INTRODUCTION: The heart-deep devotion of David and his intimate relationship with the LORD is marvelously admirable. David is endeared to my heart, because I desire a close-knit relationship with the LORD as he has (note, I said “has” not “had” because he still has a close-knit relationship with the LORD, only now because he is in glory, it’s even MORD close-knit!
In going over PSALM 27, there is so very much I can relate to (not to mention the fact that I was born on the 27th of August, two months premature!).
David had the full gamut of human emotions and experiences and ably penned them down in reflection with his LORD, his kingdom, his enemies and the things of every day life with all of its ups and downs.
So we pick up in vs. 5 now in Part Two (and if you missed out on Part One, here is a link!):
5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.
The LORD Jesus made us a promise that we will not likely put on a plaque and hang on a wall in our house:
JOHN 16:33
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
Well, OK that first part and last part is pretty good, but the middle part about “tribulation”? Trouble? Agitation? Trials? Yeah, no – we’re not too keen about that are we?
JOB 5:6
For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble spring from the ground; 7 Yet man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
Some accuse Christians of hypocrisy for their beliefs: “if you have such a loving GOD, then why are you suffering?” Well, if this world was absent of pain, suffering, afflictions, injustice, oppression, evil, then this would be heaven – but it isn’t! It’s a world under the curse of sin! For more on this, check out the TTUF article Evil – This Strange Predicament.
And yet for all of these terrible aspects, the LORD is able to use them for His good purposes! Take the life of Job for example – or way better even: the Passion of Jesus Christ!
I would never wish cancer on myself, but the doctors tell me (is it true?) that I have stage 4 prostate cancer that has metastasized. Not a good thing, right? But the LORD has used this affliction for my benefit, teaching me lessons I couldn’t learn otherwise. Precious times in His presence are mine, because I draw nearer to Him in these abject times of sorrow – and He turns the bitter to sweet, every time!
And His grace is just as sufficient for me, just as it was for apostle Paul. Indeed, the LORD has “hidden me” in His pavilion, in His tabernacle, in that “secret place” (PSA 91:1-16. I can rest in peace, secure in His divinely built Refuge!
The enemies of David were evil, pagan-worshippers or villains of insane jealousy and malice; because they were on the side of wrong, that made them enemies of GOD. The LORD protected His beloved from their wicked plans:
6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.
We the church have a tremendous enemy in Satan, as well as his entire kingdom of darkness. If not for the LORD’s protection, we would all be snuffed out by his satanic powers, and yet there are some of GOD’s own that He allows the enemy access to, to persecute, even to martyr. But whether they are kept safe from the power of the enemy, or their physical life is taken – in either case the saint of GOD “…will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.”
Let’s not forget the enemy that is our sin nature, or our fleshly, carnal nature! In a very real way, it’s more of a threat than Satan is. If not for our sin nature, the allurements and temptations of the devil wouldn’t have the pull that they do now! Add to that, this entire world-system that is at odds with biblical truth and grace. And if all of these Three Enemies make you feel overwhelmed at all, don’t forget you have the Trinitarian GOD in your corner as a child of GOD (JOHN 1:12-13), all of the Holy Angels (which enjoy a 2 to 1 advantage over all the fallen angels that followed Lucifer in his rebellion), you have the inspired Word of Truth in the Bible, and 24/7 access to the throne of GOD for help (HEB 4:16), as well as the local body of believers to support you!
The French have a saying, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Here’s a biblical variation: “The more things change, the more that JESUS stays the same!”
He is a steadfast, solid, unchanging, secure ROCK for us to stand on in the midst of storming seas. And remember – sometimes He doesn’t calm the storms at sea for His child. Sometimes He just calms His child in the storms at sea!
I am so grateful to the LORD for His “…steadfast love which never ceases, and His mercies that never come to an end: They are new every morning, new every morning! Great is Your faithfulness O LORD! Great is Your faithfulness!” (LAM 3:21-33).
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me and answer me.
Are you waiting long on an answer from the LORD? Do you feel like you’re being ignored? That your prayers are just bouncing off the ceiling? There are times when our prayers are being hindered because of something in our lives that’s sin, and in such times when our prayers aren’t being answered, we need to examine our hearts – ask GOD to reveal what may be wrong, so that we may repent, get right with GOD and then have our prayers unhindered!
Then there are times when the LORD is suffering long with us, delaying answers to our prayers:
PSALM 13:1
How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? (see: JOB 13:24; PSA 44:24; 88:14; 89:46; ISA 59:2).
He waits so that He may provide a more gracious provision for us (ISA 30:18). This is a valuable lesson I learned some time back: GOD’s delays means His greater blessing further down the road – and don’t think that “the end of the road” is located in this life necessarily! That blessing might just find you past the Gates of Heaven!
8 When You said, "Seek My face," My heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek."
There are times when I go to the LORD in prayer for a particular need, or when I’m preparing teaching at the pulpit, the classroom or online, then there are times I go to prayer just because I want to! And above and beyond that, there are times when the LORD beckons me to prayer, and my word! Those times (when I actually stop my busy day and seek His face) are the most blessed I have ever encountered.
So if you hear the call of GOD to spend time with Him, please, please don’t pass that blessed opportunity by!
There have been times when I feel like I’m in a bubble where I can’t connect with other people – like I’m invisible or something! I call and no one picks up. I invite someone over – they can’t (but I’ll take a raincheck!). In these times of loneliness, hear the call of GOD: “I’m opening the door of invitation to you. I’ve arranged this time just for us. Come and be with Me – I love you!”
He proved it beyond any doubt. JOHN 3:16 tells it true!
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