“The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple. For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music. Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” Do not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation! Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close. Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me. Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I’ve never done; with every breath they threaten me with violence. Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”
Psalms 27:1-14 NLT
Psalm 27 is a beautiful passage about the uniqueness of a relationship with God. It is unique in a different way than even the most archetypal and core relationship we can have. Even our parents are incapable of understanding us properly and providing right relationship. Here David expresses that God is being patient in justifying him. Yet he also tells himself, and the reader that he ought to be patient with God. This is a large crux of the human experience. It is the responsibility of every mature believer to, not only acknowledge what God has done, but to look with eager patience into what God is going to do. It is a skill that every believer ought to possess. This is especially prescient in a world that cries for social justice through acts of rebellion and violence that are inconsistent with God’s own character. They risk harming their relationship with God by not letting him be God. But a mature and faithful believer constantly repeats the closing verses of this chapter. David calls this type of patience “brave and courageous.” We ought to take on this attitude in the midst of persecution and in everyday things. We ought to learn to suffer long, and well, just as our savior did for us.
JOSH McGARY.COM 