Psalm 27

Commonplace –

“One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple” (Psalm 27:4).

Psalm 27 is a meditation on “Whom shall I fear?” (v.1), if I have God as my light, salvation, and strength.

This meditation immediately causes David to recall an instance, where God has saved him. His enemies came to kill him, and they stumbled and fell. (v.2) This reminder encourages him that even if enemies and war come against him, he should not fear in his heart, knowing God is with him. (v.3) Knowing God has led him to desire God even more, asking God to allow him to be with God in eternity, which will be the ultimate victory. There he will sing with joy. (v.4-6) He then petitions God to hear him, have mercy on him, answer him, not hide his face from him, to never leave him, to never forsake him, even if his parents forsake him. (v.10) He asks God to teach him and deliver him from his enemies. (v.11-12) Finally, he declares he would have been lost without God and encourages others to “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord” (v.13-14). What a lovely meditation! We have the privilege of following along with David as he moves from thought to thought, giving us a perfect example of how we, too, can meditate on God.

Matthew Henry notes:

“[Psalm 27] is very expressive of the pious and devout affections with which gracious souls are carried out towards God at all times, especially in times of trouble” (269).

Works Cited

Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 27.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

© 2025 Angela Hormberg