Psa 27 | EE | STEP | This is a psalm of David. The LORD is my light and he makes me safe. Who will make me afraid? The LORD is my hiding place. So, who will make me afraid?

Psalms 27

The Ups and Down of Life

This is a psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my light and he makes me safe.

Who will make me afraid?

The LORD is my hiding place.

So, who will make me afraid?

2 Bad men came near me.

They wanted to eat my body.

But it was my enemies,

the people that fought me,

that tripped and fell.

3 If an army uses arms against me,

my heart will not be afraid.

Even if they fight against me,

I will be sure of God’s help. ^{▼▼27:3 Verses 1-3: ‘The LORD is my light’ means many things. One is that he shows us what to do in life. ‘The LORD is my hiding place’ means that when trouble comes the LORD will be with us in it. He will give us help to live through it, he will not leave us by ourselves. Verse 2 says that David thought that bad men (like animals) wanted to eat him. But these bad men fell down and they did not hurt David. Perhaps David remembered Goliath. Goliath said that he would feed David’s body to the wild animals and birds. But David killed Goliath. David believed that because God gave him help in the past he will in the future. The same is true for us. Every time that God gives us help, we are more sure that he will give us help in the future.}

4 I have asked the LORD for only one thing.

This is what I want:

I want to live in the LORD’s house all the days of my life.

Then I will see that the LORD is beautiful.

I will look for him in his palace.

5 He will keep me safe in his house in the day of trouble.

He will hide me in the hiding place that is his tent.

He will lift me up on a rock.

6 He will raise up my head above my enemies all round me.

I will give him gifts in his tent.

I will sing and I will make music to the LORD. ^{▼▼27:6 Verses 4-6: Here are 4 words for where the LORD lives: house, palace, hiding place and tent. They are not 4 different places. They all describe where God is. For David it was either the tent with the ark in it, or heaven. The ark was where the Jews kept special things that made them think of God. Heaven is where God lives. If we are Christians then God lives in us. We are the house of God.}

7 LORD, hear my voice. I am praying.

Be kind to me and answer me.

8 My heart says, ‘Look for God’s face.’

I will look for your face, LORD.

9 Do not hide your face from me.

Do not be angry and turn away from your servant.

You gave me help in the past.

Do not put me out and forget me now.

You are my God and you make me safe. ^{▼▼27:9 Verses 7-9: Here the psalm changes. In verses 1-6, life was good for David. Now life is difficult. David thinks that God has forgotten him. David prays to God, ‘Answer me.’ He thinks that he hears a voice inside him that says, ‘Look for my face.’ So David continues to pray. He says, ‘You gave me help in the past – do not forget me now.’}

10 If my father and my mother forget me,

the LORD will care for me.

11 LORD, teach me your way.

Lead me in a straight path, because of my enemies.

12 Do not give me to my enemies.

They will do what they like with me.

People are saying things that are not true about me.

Others are saying that they want to hurt me. ^{▼▼27:12 Verses 10-12: Verse 10 tells us that David is sure that God will answer him one day. Even if his parents forget him, God will never forget him. In verses 11-12 David tells us that he has many enemies that want to hurt him. Some, as Cush in Psalm 7, tell lies about him. Lies are words that are not true. So David prays for a straight path. This means one that is safe.}

13 What would happen if I had not believed

to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living?

14 Wait for the LORD. Be strong.

Make your heart become brave.

Again, wait for the LORD. ^{▼▼27:14 Verses 13-14: This starts with something very strange. Verse 13 has no beginning. In Hebrew it is ‘if I had not believed to see the goodness the LORD is in the land of the living.’ This is not a mistake, as some people think. It means that everyone that reads the psalm can put their own words in. What would happen to you if you did not believe in the LORD? But because you do believe in the LORD, you are ready to wait for his answers. You may wait a long time, but be brave and strong. One day, God will answer you, if you believe in him.}