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Psalm 27 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
Rolf Jacobson writes in the New International Commentary about a personal story relating to this Psalm.
“When I was fifteen years old, I was diagnosed with bone cancer. The cancer led to the amputation of both of my legs and about ten lung surgeries to check the cancer’s spreading threat. Throughout that lengthy day of trouble (Psa 27:5), which lasted over three years, there was a great deal indeed to fear and dread. There was the frightful prospect of death—the cancer that consumed my flesh (Psa 27:2). Even more, there was the terrifying prospect of life—of spending all the days of my life with a disability.
Would I find a career? Purpose? Love? In those dark years, this psalm became a favorite word of Scripture. Not because it denied the fears of life, but because through its powerful metaphors (war, enemies, abandonment by family, etc.) it sketched in an authentic way a picture of the terrific challenges of life. And then, looking those dangers in the eye, the psalm expresses trust in the Lord.
For that reason, this psalm has spoken so well for many of God’s suffering people in so many and various circumstances. And, indeed, it still speaks for those who suffer. It speaks words of fear. And words of trust. The two are not as far removed from one another as one might imagine.”
Rolf Jacobson
Fear and trust. They seem to be polar opposite of one another. We tend to throw out these common Christian phrases to people who are suffering. “Don’t fear, just trust God!” We mean well, but the words seem shallow and fake. The truth is, all of us experience a mixture of fear and trust in struggling times. David was no exception.
I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.
Psalms 27:13-14 NASB
David’s final encouragement is to wait on the Lord and let your heart take courage. At the end of the psalm, he once again urges us to wait. The Salvation accomplished at the cross through Jesus allows us to fix our eyes upon something eternally certain during times of horrendous uncertainty. Yes, there may be fear, but there is something greater than fear. There is strength and courage found in the Name of Jesus. There is hope found in a place at His table (Psalm 27:4). There is perseverance found in continuing to lean into His timing.
Wait. Be strong. Let your heart take courage.
Notice how the style of David’s writing assumes that you will wait. He doesn’t write, “call upon the Lord and everything will be fixed overnight.” It could happen that way, but David understood that God often uses terrible circumstances to grow us. He encourages us to wait so that our hearts can soak up every ounce of courage that He plans to give to us.
Waiting is hard, but more time allows for more trusting in the midst of fear. It takes time to let go of our need to control things and let God take the reigns. It is a difficult process but one that reaps massive gains in our spiritual growth. The next time we are tempted to fear, we remember what happened when we chose to trust.