The book of Psalms is one of the most beloved books in the Bible, and for a good reason. It speaks directly to our situations. It speaks to our hopes, dreams, fears, loss, and disappointments. Athanasius said, “Most Scripture speaks to us; the Psalms speak for us.”

But the Psalms are not just about us and how we connect to God. The Psalms also give us a clear picture of who God is, what God does, and what God is like. They show us a close God who redeems, who will make all things new, who forgives, and hears us.

Psalm 27 shows us what we do with our fear. Where is God when life is scary? When things feel overwhelming and we aren’t sure we can move forward in faith?

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 the wicked advance against me

    to devour me,

it is my enemies and my foes

    who will stumble and fall.

3 Though an army besiege me,

    my heart will not fear;

though war break out against me,

    even then, I will be confident.

I’ve often wondered with this Psalm, is David trying to pump himself up? Just reminding himself of God’s power and security?

There are seasons where we have to speak the truth, the truth that we know, and maybe preach to others and preach it to ourselves. We forget. This is one reason communion is such an important practice. We must remind ourselves of God’s grace and forgiveness. We must remind ourselves of God’s compassionate love.

In Scripture, light symbolizes well-being and safety. Darkness symbolizes danger. David is expressing his confidence in God’s power. He is saying that God is someone that can be trusted.

4 One thing I ask from the Lord,

    this only do I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

    all the days of my life,

to gaze on the beauty of the Lord

    and to seek him in his temple.

5 For in the day of trouble

    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;

he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent

    and set me high upon a rock.

6 Then my head will be exalted

    above the enemies who surround me;

at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;

    I will sing and make music to the Lord.

The dwelling place of God, the presence of God, the light of God is the safe place. It is the place where fear is answered.

So David is seeking his presence, the place of the dwelling of God. Because we know when we seek God’s presence we will find him (Jeremiah 29:13.) God will not hide. God wants to be with us. God wants us in his presence. Dwelling carries it with a picture of intimacy, closeness. This is something that is all over the psalms.

But when we are with God we are safe. He will hide us, he will shelter us from the storm. This doesn’t mean we don’t experience the storm, we do. It just means we are not alone in the storm. We don’t face it without the power and presence of God.

We don’t face the storms of life without the power and presence of God.

We know this from Psalm 91, that God hides us, like a mother bird hiding her young under her wing (Psalm 91:4.) To get to us the storms of life must go through the hand of God.

7 Hear my voice when I call, Lord;

    be merciful to me and answer me.

8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”

    Your face, Lord, I will seek.

9 Do not hide your face from me,

    do not turn your servant away in anger;

    you have been my helper.

Do not reject me or forsake me,

    God my Savior.

And yet, David gives voice to an ache we often experience. Because we can’t see God, we wonder if he is there. If God doesn’t protect the way we think He should, or doesn’t move on the timetable we think he should, we ask, “Are you there? Do you hear me?”

What we aren’t told is if God answers David’s specific prayer in this Psalm or if it is in the time he wants.

My guess is, based on verses 13 – 14, he doesn’t.

13 I remain confident of this:

    I will see the goodness of the Lord

    in the land of the living.

14 Wait for the Lord;

    be strong and take heart

    and wait for the Lord.

No matter what, I wait. I remain confident. I trust in you. I will see your goodness. I don’t see it all yet, but I will.

I will wait. I will wait.