Psalm 27
1The 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?
2When evildoers assail me
to devour my flesh —
my adversaries and foes —
they shall stumble and fall.
3Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident.
4One 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.
5For 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.
6Now 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.
7Hear, 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.
9Do 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!
10If my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will take me up.
11Teach me your way, O LORD,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they are breathing out violence.
13I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14Wait for the LORD;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the LORD!
1The 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?
I’ve lived in two towns that had lighthouses in during my ministry. The first is South Haven, MI, where I did my seminary internship and the second was Marblehead, OH. Both lighthouses are designed for functionality and durability. They stand as the tallest point on a rocky coastline, where they used to guide ships away from danger. Neither of these lighthouses are still in use, but their sturdy, commanding presence is still comforting.
I find the image of God as my light to be particularly comforting. When I’m afraid at night, turning the light on brings assurance and peace. When I’m out in the dark, in an unfamiliar place, a streetlight can become the lighthouse that guides me away from danger.
There seems to be a lot of darkness in the world right now. Some days, I feel like I’m walking blindly off the rocks and into the churning water. On those days, it’s a good idea to stop where I am and remember that God, alone is my light and my salvation and that, in Christ, my hope is secure.
Prayer: Lord of Light, things can get pretty scary pretty fast out there in the world but, in You, I have nothing to fear. AMEN