I'm back to Psalm 27 because of a song I have been singing.
The song was a door open to this beautiful Psalm. 🙏
✦ A Song Opened the Door
Three days ago, in Belgium, Le read Psalm 27 and found David's one desire. Today, in the Netherlands, she returns to it — led there by a song she has been singing. This time in the King James, and this time from the first verse.
It is the Spirit's way with Le. August 30 — His Eye on the Sparrow. September 14 — I'd Rather Have Jesus. And now a song that carried her back into a psalm. The Psalms were songs before they were chapters — David sang them first. So it is fitting that a song would open the door, and the psalm would be waiting on the other side.
October 11 — by day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me. The song that stays with Le is His song, leading her back to His Word.
October 5, Spurgeon said Christ is like the manna in the golden pot, always the same — and like the manna from heaven, every morning new. So is His Word. The same psalm, read again, opens a door that was not noticed the first time. On Tuesday the door was one thing. Today it is whom shall I fear? 🙏
"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?"
✦ Light, Salvation, Strength
David names three things the Lord is — and each one answers a different fear.
My light — for the fear of the dark, of not knowing the way. The road ahead, the next stop, the house not yet found. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet (October 3). He does not only give light; He is the light.
My salvation — for the fear of what is behind us and what is coming. The debt cancelled, the robe and the ring (October 11). Nothing can undo what He has done.
The strength of my life — for the fear of not being enough. October 5: I thought I had enough grace, but I was wrong. The strength was never meant to be ours. As thy days, so shall thy strength be.
And then two questions that are really one answer: whom shall I fear? of whom shall I be afraid? No one. Not because the world is safe, but because the Lord is near. 🙏
"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.
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 Secret of His Tabernacle
The King James adds a word the other translation softened: secret. In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me.
October 12 — Jesus said: pray to thy Father which is in secret. October 12 — Le wrote: I found a room in a motorhome. The secret place of Psalm 27 and the shut door of Matthew 6 are the same room. It is where fear loses its voice — hidden in His pavilion, set high upon a rock.
That is why David can ask whom shall I fear? The one who dwells in the house of the Lord is the one hidden in the time of trouble. The one thing he desired becomes the one place he is safe. 🙏
"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."
✦ He Shall Strengthen Thine Heart
The psalm begins with the strength of my life and ends with he shall strengthen thine heart. The strength comes in the waiting.
On Tuesday we saw the spine in the waiting: be of good courage. Today the King James shows where the courage comes from: not from us — he shall strengthen. We wait; He strengthens. We stay near; He fills the heart.
And David says it twice — wait... wait, I say — like a friend repeating the one thing you most need to hear. 🙏
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
"I'm back to Psalm 27 because of a song I have been singing. The song was a door open to this beautiful Psalm."
Le · Hilvarenbeek · Netherlands · The LORD is my light and my salvationLight, Salvation, Strength
Three names, three fears answered: the dark road, the past and the future, the feeling of not being enough. Whom shall I fear? No one.
The Secret Place
In the secret of His tabernacle He hides me — the same room as Matthew 6's shut door. Where fear loses its voice.
He Shall Strengthen
We wait; He strengthens. The psalm begins with the strength of my life and ends with "he shall strengthen thine heart."
The song as a door: Le did not return to Psalm 27 by plan — a song carried her there. That is Colossians 3:16 lived out: the word of Christ dwelling richly, through psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. And the psalm gave something new the second time. The Word is like the manna — the same, and every morning new.
From desire to courage: Tuesday the psalm said one thing I ask. Today it says whom shall I fear? The heart that wants only Him has nothing left to fear.
A week of borders: France, Belgium, the Netherlands — new roads, new languages. The Lord is the same light in every country. 🙏