I am still 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. Psalms27:13-14
We come to the third and final part of the Psalm in which David brings together his faith-full start in v.1-6 with the choosing-to-courageously trust section in v.7-12. (The whole of the Psalm is pasted below...)
David has not yet seen the conclusion of his current trial, but he is confident that he will "see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." It's interesting, it is not the end of trouble that has David's hopes up - it is seeing God's goodness. Sometimes we get to experience God's goodness in the ending of our trouble and sometimes we experience God's goodness even though the trouble hasn't gone away.
But how do we bring the optimistic faith of v.1-6 together with the courageous faith in v.7-12? How do we keep trusting and hanging on?
David doesn't mince his words in the final verse:
1. We have to learn to wait (David says this twice!) Sometimes God's timing isn't the same as our desires. Someone once said: "God isn't always there when I want Him, but He is always right on time!"
2. We must be strong and we must take heart. This means making choices, it means that we don't let our emotions run the show, it means that we choose to trust, that we hang on and that we push through.
And we will see God's goodness!
And as David anticipated in v6 we will be able to say:
"Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD."
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That brings us to the end of our series and I will take a break until the third term. God bless, Theo
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PS 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?
2 When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.
4 One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon 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.
6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
7 Hear my voice when I call, O 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,
O God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, O 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,
breathing out violence.
13 I am still 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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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
