Today's Scripture
Waiting for the Lord – Psalm 27:1-14
1 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?
2 When evildoers assail me
to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—
they shall stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident.
4 One thing I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.
6 Now my head is lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,
be gracious to me and answer me!
8 “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
Your face, Lord, do I seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me.
Do not turn your servant away in anger,
you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
10 If my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will take me up.
11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they are breathing out violence.
13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!
RJ's Devotion
What the passage says
V.1-3 The Lord is the stronghold and protection of our lives. Even though the enemy encamps against us, we have confidence in our Lord
V. 4-6 Our request should be focused on, not to have our adversaries swiped away, but to dwell in God’s presence. When we are in God’s presence, we know that we are safe.
V. 7-10 The Lord hears the cries of his people, and calls us to seek God’s face.
V. 11-14 The psalmist uses this time to learn the wisdom of the Lord. The wait is painful, but the Psalmist relies upon God’s faithfulness.
What does the passage say to me/us?
Do we seek the face of our Lord?
God will listen to our cry. God will answer our prayers. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “ if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
As much as we might want the circumstances to turn around, we also need to see how God wants us to seek God’s face, in these times. The Psalmist says, ‘Come,’ my heart says, ‘seek his face!’ Your face, Lord, do I seek. Do not hide your face from me” (v. 8-9 NRSV) This means that God uses this tie of difficulties for us to seek God’s face. When we seek God’s face, we see who we are. When we seek God’s face, we have the confidence that our life and identity is in our Lord. When we seek God’s face, we see and experience the God who answers our cries.
What if we seek God’s face today?
Prayer
Lord, we come to you in times of difficulties and time of peace. As we walk through this journey of life, help us to seek your face. Help us to see how you continue to work through our lives.
In Christ name, we pray, AMEN
Click to subscribe to our Daily Devotion.
You will receive a devotion in your inbox every morning.
One Comment
Larry Dickenson
I love this Psalm!
Especially Vs 6 where the psalmist is celebrating life lived before God, not quietly or reverently, but with joyful singing and shouting!!
A life without fear today, in the land of the living!
Commenting has been turned off.