You Are Not the Only One

1 (A Psalm of David.) 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?

David knew what Christians today already know, the Lord is their “ my light and my salvation.” Just look at these scriptures Psalms 18:28; 36:9; 43:3; Isa. 60:1, 19-20; Micah 7:8;

• John 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
• John 12:46 “ I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.”
• 1 John 1:5 “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

Brothers and sisters, there is enough evidence in God’s Word for us to know who the real source of light is, and what we should do with that knowledge.

• Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. [Subsequently, we should be lights in this dark world, not join in with the bashing of people group!]
• Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. [Sharing the knowledge of where salvation emanates from is the only hope for this world. That is our calling, not blasting people out on social media who do not agree with the politics of this world!” WHY?
• Acts 26:18 “To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

We will turn no one from darkness to light when our words and actions are actions of darkness rather than light.  David understood that very well. Longman states “Darkness is often associated with disorder, confusion and eventually evil (Ps 18:28; Ps 44:19; Ps 74:20; Ps 82:5). I remember sitting in several workshops by a famous leader of Christian leaders. The term that every single person used repeatedly was “structure yields results!”

Confusion and mayhem is the result of no structure. God’s word is structured. We don’t get to choose what part of it we want to follow. As I was pondering about this devotional today, a thought came to mind. Would we change the structure of a church service simply because the people wanted to do “it” their way rather than follow the leadership? NO! Every usher is a volunteer. They don’t get paid to usher. However, they are expected to follow the protocols of the church. We cannot water down God’s expected outcomes of behavior for any of us. David didn’t!

• 2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
• 3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

Cayce provides an explanation for  “Eat up my flesh” means in this verse. “An allusion to the psalmist’s enemies being like vicious beasts (compare the verses below.)

• Psalms 7:2 “ Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.”
• Psalms 14:4 “Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? Who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord.” The evil people of this world do not acknowledge God as sovereign in anything.
• Psalms 17:12 “Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.” In the New Testament (NT) I Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
• Children of the light do not seek to devour others. Now let’s make it real. In e-mails. Via text messages. Via gossip-I will tell you what, social media has become a curse to the body of Christ because instant messaging has become instant “gossiping” against brothers and sisters. It hurts my soul! When we assassinate our brothers and sisters and their character we are in effect doing what Job stated. Job 19:22 “Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?”
• This wording was also employed to describe slander and defamation (compare a close Aramaic parallel in Dan. 3:8; 6:24 (Cayce 2018, Psalms 27). Do you think David was concerned about what his enemies could do to him?  Nope! Verse 3 “Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.” Now do we feel the same war or are we relying on our weapons of human warfare? Remember now, David was a king. He was the commander of the armed forces of the nation of Israel. Whom did he rely on for deliverance? God! Sometimes I wonder what has happened to this kind of faith. All we have to do is wait on Him to move!

https://youtu.be/5dth_O4iiIE

David says “I am Safe, God!” WHY?

• 4 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.
• 5 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.

David tells God what he desires “4 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. WOW! To be a teachable person and to be able to ask him whatever he wants to – where? In His Temple! To what End? David states “5 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. Who is our rock in times of trouble? Not saying anything against the NRA, but who can truly deliver us when we are utterly surrounded by our enemies? What will we do? We will wait for Him to “set [us] up upon a rock.”  Who is our rock? King James Bible “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower (Ps 18:2). How about the NT? I Corinthians 10:4 “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” Alright, David has received deliverance from his enemies. What does he do now?

6 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.

He sings a song of victory! “He worships! “I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.” He will go to “church” and he will worship with brethren “therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.” We have already discussed the importance of corporate worship.

• Colossians 3:16 ESV / “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

• Hebrews 10:25 ESV “Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
• Acts 2:42 ESV “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
• Ephesians 5:19 ESV “Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
• 1 Timothy 4:13 ESV “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.”

• 7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
• 8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
• 9 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.
• 10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

David goes back to the lament and asks God to be close to him and answer him.  In verses 7-10 the psalmist appears to have stepped out of the presence of the Lord and into the reality of his situation. He urges God to hear his lament and answer him. In verse 8, because he is not hearing an answer from God, he is reminding him that “When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.” That was not enough so he appeals to God once again. In verse 9 he declares “Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: [WHY? Because] thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.  In verse 10 David does a REALITY CHECK. He says [Even “When my father and my mother forsake me, [this is what I KNOW God] then the LORD will take me up. Think about this friends. How many people do you know who go down to the grave seeking their parents’ approval, or even reconciliation with their parents?

• 11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
• 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.

David continues his requests to God in verses 11– 12. He wants to walk in the “plain path.” In Matthew 7:14 Jesus calls the “plain path” another name. “Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”Why is David still pleading his case before God? False accusations are being levied against him by his enemies. 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.”

Do you remember what David’s own son, Absalom, did to his father? Read about it in  2 Sam. 15:1– 12. Casey stated “The party which attached itself to Absalom accused David of cruelty to the house of Saul (2 Sam. 16:8). And probably of other crimes and misdemeanors. Absalom himself accused him of failure in how he carried out his kingly duties (2 Sam. 15:8) (Cayce 2018, Psalm 27; Lawson). David was not paranoid! His own son turned against him. The recovery time from betrayal is quite lengthy.

• 13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
• 14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

David is being forthright here. He says “WOW God, the pressure is so strong that I would have” fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” Notice he did not say when he was dead! Hallelujah! David ends the psalm with advice for all of us.

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

https://youtu.be/iPZMEfkb0VQ