Psalm 27 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 27 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 2When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh- my adversaries and foes- they shall stumble and fall.
Verse 3Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.
Verse 4One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
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.
Verse 14Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
Devotion
As in yesterday’s story of Abraham, the psalmist takes us on a journey from fear to trust. The NRSVUE translation captions the psalmist’s prayer as a “Triumphant Song of Confidence.” Verse one’s doubled poetic imagery poises the conversation between confidence and fear: the Lord as light, salvation, and stronghold has difficulty in gaining a hearing in the heart that is transfixed by fear—“Of whom shall I be afraid?”
The heart’s fears will need to be taught. And so the psalmist teaches us in a journey of recollection of the ways of the goodness and salvation of the Lord. (27:2-12) Until finally the fear is overcome and faith can find its proper way into the light: “In the land of the living, I believe I shall see the goodness of the Lord.” (27:13) Against that confidence, the psalmist’s final invitation seems almost too simple for the now courageous heart: “Wait for the Lord” (twice). “Be strong, take courage!”
Prayer
O Lord, my light and my salvation, teach me to have confidence in your goodness, that I may know that daily I can find shelter in your presence and love. Amen.
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