The Secret of Strength

Series on the Psalms

Text: Psalm 27

Title: The Secret of Strength

Introduction

This Psalm plumbs the depths of our struggles. It touches our hearts where we are and we should not get so fixed on the glowing affirmations of verses one through six that we miss the battle of verses 7-11 and the inner conflict that we all experience. On the one hand the Psalmist boasts Whom shall I fear? On the other hand he says I am still confident of this, I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. The forces of darkness round about threaten his soul. They challenge his faith and constantly tempt him to fear. We see the Lord Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane in anguish, praying earnestly and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. The author of Hebrews says, During the days of his life on earth he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death and he was heard because of his fear. But until his hour was come, his enemies had no power over him. He rebuked them. They could not seize him. They fell down before him. It is not this way with David or with us. We know the Lord is our light but we still faint at the darkness. The counsel of David is found in verse 14 WAIT FOR THE LORD, BE STRONG AND TAKE HEART AND WAIT FOR THE LORD. In reality some of our most wasted and boring times are spent waiting, but the Biblical command to wait means something quite different. It suggests activity and effort. In fact in Romans 5 Paul tells us that patience is hard come by. He says, We rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance, and perseverance character, and character hope and that hope does not disappoint us. What is waiting on the Lord??? It consists of conviction, communion, and confidence.

I. Conviction

The first part of Psalm 27, verses 1-6 is a glowing tribute to the character of David’s covenant God, 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? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: 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 seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD. This is David’s conviction. The Lord is MY light and MY salvation. This is a bold theological statement like Paul’s words in Romans 8. What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us. In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. David might not be able to articulate it the way Paul did, but his confidence in the love of God is the same. Moreover he waxes eloquent about the consequences of this love. Whom shall I fear? My enemies will stumble and fall! Not even an army can overcome me! In the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock! My head will be exalted above my enemies! I will sing and shout in victory! Look at verse 10, Though my Father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. It has been suggested that these words reflect the death of David’s parents and the consequent sense of desolation and bereavement as he faced so many enemies. However that may be, these words surely express the extremity of his confidence in the presence and power of God. David knows God. He knows the favor of his presence and the fullness of his power. Waiting on God is getting to know him. You will not get this by osmosis. Our minds are darkened by sin. We lack wisdom and understanding. We need to meditate in the Word of God. When the Lord tells Joshua to be courageous as the leader of his people, following in Moses footsteps, He says, Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth. Meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Conviction is everything and it can only come through understanding.

II. Communion

Conviction is not enough to keep us waiting on the Lord. Many people have been persuaded of the truth and then denied it. Many more have been convinced and then forgotten the lessons they learned in the face of temptation. Such is the nature of our sinful minds that not only is our natural understanding darkened, but once the light enters we are quite likely to prefer darkness. Why else would the Apostle Paul counsel the Ephesian Christians, You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light-Be very careful then how you live, not as unwise, but as wise. What Psalm 27: 7-12 teaches us is that conviction is useless without communion because we cannot hold on to our convictions without fellowship, Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence. The place of refuge is the sanctuary. David treasures this fellowship above everything else. One thing I have desired of the Lord. He seeks the face of the Lord and trembles at the prospect that God’s face would be turned against him in anger. Thus he prays that he might walk in a pleasing manner. This communion is more than using the means of grace. It is using them profitably. In other words there is a conviction of God’s mercy but at the same time there is a realistic appraisal of his own weakness and sin. In other words communion is achieved only when sin is confessed. We are reminded of the words of John in his first epistle I John 1:7-10, But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. These two things conviction and communion combine to yield Confidence.

III. Confidence

Confidence is how David ends his song in verses 13 and 14, I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. It is this kind of confidence born of conviction and communion that enables us to wait for the deliverance of the Lord as David did. In spite of all the glowing tribute to his God, David waited long and hard for deliverance from many of his troubles. What he is doing here is teaching us how to wait. We must preach the truth to ourselves and then we must act upon it. How often do we get trapped in a downward spiral of self-pity or discouragement. We do not seek the Lord. Our convictions are shaken and communion is neglected, and then we wonder how David and others like him survived. They did it by extreme diligence. David says be strong and take heart. This is a description of what it means to wait upon the Lord. The Apostle John also describes this in his First epistle. In Chapter 3 he talks about confidence, and this is what he says, Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts and he knows everything. The expression set our hearts at rest might be translated, “We persuade our hearts.” Our assurance is enabled by our walking closely with the Lord. This is what David says in vs.11,12. But then John adds, God is greater than our hearts and he knows everything. This refers to the fact that God’s love for us silences the condemnation of our own hearts. His love is a love that knows all and still loves, a love that gave the highest for us, a love that cannot be made to cease loving. This is what David means when he says, I am still confident in verse 13. This is the conviction to which we must continually return. Do you remember what Peter said after he denied his Lord. When Jesus confronted him he said, Lord you know all things, you know that I love you.

Summary of Psalm 27

The 27th Psalm expresses the highest degree of confidence in the Lord as the stronghold of our lives. It defies every tendency to doubt and fear. It also exults in the greatest devotion. If the Psalmist has nothing else but a place in the presence of God, he will be satisfied. In spite of this the Psalmist David ends up pleading for the mercy and guidance of the Lord. In this tension between the praise and the pleading we see the need for waiting on the Lord. The conviction that God is our helper must be continually reinforced by a penitent spirit and a resolute following of the Lord. Such active communion with God keeps us trusting him and produces real confidence in our hearts. Through prolonged periods of trial and trouble we must make every effort to have our faith grow through knowledge and experience so that waiting on the Lord strengthens the soul. In this Jesus is our example for He persevered and we must consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men so that we will not grow weary or lose heart.