The second half of Psalm 27 (read vv. 7-14 after the jump) reveals the heart of David as he seeks to control his fear and actualize his own theology of God’s strength and protection. He wanders — soulish wandering — between his beliefs and his condition:
Here’s a simple statement — a request for God to listen:
7 Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
be merciful to me and answer me.
Inside, this is what his heart is saying…
8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, LORD, I will seek.
Notice how he seeks to make this real in his own life. He knows God is there; he knows God is strong; but still must speak of his fear of God’s abandonment. He knows God is with him and he knows God is faithful; but, in spite of his theology, he pleads with God to stick with him.
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.
Then a bit of wandering. First, his confidence in God is lifted (v. 10); then he pleads with God for teaching (v. 11); then he pleads for God not to turn him over to his foes:
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, LORD;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
The psalm finishes with more expressions of confidence and advice.
Psa. 27:0 Of David.
Psa. 27:1 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?
Psa. 27:2 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.
Psa. 27:4 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 tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.
Psa. 27:6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his tabernacle I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
Psa. 27:7 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.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, LORD;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
Psa. 27:13 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.
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