Psalm 27: The Lord Is My Light When I'm Afraid

Maybe fear was the first thing you felt this morning. In Psalm twenty-seven, David says the Lord is his light, and he says it while he's still in danger. You might need that light more than you need answers today. Let's bring this to God together.

In Psalm twenty-seven, verse one, David says this.

The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—whom shall I dread?

Psalm 27:1

Trouble runs all through this psalm. David mentions enemies, and false witnesses breathing out violence against him. We don't know exactly what he was facing, and he doesn't pretend it's gone. A couple of verses after the words we just heard, he says this.

Though an army encamps around me, my heart will not fear; though a war breaks out against me, I will keep my trust.

Psalm 27:3

Even if an army surrounds him, David says he'll keep his trust in the Lord. His confidence rests on who God is. The Lord is his light, the One he sees by when everything else is dark. And the Lord is the stronghold of his life, the place he runs to.

Maybe you're in a place like that this morning. It might be a letter you're afraid to open, or a rumor of layoffs at work. Maybe it's one of your children, and you can't fix it. Many of us, when we're afraid, go looking for answers. We want to know how it ends. David doesn't get that in this psalm. In the middle of his trouble, this is what he wants most.

One thing I have asked of the Lord; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and seek Him in His temple.

Psalm 27:4

One thing. David asks for other things in this psalm. He asks God to hear him, and to teach him His way. But above everything, he wants to be near the Lord and to look at Him. The thing we dread can crowd out everything else. David's one thing lifts his eyes to God.

For David, being near God meant the house of the Lord. About a thousand years later, Jesus was teaching in the temple courts in Jerusalem, and He said this.

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.

John 8:12

Hard things still happen to people who follow Jesus. The darkness He means is life cut off from God, and He came so that nobody who follows Him has to stay there. He died for our sins and rose again, and He brings us to the Father. Because of Him, you can come near to God this morning, the way David longed to.

Even so, this psalm doesn't end with the danger gone. Partway through, David pleads with God not to hide His face from him. And the psalm ends with waiting. So if you still feel afraid after we pray, you haven't failed. You don't have to be brave first. Your welcome with God doesn't depend on how well you pray, or on whether the fear has gone.

Let's pray. You can pray these words with me, out loud or in your heart.

Father, I'm coming to You this morning through Jesus. He died for my sins and rose again, and because of Him I'm welcome here, fear and all. By Your Spirit, help me pray.

You were David's light when enemies came against him, and You haven't changed. You already see all of today, down to the parts I'm afraid of. Again and again You've rescued Your people, and You're still a safe place to run to. You're beautiful, and You're good. So I'll say it with David.

The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—whom shall I dread?

Psalm 27:1

I can say those words and still feel my heart racing. Fear was waiting for me before I'd even got out of bed. My mind went straight to the thing I'm dreading, and I've been turning it over ever since. I keep looking for a way to control it. I want answers, Father. I want to know how this ends. If I'm honest, some mornings I want the answers more than I want You. Forgive me for that. Forgive me for trying to carry today on my own.

David's heart told him to seek Your face, and I want to answer the way he did.

My heart said, “Seek His face.” Your face, O Lord, I will seek. Hide not Your face from me.

Psalm 27:8-9

Because of Jesus, I know You won't turn me away. So before I ask for anything else, I'm asking for You. Be my light today. When I can't see how something will turn out, let me see You. I don't need the whole day explained. Teach me Your way, and show me the next step. By Your Spirit, steady my heart enough to think clearly. Give me courage for whatever I have to face. And if the news is hard today, hold me up when I hear it.

I don't know how today ends. David's psalm doesn't say how his trouble ended either. It says this.

Still I am certain to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the Lord!

Psalm 27:13-14

So I'll wait for You. I'm putting what I've been gripping so tightly into Your hands. I can't make this turn out the way I want, or change another person's heart. You can see what I can't. I may still feel afraid after I say amen. If I do, stay close, and keep turning my face toward Yours. You gave me Jesus, so I know You're good, even on a day like this.

I pray for others who woke up afraid this morning. For someone waiting by the phone for news, or carrying a fear they haven't told anyone. For anyone facing people who wish them harm. Some have been let down by a mother or a father, or left by someone who should have stayed. David said You would receive him, even if his own father and mother left him. Please receive them too. And for everyone praying these words with me right now, be their light today.

Walk with me into this day. When the fear comes back halfway through the morning, or late tonight, turn my eyes back to You. Let the one thing I ask for today be You. Help me be steady for the people who are counting on me. And tonight, whatever has happened, let me lie down knowing I'm still Yours.

In Jesus' name, amen.

Take a moment of quiet now, and bring Him whatever's in front of you today.

David asked God not to hide His face. Hear this blessing from Numbers chapter six, words God gave His priests to bless His people.

May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the Lord lift up His countenance toward you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26