A Psalm 27 Series: A Song of Confidence

The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident. – Psalm 27:1-3 NASB

One of the mysteries of Christianity is that it is a journey filled with paradox. For example:

• If you want to be great in the Kingdom of God, you must become a servant of all.

• If you want to grow financially, you must first learn to give your finances away.

• If you want to live an abundant life, you must be willing to lose your life in order to find it.

Christianity has often been called the upside-down Kingdom. Another paradox of our faith is as Michael Milton once said: “the Christian life is a journey of unspeakable joy and unending battles.

The Apostle Paul expressed this paradox in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9: “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”

If you have served the Lord for a while, you understand this tension between battles and blessings. The danger is that we can become so discouraged by the battles that we lack the strength to enjoy the blessings and benefits of our salvation.

Psalm 27 speaks directly into that struggle.

David wrote this psalm during one of the greatest battles of his life. He had been anointed as Israel’s future king, yet instead of immediately ascending to the throne, he found himself hiding in caves, running from King Saul, and wondering if he would survive another night.

Psalm 27 gives us a glimpse into what it means to live between the blessing and the battle of our faith. More importantly, it reveals the decisions David made that enabled him to endure hardship and experience victory. Let's explore one of David's decisions today.

Decide to Encourage Yourself in the Lord

David knew what God had promised him. He had been anointed to become king. He had defeated Goliath. Yet now he was running for his life.

Imagine the paradox.

• Called by God, yet hiding in caves.

• Anointed for leadership, yet searching for food.

• Chosen for victory, yet overwhelmed by fear.

  
  

As darkness fell each night, David likely wondered if Saul’s soldiers would discover him in his sleep and thrust a sword through him. Fear could have consumed him. Discouragement could have convinced him that God’s plan had failed.

But David made a decision that changed everything: he encouraged himself in the Lord.

“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?” – Psalm 27:1

David reminded himself of who God was.

When David called God his “light,” he was affirming that God gives wisdom in dark circumstances. In Scripture, light often represents divine guidance and understanding. David was saying, “I may not understand everything happening around me, but God sees clearly.”

Then David declared that God was his “stronghold.” The imagery is that of a fortress or fortified refuge. David’s safety was not ultimately in caves or weapons but in the presence of God Himself.

David continued:

“Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.” – Psalm 27:3

David overcame fear by affirming his relationship with God.

Sometimes, there is no one around to encourage you. No friend to call. No one understands the burden you are carrying. In those moments, believers must learn the spiritual discipline of...encouraging themselves in the Lord.

Victor Frankl, a survivor of Nazi concentration camps, once said: “Everything can be taken away from a man except one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given situation.”

That truth applies spiritually as well. Will our attitude affirm our fears, or will it affirm our faith in God?

David sang, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” Believers can still make that good confession of faith today.

Make the decision to encourage yourself in the Lord daily, and you will grow stronger in the battle.

Until next time...stay strong in the Lord.

Pastor Bob

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About Pastor Bob Moya, DMin.

Dr. Bob Moya has served as the lead pastor with his wife Candace at City Chapel in Arlington, Texas for over 25 years. He recently graduated with a doctorate degree in Spiritual Renewal and Leadership in the spring of 2024. When not serving at the church, you'll find Bob enjoying a good read at Barnes & Noble, sipping a nitro cold brew or black coffee from Starbucks, or spending time with his family.