#707 The Prayers That Preach

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 eat up my flesh,

my adversaries and foes,

it is they who stumble and fall.

3 Though an army encamp against me,

my heart shall not fear;

though war arise against me,

yet I will be confident.

4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,

that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon 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 lift me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be 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 You have said, “Seek my face.”

My heart says to you,

“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

9 Hide not your face from me.

Turn not your servant away in anger,

O you who have been my help.

Cast me not off; forsake me not,

O God of my salvation!

10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,

but the Lord will take me in.

11 Teach me your way, O Lord,

and lead me on a level path

because of my enemies.

12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;

for false witnesses have risen against me,

and they breathe out violence.

13 I believe that I shall look upon 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!  Psalm 27 ESV

 The Lord is my light - Mathew Henry wrote: David’s subjects called him the light of Israel, 2 Sa. 21:17 . And he was indeed a burning and a shining light: but he owns that he shone, as the moon does, with a borrowed light; what light God darted upon him reflected upon them: The Lord is my light. God is a light to his people, to show them the way when they are in doubt, to comfort and rejoice their hearts when they are in sorrow. It is in his light that they now walk on in their way, and in his light they hope to see light for ever. "He is my salvation, in whom I am safe and by whom I shall be saved.’’ - Matthew Henry

They who stumble and fall - Though they come many, though they come hardened and even thinking themselves in the right, yet it is they who stumble. David need not lift a hand at times for often the Lord allows our enemies to fall on their own swords. When you hear the wind rustling through the tree tops know that the Lord has gone out before you. Know that nothing can happen outside the knowledge and sovereignty of God, so only be about your Father's business, and there is nothing left to fear. They may still come at you, stumbling in the dark, like the men of Sodom, but hold fast the door against them, tell them Who you belong to.  

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. Jesus said, “I am He.” And Judas, His betrayer, was standing there with them. 6 When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered.…John 18: 5-7

One thing - If you could have anything, what one thing would you ask? David has a kingdom, riches, friends, and a life of adventure and renown, but He would ask instead for the presence of the Lord. The prodigal son wished to be a servant of his father, not to have more money to repeat or continue in the world, but to be a servant in his father's house. I see pastors begging for people to exercise faith so that they "receive a blessing", when he is really asking that they bless him financially, and here is no faith, only greed. They have the job, the calling, the wonderful duty of waiting upon the Lord, studying His word, seeking His face and so blessing others by reflecting His glory, but they do not know that to be the thing to covet, to want. The king would love to be in God's presence, in His courts, to perform the duties of the temple, offer up His praises, but many a pastor would rather be the king. 

I will sing - In the midst of my enemies, I know Who my deliverer is. I know the truth regardless of what they say about me. I am a citizen.

On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.…Acts 16: 24-26

Have forsaken me - Friends, family, feelings and the things we held to be dear in this world will at some point let us down. The Psalmist, like an orphan, can handle all those disappointments as long as he is adopted by God. Lord, though I fail and often deserve Your correction, please keep as Your child nonetheless, do not let our separation be permanent. God guide me back, for You have said, "seek my face", and here I am, crying in the dark, Lord find me, show me. Let me lose the whole of this world, but Lord please take me in.

Teach me - My enemies are ready to point out my every weakness, but for Your great name teach me. Help me to walk on the right path, so if they say things against me, let them only be true of my past, or let the lies come back upon them. Don't allow my feet to slip so that they brag against You on account of me. Let me have Your word and with it the understanding and also the life. Since You are holy then let me answer the call to holiness. 

Let your heart take courage - In a little while, a very short time, we will be with the Father. 

After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4: 17-18