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
Psalm 27 is a psalm of trust in God. First, the psalmist speaks to all the people, “The Lord is my light ... God is my deliverance, my stronghold—of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1) The psalmist and the hearers shout and sing for joy at God’s graciousness.
Then the psalmist speaks to the Lord: “Do not hide your face; do not turn your servant away in anger; do not forsake me” (Psalm 27:9). From this we sense the urgency of prayer in relation to faith (trust). Trust isn’t something we can manufacture; rather, trust is created in us by the trustworthiness of another. “Therefore, O God, teach me. Lead me on a level path. Don’t give me up to my enemies” (Psalm 27:11).
O people: “Believe in the Lord, take courage” (Psalm 27:14). We are clothed in God’s grace.
Prayer
Lord God, make us urgent in prayer and keep us in faith toward you and in fervent love toward one another. Amen.