Psalms 27
In the previous week, we looked at worship and how, as a believer, we are to approach worship. The attributes of God that are found in the bible, which we adore and ascribe to Him and this manifests in the acts of worship that we carry out. But there are moments in our lives where, although we are knowledgeable of the attributes of God, we may be fearful and shaken in our faith because of circumstances and events and we end up asking if God is in control.
In Psalms, David and the other authors write about personal experiences where they may have felt disappointed/discouraged/fearful. However, at the end of the chapters we find that there isn’t a solution. Instead, they encourage us to go back to the Lord and put our trust in the Lord. The psalms that David writes are a result of various situations that David has been through. There were enemies pursuing him, enemies who wanted to kill him but he realizes that there is a God that he can depend on, regardless of the situation.
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? - Psalm 27:1
In our lives, we encounter situations that trip us up in our faith. The devil may discourage us and cause us to doubt rather than to place our faith in God. We know that we need to ascribe God’s attributes to Him, to love, adore and act out our love for Him but we can be bogged down by the worries of the world. David tells us to anchor our hope and trust in God, where we can call God our light, salvation and strength that we should not fear. Even with enemies and foes coming for him (v3), David can boldly say that his heart shall not fear. Our hope is in the faith of our God who has given us his promises. David knew that he was anointed to be the king of Israel; he was God’s choice, and therefore he trusted in the promise of God’s word.
God’s Strength
David talks about God being the strength of his life (v1), he places his strength and confidence in God, knowing that God takes care of every aspect of his life. But when we talk about God’s strength in our own lives, we sometimes find it hard to appreciate because we have never experienced it personally. More often than not, we rely on our strength rather than rest and trust in the strength of God to overcome obstacles in our lives. We lack a conscious decision to trust in God’s strength for even the little things that when major issues arise we will find it hard to turn to God because we do not have experience trusting in God.
Experiencing God
Experiencing the attributes of God begins with knowing and understanding the attributes that God possesses. When we need help solving problems, we always approach those around us whom we are familiar with; we know they are loyal and trustworthy. Likewise, we will only approach God if we know who He is and what He is capable of and this understanding starts with studying his word the bible. Only then will we trust in him as our light, salvation and strength, to build the experiences we have with God.
When David knew who God is, he asked only one thing of God: “that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.” (v4), because he has experienced God for himself he wanted to spend even more time with God, to behold the beauty of the Lord and enquire in his temple. We have to spend time with God in his presence because we will build the trust in Him that He is our provider and shelter in times of trouble.
We need to be intentional and purposeful in wanting to trust in God. David, a man who has experienced God in countless situations, says in Psalms 34:8,
O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Psalms 27:14,
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
Our experience with God starts with an understanding of His attributes and trusting Him in the smallest of situations. Tasting and seeing that the Lord is good will build us up in our faith and to trust God for greater challenges ahead.
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