I have a routine when our family prepares for bed each night. I turn off the lights, lock the doors, and check the A/C thermostats. Well, our kids play with Lego sets, Hot Wheels cars, and all sorts of other toys, which are often left on the floor. The path of our living room has me turning off lamp #1, turning off lamp #2, locking the door, then walking back to where I started. Well, if I do that in the dark, I can have some problems because there are all sorts of toys on the ground, including Lego bricks, which can make a grown man cry if he steps on them with bare feet. So, I’ve learned to turn on the overhead fan light before I start the process, then turn that light off at the end.
You see, light can help protect you. Light can help you see the way you should go to avoid trouble.
In Psalm 27, David says, “The Lord is my light and salvation.”
Indeed, the Lord can protect us and show us the way. This is just one of the ways in Psalm 27 that we encounter “The Goodness of the Lord.”
Let’s go to prayer to our good God before we learn more about His good ways.
(prayer)
Ok, let’s discover now four ways that we see the goodness of the Lord in Psalm 27 and in our lives.
The first good blessing we encounter is that we can have . . .
I. Confidence in the Lord.
I recall when I was a child walking down the dirt road that led from my parents’ house to my aunt and uncle’s house, who lived right behind us. The road seemed long as a child, especially at night when it was dark. Often, I’d walk down that road to hang out with my cousin, and then I’d have to walk back at night by myself. Let me tell you, I was quite scared at night, as that road had woods all the way down one side of it and a pasture on the other. However, if I had someone else with me, it gave me more confidence. If an adult were with me, it would give me a lot more confidence.
Let’s hear what David says about someone being with him who gave him confidence. Look at verses 1-3:
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom should I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
whom should I dread?
2 When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh,
my foes and my enemies stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army deploys against me,
my heart will not be afraid;
though a war breaks out against me,
I will still be confident.
David is very clear about this point, and we must catch it: When God is on our side, we can be confident. When God is on our side, we have nothing to fear.
David said God is his light.
David could see and understand this world better because of his relationship with God.
David said God is his salvation.
David felt safety and security in this world because of his relationship with God.
David’s point was this: When the Lord is on your side, you have nothing to fear.
David then mentioned that people were trying to harm him.
A lot of people wanted to hurt David throughout his life.
As a future king, then as a king, he had lots of enemies who wanted to cause him harm.
Yet, David was confident. Why? Because God was his light and salvation.
David mentioned in verse 2 that those who were against him stumbled and fell.
The reality is, David’s enemies didn’t always stumble and fall. Sometimes David was the one who stumbled and fell.
Yet, David still said in verse 3 that his heart would not be afraid. Why? Because God was his light and salvation.
Listen, friends: If you belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord is your light and salvation.
Jesus said of Himself in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
He said in John 3:36, “The one who believes in the Son has eternal life . . . ”
Can we guarantee that if we follow Jesus, bad things will never happen to us? Of course not.
The Bible is full of examples of bad things happening to the people of God.
However, the Bible is also full of examples of God being faithful to His people during those times.
The Bible is full of examples of God not abandoning His people.
The Bible is full of examples of God being light and salvation.
Friends, you can have confidence in the Lord.
The second sign of God’s goodness which David spoke of was . . .
II. Care from the Lord.
Look at verses 4-6:
4 I have asked one thing from the Lord;
it is what I desire:
to dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
gazing on the beauty of the Lord
and seeking him in his temple.
5 For he will conceal me in his shelter
in the day of adversity;
he will hide me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.
6 Then my head will be high
above my enemies around me;
I will offer sacrifices in his tent with shouts of joy.
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
Now, it’s important to realize that at this time, the people of Israel did not have a permanent physical temple. That would come later during the time of David’s son, Solomon.
Instead, the people had the tabernacle, which was a tent that was used for purposes of worship, and it was where the Lord often manifested His presence.
Here’s the point: David did not simply want to be in a building or tent; he wanted to be near God.
David wanted to gaze on the beauty of God.
David wanted to seek God.
Why did David want to be near God?
Well, first of all, David loved God, so he wanted to be near him.
Also, David knew that God would care for him.
David said in verse 5 that God would conceal him in his shelter.
He said God would hide him under the cover of His tent.
David said God would set him high on a rock so that he was above his enemies.
As a result of all of this care, David felt moved to make sacrifices to God and sing to God.
God’s care for David led to David’s desire to worship God.
What about you?
Do you desire to be near God?
Do you know that the Lord cares for you?
Do you desire to worship God?
By the way, in case you didn’t know, there is no longer a temple in which we worship God.
The Lord God now lives in the hearts of His people through the power of His Holy Spirit.
God lives in the hearts of every individual Christian, and He lives in His Church (the people, not a building).
If you want to be near God, as David wanted, then experience His presence through His Spirit and His people in His Church.
Worship Him (as David did), together with your brothers and sisters.
Have confidence in the Lord and experience the care of the Lord.
Third, David spoke of . . .
III. Calling to the Lord.
Look at verses 7-12:
7 Lord, hear my voice when I call;
be gracious to me and answer me.
8 My heart says this about you:
“Seek his face.”
Lord, I will seek your face.
9 Do not hide your face from me;
do not turn your servant away in anger.
You have been my helper;
do not leave me or abandon me,
God of my salvation.
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the Lord cares for me.
11 Because of my adversaries,
show me your way, Lord,
and lead me on a level path.
12 Do not give me over to the will of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
breathing violence.
Does anyone notice a change here in David’s tone?
David seemed very confident before, but here he seems concerned.
If you’ve followed Jesus for any amount of time, you know that some days you feel closer to the Lord than others.
Some days you are more confident in your faith than others.
Some days you are on top of the world, and others you feel like crying out to God, “Help me!”
You’re like David.
Church, do you know what you should do when you are in fear, you are doubting, you feel far away, or you feel like you are in sin? You should call out to the Lord.
David was calling out to the Lord.
He wanted God to hear his voice.
He wanted God to be gracious to him.
He wanted to see God’s face.
He didn’t want God to turn His face away.
He didn’t want God to leave him.
He wanted God to show him the way.
He wanted God to lead him on a level path.
Pay attention to this, church: David felt free to tell the Lord how he really felt.
He didn’t do so in a disrespectful way, but he poured out his heart to God.
You also should feel free to call out to God with honesty. Let Him know how you really feel.
Sometimes, we’ll feel things that we know not to be true, but we still feel like we need to express them to God. Sometimes what we feel doesn’t even make sense. That’s ok.
David said, “Do not leave me or abandon me,” then he said, “Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord cares for me.”
David knew God wouldn’t leave him, yet he cried out to God, “Do not leave me or abandon me.”
Even if you’re confused about what you feel, call out to God.
Are you tired? Call out to God.
Do you need healing? Call out to God.
Are you scared? Call out to God.
Do you doubt your faith? Call out to God.
Are you in sin? Call out to God.
Is your family struggling? Call out to God.
Do you need provision? Call out to God.
Are you worried about the future? Call out to God.
As we call out to God, friends: We can have . . .
IV. Courage in the Lord.
Listen to what David said in verses 13-14:
13 I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart be courageous.
Wait for the Lord.
I’m so grateful for these last two verses.
Earlier, David expressed what he felt. Here, he expressed what he knew.
David knew that he would see the Lord’s goodness.
David knew he could be strong.
David knew he could be courageous.
David knew that he could trust the Lord and wait on the Lord.
Friends, you can trust God.
You can trust that in His timing, He will fulfill all of His promises to you.
You can wait on the Lord.
Be courageous. Be courageous based on what you know about God, not what you feel in the moment.
Wait for the Lord.
Be courageous in the Lord.
Let this bottom line summarize what we’re learning in Psalm 27.
Bottom Line: We can trust in the Lord.
Listen, friends: Trust God.
There’s no one else in this universe that you can trust like God.
He will never leave you. He will never forsake you. You can trust Him, and our church can trust Him.
Challenge yourself this week in this one way:
Weekly Challenge: Take your burden to the Lord.
Some of you have burdens right now. You have some difficulties right now.
In just a moment, we’re going to have a special time of prayer for you.
However, this week, on your own, take your burden to the Lord. Speak to Him respectfully, yet honestly.
(Benediction)
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