all about. I am committed to this unequivocally. Holy desires must lead to resolute action. Desires are seeds which must be sown in the good soil of activity, or they will yield no harvest. We shall find our desires to be like clouds without rain, unless followed up by practical endeavors.
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
For the sake of communion with the King, David longed to dwell always in the palace; so far from being wearied with the services of the Tabernacle, he longed to be constantly engaged in them, as his life-long pleasure. He desired above all things to be one of the household of God, a home born child, living at home with his Father. This is our dearest wish, only we extend it to those days of our immortal life which have not yet dawned. We pine for our Father's house above, the home of our souls; if we may but dwell there forever, we care but little for the goods or ills of this poor life. "Jerusalem the golden" is the one and only goal of our heart's longings.
To behold the beauty of the Lord.
An exercise both for earthly and heavenly worshippers. We must not enter the assemblies of the saints in order to see and be seen, or merely to hear the minister; we must repair to the gatherings of the righteous, intent upon the gracious object of learning more of the loving Father, more of the glorified Jesus, more of the mysterious Spirit, in order that we may the more lovingly admire, and the more reverently adore our glorious God. What a word is that, "the beauty of the Lord!" Think of it, dear reader! Better far—behold it by faith! What a sight will that be when every faithful follower of Jesus shall behold, "the King in his beauty!" Oh, for that infinitely blessed vision!
And to enquire in his temple.
We should make our visits to the Lord's house enquirers' meetings. Not seeking sinners alone, but assured saints should be enquirers. We must enquire as to the will of God and how we may do it. We want to be as faithful to God as God is faithful to us, fulfilling the purpose for which God gives us life, meaning and purpose.
David's longing to be engaged perpetually in the service of God, to be a perpetual guest of the heavenly Host, is beautifully expressed in this psalm. At the Christian sanctuary our minds are enlightened, our doubts removed, and our hearts comforted by God's truth and our faith is revived.
Consider what it means to desire to dwell in the house of the Lord,
behold the Lord’s beauty and enquire in the Lord’s temple.
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Saturday, January 28, 2023 |
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Because the Lord is my light, salvation and strength, I vow to sing praises to the Lord.
Verse 5 gives an excellent reason for the psalmist's desire after communion with God, namely, that he was thus secured in the hour of peril. For in the time of trouble, that needy time, that time when others forsake me, he shall hide me in his pavilion: he shall give me the best of shelter in the worst of danger.
The royal pavilion was erected in the center of the army, and around it all the mighty men kept guard at all hours; thus in that divine sovereignty which almighty power is sworn to maintain, the believer peacefully is hidden, hidden not by himself, but by the king, who hospitably entertains him. In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me. He shall set me up upon a rock and now shall my head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore, will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy, I will sing, yea I will sing praises to the Lord.
Therefore, will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy. That place for which he longed in his conflict, should see his thankful joy in his triumphant return. He does not speak of jubilations to be offered in his palace, and feastings in his banqueting halls, but holy mirth he selects as most fitting for so divine a deliverance. He is quite sure of it. David was by faith so sure of a glorious victory over all those who beset him, that he arranged in his own heart what he would do when his foes lay all prostrate before him.
I will sing. This is the most natural mode of expressing thankfulness. Yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. The vow is confirmed by repetition, and explained by addition, which vows all the praise unto Jehovah. When prayers are answered it is time to make praise and be heard the believes sing praises to the Lord.
Conclusion
My Soul Has Been Anchored
Though the storms keep on raging in my life,
and sometimes it's hard to tell my night from day.
Still that hope that lies within is reassured
as I keep my eyes upon the distant shore;
I know He'll lead me safely to that blessed place He has prepared
But if the storms don't cease,
and if the wind keeps on blowing, (in my life)
my soul has been anchored in the Lord.
I realize that sometimes in this life / you're gonna be tossed by the waves
and the currents that seem so fierce, but in the word of God I've got an anchor;
and it keeps me steadfast and unmovable / despite the tide.
But if the storms don't cease, But in case the wind keeps on blowing, (in my life)
my soul has been anchored in the Lord.
my soul has been anchored in the Lord.
Consider what it means to be anchored in the Lord - to see the Lord more clearly, love the Lord more dearly and follow the Lord more nearly.
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My Soul is Anchored
Douglas Miller
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2412 Griffith Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90011
Phone: (213) 748-0318
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