God: Our Rock of Security
Whatever your situation, God has not given up on you. In Psalm 27, we see David turning to God in trust, during the midst of great adversity. We cannot be certain of the historical background associated here, but some believe it was written before David ascended the throne…perhaps in the days he was tormented by King Saul. Others believed these words were penned upon the occasion of the death of his parents (27:10). Whatever life experiences David coped with which served as motivation for his writing, he asserts his complete trust in the Lord. Psalms 26-28 constitute a trilogy that express great confidence in God, despite strong winds of adversity and persecution by enemies.
In these Psalms, the Lord is referred to as light and salvation (27:1); a rock (28:1); a shield (28:7); a saving defense (28:8); and a shepherd (28:9). God never forsakes His people, vindicates injustice, and punishes evildoers. He is light which stands for all that is positive, right, and full of truth and life. When God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)? David says that God is the defense of (his) life, (27:2). When troubled times came, David looked to God. The same is true, even now for God’s people. He is the defense for our life. Though difficulties rise against us, we can be confident. Those who rely on their own strength and devices will be crushed. Do you look to God as the very personal force behind your life?
Even as his troubles mount, David longed to be in the house of the Lord, which he viewed as a place of shelter, security, and sanctuary. It was a place where he could go to meditate and concentrate on God’s beauty, 27:4. The wording in 27:5 closely resembles 18:1-3. There he wrote that we can take refuge in God because He is our stronghold. Although he is not inside God’s temple at the time of this writing, he continually prays for God not to turn away from him…even if everyone else has.
Whatever situation David faced, it is clear from these verses that he was in great need of God’s help. His requests were not immediately answered in the affirmative. It has been said that God answers every prayer in one of three ways: “Yes,” “No,” and “Wait.” When God says “wait,” it can try our patience. Patience is such a hard virtue to learn, especially when we find ourself in a pressure situation with adversity all around. It is at such times that the silence of God seems most deafening.Can’t He hear me? Can’t He see how desperate my circumstances are? Why doesn’t He respond…now? My situation is so urgent. These are natural reactions. Every person has wondered the same. But the powerful lesson here is, that David goes back to the place he should have—confidence in God. Even if those who loved him most (his parents) forsook him, God never would, 27:10.
David could live with such faith, because he had completely given himself to God. His very life was in God’s hands. He was not the casual worshipper, who haphazardly called out to God only in times of deepest need, he was going to follow God no matter what. Even if every step David took was contested by his adversaries, he was going to press forward. David trusted in God’s deliverance because he had seen God’s goodness exhibited in the past, 27:13. When we reflect on the occasions where God has gone to work in our life in the past, it should create within us an overwhelming sense of trust, inner strength, and courage…even if we have to wait on the Lord.
Whatever your situation, remember God has not given up on you. Even if the circumstances are a result of your own decisions, God can use that to develop you into a deeper relationship with Him. He does not always work on our timetable. During these times of waiting, we learn to depend on God and trust Him completely. Upon whom do you trust?
Author: Matthew Allen
Website: www.allenbibleresources.com
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