The Study Psalm 27:1-14 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?… David was a boaster, but it was in God; hence it was lawful: "My soul shall make her boast in the Lord." In any other source of confidence it is unlawful and dangerous. I. THE "ONE THING" OF WHICH DAVID HERE SPEAKS. The abiding sense of the Divine presence. The temple, or "house of the Lord," was the place of God's special manifestations. Abiding in this presence will give — 1. Light — the light of His countenance. It is one thing to abide in our own or in other light — as "the Pharisee" and Zaccheus; a different thing to be in the light of God's face or presence. This light does two things: it reveals to us God, and shows us what sin is; it reveals God to us, and shows us what salvation is — making the Lord to be our salvation. 2. Satan may accuse, but, if God acquits, whom shall we fear? If the Law has been satisfied, the debt paid, we need fear neither penalties nor imprisonment. There is a second sense in which the Lord is light and salvation. No longer "afraid" of the condemning power of sin, we are warranted in standing in fear of its ruling power in our hearts. Therefore we are exhorted to "work out our salvation." To do this we need the light to guide us into all truth, the salvation to deliver us from all evil. 3. Strength. "If God be for us" strength is on our side. 4. "The beauty of the Lord." The beauty of His attributes, as they meet and harmonize for our blessing. The beauty, too, reflected in us; for in His light and salvation and strength we are "changed into the same image." 5. Joy and singing. When our joy is dependent on the consciousness of what we are or ought to be to God, it is a very uncertain joy, and will rarely produce singing, but rather sighing. But when it is dependent on the sense of what God is to us, then we can say, "I will offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy." To have this joy we must be taken out of self. II. THE CONDITION OF ATTAINING THIS "ONE THING." We must "seek after it." We must "wait on the Lord." To navigate the sea of life we must keep the eye fixed on this one thing, on the one magnet — Christ. Paul did this, which made his bark "press toward" the haven with such grace and nobility. (The Study.) Parallel Verses KJV: {A Psalm of David.} 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? |
    |