Psalm 27:1, 5-13 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 27:1, 5-13 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1The 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?
Verse 5For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.
Verse 6Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
Verse 7Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me!
Verse 8"Come," my heart says, "seek his face!" Your face, Lord, do I seek.
Verse 9Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!
Verse 10If my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up.
Verse 11Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.
Verse 12Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and they are breathing out violence.
Verse 13I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Devotion
Like many children, I had a nightlight in my room as a young child. I don’t remember being afraid of the dark as much as I remember the comfort of being reassured by the light. The Psalmist speaks to us of that reassurance in these words, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; who shall I fear?”
What are we afraid of today? Perhaps it is a combination of the big things we see globally, and the small things we experience personally. But in all things, in all moments of darkness, we have the reassurance of the light of Christ’s presence.
Prayer
Reassure us of your presence in our darkness, Lord. Reassure us of the promise of your Spirit with us, a promise that we are never alone. In all our tentative moments, reassure us, O Lord. Amen.