LESSON 1, VERSE 1:

Several years ago here on the Website we studied Psalm 27:4, just that verse. But lately I've thought about the whole Psalm, all 14 verses. Let's analyze it, one verse a day, for the next two weeks! It's a great Passage of Scripture, loaded with Truth.

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1, wrote David long ago.

Obviously he is anxious, worried, fretful here. Perhaps literal enemies are chasing him, meaning real harm. Saul and his army did that for years. Then again, perhaps spiritual foes are in mind. Either way, the words "fear" and "be afraid" are startling, in the life of such a godly man! The "sweet psalmist of Israel," Second Samuel 23:1 calls him. Paul writes of David, in Acts 13:22, calling him "a man after God's own heart!"

Yet he is "fearful?" The first verb "shall fear" translates "yare" in Hebrew. It can carry the idea of "being terrified!" The last verb "shall be afraid" may even be stronger! "Pachad" means "to tremble, to shake, to dread!" This is a major issue!

But David has an antidote to this paralyzing fear! The LORD, using the Old Testament Name "Jehovah!" The God Who is the great "I AM THAT I AM!" The One Who is always with us!

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

This great God is David's "light" and "salvation!" "Or" in Hebrew means light, but in it most brilliant sense, once being translated "lightning" in the King James Bible. And "yesha" means salvation in the sense of "victory, deliverance, safety," and at times even "rescue!"

Wow!

One facet of constant tension, enemies chasing us relentlessly, is "weakness, lethargy, fatigue." But David notices that God is his "strength!" The seldom used word here, only 37 times in all Scripture, is "maoz," meaning "fortress, refuge, stronghold, rock, fort!"

What a way to confront fear!

With the Lord, with attributes of our great God! With His Light and Salvation and Strength!

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

This is great!

Let's think about it today, about Him, and praise the Lord for all He is! What a way to expel fear!

              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

VERSE 2, LESSON 2:

The second verse of Psalm 27 is encouraging, that is if you have someone seeking to do you harm. Apparently David did! This same idea surfaced in verse 1 as well. "When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell." The previous verse: "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

Again our Text says: "When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell."

This is pretty intense! Enemies who want "to eat" your flesh, apparently a word picture for "killing" you. The verb for eating here is "akal," meaning "to devour, to consume."

Notice how David characterizes his detractors too. They are "wicked," with "raa" meaning "evil, harmful," in an aggressive, malignant way. They are "enemies," derived from "tzsar" meaning a "narrow, tight, confining place!" Ever "crowding" you! Gathering closer and closer for the kill! And the noun "foes" translates "oyeb," suggesting "hostility, hatred."

A Psalm, not yet of praise, but of prayer! Prayer in a time of danger. Calling, begging God to help! Trusting His Mighty Hand!

And look what happened!

I'll underline the event! "When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell."

They didn't just "stumble," using "kashal" in Hebrew. The word means "to totter, stagger, to be weak, to be ruined." Even "to decay, and to become feeble!" They also "fell!" With "naphal" meaning "to be overthrown, to to be lost, to fall away!"

Why did this happen?

Because God gave David the victory!

God intervened!

This is not "chance" or "luck!"

"When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell."

Many a Christian can claim this blessing!

God is not only the Provider for His people, but their Protector too!

And today's verse proves so. But there's more to the story. And Lord willing, tomorrow we shall continue with the next verse. We plan to journey all the way through the chapter, through Psalm 27. We need the "whole" picture to properly interpret the Passage.

God's Word, what a Book!

                 --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 3, VERSE 3:

David is facing one of his many "crisis" moments. As he confronts an enemy, one about whom he gives us little information, he pens Psalm 27. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, Who is Author of all Scripture.

Here's David's mindset. "Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident." Psalm 27:3

The noun "host" is translated "army" or "armies" 4 times in the King James Bible. The verb "be afraid" is "yare" in Hebrew, meaning "dread" as well as "fear." The noun for "war" is derived from a root word meaning "to eat!" In other words, "to devour." And "be confident" is "batach," a primary verb used 120 times in the Old Testament. It means "to trust," so very "sure" of something that one does not even "worry!"

Care-free, with foes all around!

Trusting in the Great God of Abraham and Isaac and Joseph. God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But in what will David be confident? "Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident."

I think the fact of the last verse, Psalm 27:2. "When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell."

God has protected David earlier! The enemies stumbled and fell. God can do it again!

So David, in that great truth, in the never-ending faithfulness of God, will be confident!

Trusting in the Lord!

No wonder David's Son Solomon, early in life, wrote these words: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Amen!

                --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 4, VERSE 4:

Today's Verse is purely Davidic, sounding exactly like the man called "the sweet psalmist of Israel." David loved to worship God!

Psalm 27:4 captures the essence of this man's soul, a man after God's Own Heart, according to Acts 13:22.

"One thing have I desired 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 behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple."

The greatest desire David possessed!

The verb "desired" used here is spelled "shaal" in Hebrew, simply meaning "to ask, to enquire." It's really one of the great "prayer" words of the Old Testament.

And the parallel verb "to seek" is "baqash," once translated "begging" in the King James Version.

Something David longs for, craves, fervently!

What is it?

To "dwell" in God's House! The Temple perhaps, located at Jerusalem. Looks like the psalmist is being chased by some enemy. It is not safe for him to go to the City, hence he cannot frequent the House of the Lord. He is "hungry" for Church, for worship!

The verb "dwell" here is "yashab" in Hebrew, "to remain, to sit, to abide!" He wants to "live" at God's House! In Psalm 84 the writer says even the sparrows that lived at the Temple were blessed! No doubt David felt the same way.

What's so great about the Lord's House, to David? Why does he want to go there, to stay there. Two reasons are given. "To behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple." 

First, to "see," meaning "perceive intelligently, to understand," the Beauty of the Lord! And the noun for "beauty" is "noam," meaning "kindness, pleasantness, delightfulness."

Then "to enquire," meaning "look for, search" in the Temple. The idea here is that God reveals Truth, precious Secrets, when we worship Him intently! Psalm 73:17 gives an example of "understanding" being given while the Psalmist Asaph was at God's House!

Wow!

What a verse! What a life goal! What a godly man, David. "One thing have I desired 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 behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple." Again, Psalm 27:4.

May we all adopt this view, this heartfelt longing.

            --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 5, VERSE 5:

Our Verse for today, Psalm 27:5, gives a good example of Hebrew poetry's lovely "parallelism." While not rhyming audibly, its "thoughts" are beautifully "synchronized."

Additionally we are here supplied with some encouraging information! About God's Care for us!

"For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock."

The first line says God hides us in His pavilion!

The second line says God hides us in His tabernacle!

The third line says God sets us on a rock!

Thy "rhythm" of the thoughts are so similar they present basically the same truth in three different ways!

"For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock." Again, Psalm 27:5.

Now let's delight in these facts.

When does God do this for His children? For David, for the Jews, for the people of God? Then extending the blessing, for the Church. for you, and for me?

"In the time of trouble," literally, in the "day of  hurt." When difficulties arise! When Satan fights!

When trials come, God will "hide us in His pavilion." This verb "hide" is used only 33 times in the Bible. It means "to treasure, to store up, to esteem!" A "pavilion" is a "thicket, a lair, a covert, a booth!" Wow! "For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion." The Lion of the Tribe of Judah hiding me in His lair!

Now to the next part, the verb "hide" here is different. "Sathar" means "to secretly conceal, to carefully protect." And "tabernacle" is "tent," dwelling place, home!" Here: "In the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me." God protecting me where He lives, where He is!

All this, plus the last clause. "He shall set me up upon a rock." The expression "set me upon" is "rum" in Hebrew, "to exalt, to lift up." And the "rock" of course is a metaphor depicting God Himself! Our Lord is the essential, ultimate "pavilion, tabernacle, rock!" "Tzsur" is translated "rock" 64 times in the King James Bible, yet it's "strength" 5 times as well! On the Solid Rock! Situated on the Saviour!

What a verse!

Delight in it today! Someone memorize it and make it a part of your life. It's a veritable promise of God! "For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock."

Amen!

               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 6, VERSE 6:

As you know, we are taking a journey through Psalm 27, all 14 verses. Today we notice verse 6. It's a "cause and effect" statement. In other words, "Since God did this for me, I will do that for Him!

King James Version: "And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD."

When one's head is "lifted up" above his enemies, above her enemies, such wording indicates "victory" over those foes!

God has intervened!

God has spared David's life!

Such a "deliverance" reminds me of something David said in Psalm 18:29, repeated in Second Samuel 22:30. "For by thee, I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall." Wow! Talk about implementing the strength of the Lord!

It's the very same spirit Paul knew when he penned "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

Our text verse again: "And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD."

Now while precisely David's head "shall be lifted up," the Hebrew verb is a Qal stem expressed in the "imperfect" sense. Meaning the action is present tense, but still ongoing!

Victory every day!

Because of God's goodness ... David is resolved, determined! "Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD."

Praise!

The verb "offer" here is strong! "Zabach" means "to kill, slaughter," in the sense of blood sacrifice, living animals as in the Mosaic system!

Our "praise" today surely equates the burnt or trespass or sin offerings of those days long ago!

David is worshipping!

The noun for "joy" means "a shout," a war time "victory cry!"

And the Piel stem verb "sing praises" literally means "to make music!" Energetically so, fervently and diligently!

It's emotional!

We've just been taught how to respond to God's blessings! How to properly thank Him for the many victories He sends our way!

Oh, yes.  "And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD."

Let's adopt this lifestyle.

Praising the Lord!

                 --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 7, VERSE 7:

The Psalms are largely records of the prayers of various Jewish individuals, all crying out to a God in Whom they strongly believe. The "Psalter," the whole Body of all 150 Psalms, is a literal prayer manual!

And Psalm 27:7, our verse for today, provides an example. "Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me."

This is a plea!

The first word, "hear," is paramount, beginning the sentence, both in the English and Hebrew Bibles. It's "shama," expecting God to not only "hear," but also "obey!" It is really translated "obey" 81 times in the King James Bible! This is bold praying, folks!

"Lord," in our Bibles LORD, means "Jehovah" God.

And the little word "cry" means "to say something out loud." This is also emphasized with the phrase "with my voice." This is NOT silent praying!

"Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me."

"To have mercy" translates "chanan," meaning "to show favor, to have pity." Once it's "to be fair!" It's from a root verb meaning "to bend down" and dwell with someone!

Then, as the verse and the prayer build ... "answer" me, O Lord! In Hebrew it's spelled "anah," and can mean "to respond." More so, "to respond as a witness!"

This is clearly an Old Testament precursor of such New Testament promises as: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." The words of Jesus in Matthew 7:7-8.

Amen!

Wide open invitations to pray!

And David in Psalm 27:7 just practiced what God longs for His children to do. We today can also live such a life of faith!

I do not want to overemphasize it, but one more time anyway. "Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me."

Amen!

                  --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 8, VERSE 8:

The Book of Psalms constitutes a sizeable portion of Israel's devotional material, a record of her communion with God. Our current Text, Psalm 27, is an example. Today we note verse eight. "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek."

The two-way interaction is interesting.

God commanded David, the Psalm's writer, to "seek" His Face. This Hebrew verb, "baqash," means "to beg" in some Old Testament verses. That kind of "hunger" for Almighty God! And apparently that's what God wants from us, that depth of love! Certainly when we are in trouble, as was David here, we need God! In fact, based on Psalm 10:4, God might expect to be "in all our thoughts!" Now that's seeking His Face! Furthermore ""baqash" is here a Piel stem verb, energetic effort being required!

Wow!

After this bold command, though certainly our reasonable service, David's "heart" responds. "Leb" means that which is "interior" to a man. The "inner" part, often depicted as one's "mind, will and emotions."

God commands.

David obeys, immediately!

"My heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek."

Using the same verb God just did, just in a slightly different form, David will "seek" the Lord's Face. Here "baqash" is a Piel imperfect, as opposed to God's Piel imperative. David will "seek" God in a continual manner. Habitually, again and again!

God gives the order. David obeys, not just once but as a clearly determined lifestyle. 

This is devotional, all right.

And Jesus, hundreds of years later, spoke to this kind of issue. "If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15

Thank you, David, for following the Holy Spirit's guidance and sharing this great verse of Scripture. Experientially living for God!

"When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek."

May we do the same, seek His Face today.

Amen!

             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

By the way, the noun "face" here is plural, both times! Yes, "paniym" means "faces," literally and grammatically. That's the only form in which it appears in the Old Testament, in the plural! And many of those occurrences, especially when in reference to Deity, are translated properly in the singular number, God's "face!" We worship one God. We are not polytheistic. But the "plural" used here surely "hints" at the fact that God, though One, is Triune in Nature! God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, seeking His Face! This faintly suggests it is possible to enjoy the Face of Each Member of the Godhead! Just think about such a marvelous thing!

LESSON 9, VERSE 9:

Today's Psalm 27 verse can be approached several different ways. "Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation." Psalm 27:9

David is praying.

He fears that he has lost fellowship with God. That he might have aroused God's Anger! And this man of God cannot endure such thoughts!

"Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation."

The picture of God "hiding His Face" suggests God no longer "smiling" upon David! God "looking the other way," ignoring His child!

The noun for "anger" is strong, too. It's a word picturing the Lord as "bothered," maybe even "red in the face," breathing hard! David here seems to be sensitive to any sin he may have committed against the Lord.

"Leave" means "to forsake" and "cast off" means "to refuse!" This may be an example of "preventative" praying!

Also the sweet Psalmist mentions two things God "is" to him! "Help" means "support." It's part of the Hebrew term "help-meet" really! And "salvation" means "deliverance, safety, victory!"

Just talking to God!

Letting Him know how precious He is!

Asking that certain conditions not come to pass!

And most of all, that God remain "with" David forever!

"Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation."

Wow! This little verse, this short set of petitions, may be a paradigm for us yet today. A "pattern" when trials and problems arise.

Help us, Lord.

                 --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 10, VERSE 10:

David seldom mentioned his parents. And he wrote a lot of Scripture too, as guided by the Holy Spirit. But in Psalm 27:10 he speaks of both his father and mother.

Here are his words: "When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up." 

Let me first say that David is NOT criticizing his family! Best we can tell, he was reared in a functional, Jewish home. Quite typical for its time. Belonging to the Tribe of Judah, nonetheless!

But David IS magnifying His God!

Parents are to be honored, all our days on earth! This is one of the first commandments God ever gave His people. It's, in Ephesians 6:2, called "the first commandment with promise." God blesses those who sincerely obey it!

But in comparison, God is to be held in even higher honor!

Matthew 19:29 gives us the idea. "And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life." And Jesus is the One Who said so!

In today's verse David is clearly testifying! "When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up."  

The verb "take up" is "asaph," meaning "to gather, to receive." It also has a "hint" of "being a person's rear guard!" Protecting a man or woman from behind! The King James word for this thought is "rereward," used 5 different times that way to be exact.

When every earthly "friend" is "gone" ... God will always still be there! By our side!

This is just like Jesus Who promised: "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5

And then, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Matthew 28:20

What a God!

What a Saviour!

What a Companion!

Love Him today!

                --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 11, VERSE 11:

David, in Psalm 27, seems to follow two lines of thought. About half the chapter is positive, encouraging, praising the Lord! And the other part is bleak, apprehensive, confrontational, as if written in the presence of some enemy! Several prominent Bible teachers think the Psalm is one of "praise," yet mixed with "lament."

What can be more thrilling than verse four? "One thing have I desired 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 behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple."

Yet what can be more burdensome than verse eleven, today's text? "Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies."

The Christian life is often lived this way, somewhere between a mountain and a valley! The Glory of God deep in our hearts ... and the sight of an enemy not far behind!

When we are being "watched" by those who hate us, David believes prayer is essential.  "Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies." Psalm 27:11

The verb "teach" here is "yarah," meaning "to throw, to shoot," then "to inform, to instruct." Five times in the King James Version "yarah" is translated "archers," soldiers who direct arrows at some target, often human! Skilled marksmen! The idea might be God "teaching" us through the "hardships" of life! Teaching us through the "arrow pricks" of daily experience! This is on-the-job training, isn't it?

Then the verb "lead" is "nachah," meaning "to guide, to govern, to straiten." To keep a person in the middle of the road, so to speak. Walking the "straight and narrow" pathway!

The noun "way" just means a "journey," a course of life.

And "plain path" means "level road." A little easier to follow and navigate and pursue, maybe!

But ... why a prayer for such direction?

"Because of mine enemies," wrote David.

"Because" is a preposition in Hebrew, meaning "on account of." Or even "for the sake of." And the word for "enemies" is "shorar," literally suggesting "watchers." Those who are always "looking," obviously to do harm! Following, stalking!

"Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies." This is surely taking everything to God in prayer! Even one's problems! What an example of faith in action!

And what will God do, about those enemies?

Whatever is best, we suspect!

But this we know He can do! "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." Psalm 23:4-5

God is that great!

By the way, if one's enemies consent to "eat" with him or her, they may no longer be enemies! In the ancient East, if people broke bread together, ate a common meal, peace had been declared!

Once enemies ... now friends!

Again I proclaim, "What a God!"

                  --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 12, VERSE 12:

In Psalm 27 David literally "bares" his heart to God! He is wide open and totally transparent to the Lord.

For example, verse 12. "Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty."

There are some people who have lied about the psalmist. They are "against" him. They desire for him "cruelty!"

The word picture behind the important noun "enemies" here is graphic. The word is "tzsar" in Hebrew and means people who cause life "to squeeze in" all around you. To put you in a "tight" place, "distress, affliction, under unrelenting pressure." This kind of heavy burden can eventually become debilitating.

And these enemies are 100% against David, not merely half-hearted! The word used for "will" is "nephesh," translated "soul" 475 times in the King James Bible. David's detractors are totally committed to hurt him. Each with all his mind and will and emotion!

So what does David do? He takes all his troubles ... to the Lord! He asks God for safety. "Deliver me not to them, O Lord." The verb "deliver" suggests not "giving" David to his foes! He feels he belongs to God and asks not to be handed over to those who hate him. Here we see a healthy spiritual attitude, belief that God is in control of every life situation!

Next these people have become "false witnesses," David says. The adjective "false" means "lying, deceiving," and can mean "disappointing" as well. The God of Truth can sort things correctly. So David takes his case to Him!

By the end of our verse David suspects physical harm! The noun "cruelty" is "hamas," meaning "violence, damage, injustice." With all this going on in his life, it's a wonder our psalmist had the presence of mind to pray! But he did. And, as we all know now, God answered too!

"Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty."

What a sad verse today. People so vindictive they "breathe out" spite and hatred! It's in their very hearts! It can't come "out" ... unless it's already down "in" there! They "exhale" vengeance!

Folks, I can't stop the lesson here today. We must at least "peek" at the next verse, reserving the study of it until tomorrow. David immediately after this "enemy" verse wrote ... "I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." Psalm 27:13

See it, what David has done?

He has set side-by-side the cruelty of his enemies ... and the Goodness of his God!

David thinks, "Things are bad now."

Then, "Yet God is on the Throne. and God is good and kind and merciful."

Now, David trusts in that good God to have His Way in all life's problems. And there he lets things rest. In the Hands of God!

Psalm 65:11 comes to mind. It says to God: "Thou crownest the year with Thy Goodness."

And that's what David believes.

Dark days may not be perpetual. With God, brighter days are coming!

Praise the Lord!

                     --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

By the way, these "enemies" may not always be "people." Though they were in David's case. One's "enemy" can be a health issue, the loss of a job, family turmoil, or something else.

LESSON 13, VERSE 13:

Perhaps its best known verse, the thirteenth, crowns Psalm 27 with immortality! There David, after having been harassed by enemies time and time again,  exclaims triumphantly: "I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living."

If our psalmist had not trusted in God's ultimate "goodness," he might have lost his very faith! The noun "goodness" here is spelled "tob" in Hebrew. It means "goodness" but in this sense, "fairness, beauty, joy, beauty, prosperity," quoting a common lexicon. In the King James Bible "tob" is rendered as "fair, gladness, joy and wellness."

In other words, David is believing God ... in His very nature ... that things will eventually be " just fine!"

"I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living."

To "believe" here incorporates the verb "aman," suggesting "confirmation, support, trust," just simply "taking God at His Word!"

And where is this blessing to come? The goodness of Almighty God? "In the land of the living."

David will not die from this current set of troubles ... after all!

Of course God is good in Heaven!

In the afterlife!

But Scripture here avers God is good now as well!

On earth, "the land of the living" in Old Testament parlance.

Here is Christian optimism at its best!

Not hopeful idealism!

Reality, as seen through the eyes of a Believer who knows the God of Heaven and earth! Here we have Romans 8:28 mentality in Psalm 27:13 syntax!

Students reading here today, this great God is watching over you too! I'm pretty sure the Lord is the same today as He was when David walked the earth. You may adopt this vibrant faith for your very own. You may use the psalmists exact words if you choose! "I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." 

God is good.

Amen!

              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 14, VERSE 14, CONCLUSION:

Many of the Psalms begin on a "low" note! For example, Psalm 130 starts: "Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications."

Yet most of those same Psalms end on a much higher plane! Still Psalm 130, it's conclusion: "Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities."

Wow!

For the past two weeks we have been studying Psalm 27. It too has times of discouragement and fear. Trials and heartaches have stalked David for some time. But watch the last verse, today's text: "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." Psalm 27:14

No fear now ... just trust!

The opening verb "wait" translates "qavah" in Hebrew. It means "to hope" or "to expect"." We might say "to look for" something or someone. Here Someone good, the Lord!

To "be of good courage" means "to be stout, hardened, resolute," with the idea of "prevailing" in mind. Victory is on the way!

Lean on the Lord!

Don't quit!

And God will? "He shall strengthen thine heart." And "amatzs" means "to make courageous, solid, bold." Or "to confirm, fortify!" Once in the King James Version it's "obstinate!"

Sounds like the Holy Spirit, Whom Jesus calls the "Comforter!" And "fortis," the "heart" of the noun Comforter, means "fortitude, strength!"

God can make us strong!

"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

Then at the end of the verse David repeats himself. "Wait, I say, on the Lord." Here's a second employment of "qavah," keep on "hoping and trusting" God ... until He sends the answer!

God is immutable, that means unchanging!

We can believe Him.

We can depend on Him!

He can rely on His Word!

"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." To someone today struggling with the sometimes heavy burdens of life ... this verse may be just for you!

Amen.

          --- Dr. Mike Bagwell