Of David.
1 The 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?
2 When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.
4 One thing have I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to inquire in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be 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.
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
8 You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, LORD, do I seek.”
9 Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
O God of my salvation!
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
but the LORD will take me in.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they breathe out violence.
13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the LORD!
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
David begins this psalm with extreme confidence in the Lord, “whom shall I fear?” Even if his enemies rise up against him, it is they who will stumble and fall. As they wage war against him, he will remain confident in the Lord.
David saw the tabernacle as a symbol of God’s protection and desired to live there enjoying God’s beauty and to remain close to him. He desired to be close to God, singing praises and offering sacrifices. His confidence was that God would protect him and lift him up over his enemies.
The psalm seems to take a turn where David faces a situation where God isn’t granting him the serene protection he was asking for. He prays that God would answer him. He points out that God had instructed them to seek Him and He had done that, and now he asks that God not hide his face from him. God has been his help in the past and he looks to God again to protect him. He knew that God would be there for him even if his father and mother abandoned him. He calls on God to give him wisdom (teach me your way) and to lead him on the right path because his enemies were lying in wait for him.
David returns to a place of confidence believing that he would survive this onslaught and once again experience God’s goodness. He returned his focus on God and took courage to wait for God to come through in His time.
If God is for us, then who can be against us (Rom 8:31). This is easy to say when things are going well but it gets harder as we face challenges. This sin-wrecked world is inconsistent and full of ups and downs. God is unchanging. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Heb 13:8). When we focus on God, then we have a sure thing. We can trust that He is the stronghold of our life and then what will make us afraid. When things are uncertain wait in confidence for the Lord to come through for you because He will (Rom 8:28-29).
It is so comforting and wonderful that God is so much for us. He is our light, stronghold and salvation!
“The LORD is the stronghold of my life” this stood out to me it shows that we should be leaning on him and not our own understanding