We live in a world where there is much happening around us to make us feel insecure and unsafe. For each of us, different situations or happenings cause different feelings or thoughts of our own safety to arise. Some see climate change and its effects on our world as a reason for feeling very insecure about the future. Some see the extent to which humans are divided on a multiplicity of issues and our determination to impose our own ideals on others as a cause to feel very insecure. Some of us will see rising crime levels whether here or abroad and the general lack of regard for human life all over the world as cause of fear about our own safety. Seeing violent crimes elsewhere makes us wonder when such events might affect us directly. Others feel unsafe about their economic circumstances and prospects.
In this light, the word to us from the writing of David in Psalm 27 is truly relevant for today. The fact is that our sense of insecurity or feeling unsafe whether physically or emotionally is not a new thing. From the dawn of time, we humans have had a multiplicity of reasons to feel unsafe because in many ways the world is indeed a dangerous place for humans and all other life forms. Even so, some of us may say with good reason that we humans have made the world a far more unsafe place than it has ever been since its existence.
In our text for today, the Psalmist David posits a profound and positive answer to his own question, “…whom shall I fear.” In this technique the answer comes before the question. He says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation” therefore “whom shall I fear?” He goes on to repeat the same technique using the word ‘stronghold’ in the next line instead of ‘light and salvation’. This is one of the main techniques of emphasis through repetition of ideas in a single thought or statement that is common to the Psalms. This psalm is one of David’s most well-known and beloved psalms, right alongside Psalm 23 and its exultant affirmation in these words always reminds me of Paul’s own affirmation in Romans chapter eight, where he says, “If God is for us who can be against us?” and also “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” (See Romans 8: 31 and 35 NIV) Paul made a number of powerful declarations in Romans chapter eight but these two questions which were really rhetorical questions of affirmation remind us of David’s own affirmation in Psalm 27. Like David in Psalm 27, Paul was also affirming his confidence in God when there was much to cause real fear in that time. Our knowledge of David’s life and also Paul’s life as a missionary tells us that these two men faced life-threatening dangers constantly, far more than any of us could possibly imagine, yet neither of them shrank away from their commitment or their duty.
It is clear from Psalm 27 that David’s enemies were overwhelming and numerous, even within his own family. You may recall one of his sons even tried to steal the throne from him and of course we all know about his efforts to evade King Saul who constantly sought to kill him. The Psalm was written by a man who knew what life-threatening danger was like, yet he wrote this psalm to proclaim his absolute confidence in God.
This, my friends, is the message of this Psalm to all of us. The message was simply that in the height of danger and in the height of our insecurity, God is our protector. We can seek refuge or find shelter in Him. What is the cause of such confidence you may ask? In the Psalm David tells us why he is confident in God.
God is his ‘light’ and his ‘salvation’, and God is also his ‘stronghold’. It would require a proper Bible study time to delve into the meaning of all these terms but in essence David was saying that God was everything to him. There was no David without God’s presence and covering. David recognized and was affirming in this psalm that it was not his gift or skill or bravery that kept him safe from all his enemies. It was the covering of the Almighty God. This confidence in God means that he could face overwhelming assault and yet he would prevail. The point is that we will always have enemies and face fearsome terrors but with God they will not overcome us. We will prevail irrespective of how we are besieged. David’s enemies were real people who had one motive which was to kill him. What are your enemies? Who are your enemies and how overwhelmed do you feel by their presence? In Psalm 27, David makes it clear that his enemies are overwhelming. He speaks about an army besieging him and evil men advancing to devour him. Yet his confidence in God is not shaken.
The obvious question to ask is why is David so confident? Why is he not fearful when his enemies come up against him? One answer is from experience. He could testify how God has rescued him in the past. He had seen how God rescued him from wild animals as a shepherd boy and famously God was with him in conquering the mighty Philistine Goliath. Here is a man who can testify to God’s faithful presence and protection in his darkest times. No wonder he could declare in Psalm 23, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” (Psalm 23:4 NIV) But there is something else that we must take heed of in David’s testimony. In addition to declaring God’s presence and protection in times of attack from the enemy, he also makes his request to dwell in the house of the Lord. Does this sound familiar to you? Yes it should. In the well-known Psalm 23 David stated confidently that he would dwell in the house of the Lord forever. What does he mean by this? It’s obvious that Davvid is not referring to a physical building in both psalms but to the state of his relationship with God. He speaks metaphorically and symbolically here in these psalms. The house of the Lord was symbolic in the sense that it was the place where God lived. God’s presence was in his house in the same way that in the Old Testament in the time of the Patriarchs, God was in the mountains. God’s presence gave covering. It meant that you were shielded since no enemy could come up against you in God’s house. Here we see the physical temple in Jerusalem as representative of God’s power and presence in protecting those who remain in His presence. David is speaking about his relationship with God and so dwelling in God’s house is all about remaining in relationship to God. It is this relationship that will be the buffer or the defense against one’s enemies. So I ask again, who or what are your enemies? Is it nagging and frustrating health issues? Is it continuing financial concerns for yourself and family members? Is it your unstable employment situation? Is it actually someone or some people who are constantly denigrating you or your family? Is it a difficult neighbor or coworker?
Much of what threatens our sense of safety or our actual security, we cannot do much about. The changing weather pattern and the ravages of natural disasters is one example and also some of us can’t change the people who stand against us. But the one thing we can do is look to dwell in God’s house. It is our relationship with God that gives us the confidence that irrespective of their might, our enemies will not overcome us. As Paul puts it, “…we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37 NIV) and he ends this beautiful affirmation by saying, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life…nor anything in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39 NIV)
What an emphatic reminder to all of us today. May we go from here even more certain that in God we are safe and secure irrespective of the storms or trials of life that buffet us day after day. Go with the strength of God and dwell in His house always. Amen.