Bible Commentaries

Psalm 27

Holy Longings and Anticipations

1. Confidence in the Lord (Psalms 27:1-3)

2. Longings and anticipations (Psalms 27:4-6)

3. Earnest prayer in trial and trust in the Lord (Psalms 27:7-14)

Psalms 27:1-3. This Psalm leads us deeper. We repeat that primarily it is a rehearsal of David’s experience, perhaps at the time of Absalom’s rebellion. Here faith breaks through in triumph, with deep longings for the house of the Lord and for His presence, which is followed by a description of the trials through which the godly Israelites will pass in the future. He is light, salvation and the strength of life; thus faith lays hold on the Lord and in view all fear and terror must vanish. “The 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?” It belongs to us all. Yet greater is the shout of faith uttered on the pinnacle of our great Salvation Epistle, Romans 8:1-39 --”If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Psalms 27:4-6. Heart longings and blessed anticipations follow. They long for the earthly sanctuary, we for our heavenly abode. Their desire is to dwell in the house of the Lord--to behold the beauty of the Lord--to inquire in His temple. And we too desire to be with Him, to behold Him face to face, and what it will mean then to inquire in His holy temple! What it will be when up yonder we shall no longer look into a glass darkly! Then follows praise. Their heads will be lifted up--”therefore will I offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto Jehovah.” And while Israel will sing on earth when their earthly hope and deliverance has come, the praises of His church will fill the heavens above.

Psalms 27:7-14. Once more we hear the cry in distress. The present trouble which is upon them comes into view. They plead, “leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation”--a prayer which no true Christian believer needs to pray.