Psalm 27: Hope and Prayer

 As we continue in our exploration of the Psalms from the Sunday lectionary, we come to Psalm 27, full of affirmations of security and salvation. The lessons also reflect the theme of hope. From Isaiah 9:1-4 we hear The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. The Gospel (Matthew 4:12-23) repeats this promise and tells us that Jesus began his ministry as that Light by calling Andrew, Peter, James, and John from their job as fishermen. The Epistle to the Corinthians reminds everyone that the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (I Corinthians 1:10-18)

God’s ways are not human ways. God’s timing isn’t the same as human time. There were many centuries between Isaiah’s prophecy and its fulfillment in Jesus of Nazareth. As Paul notes in his letter to the church at Corinth humans have the sad habit of fighting with each other. It is easy to get discouraged when we think God isn’t paying any attention to the problems that seem to be everywhere. That isn’t true, of course. There is always God’s hope behind and between the lines of any story.

The portion of Psalm 27 for Sunday (verses 1, 5-13) offers hope with the reminder that God is light, salvation, strength and never deserts us. Psalm 27 praises God for God’s help when we are afraid or in trouble. The New Living Translation says that God calls us to come and talk with me. Isn’t that what prayer is—conversation with God? We can make it complex and think we need the right words. Sometimes prayer is grief that silences words or beauty that takes away our breath. Sometimes prayer is a quick ‘thanks’ or ‘help’ or even ‘why’? God hears no matter how we pray.

With the Psalmist, our response to God’s invitation to talk freely to God is Your face Lord will I seek. The New Living Translation has this response and plea, my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” Do not turn your back on me.  Do not reject your servant in anger.  You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me,  O God of my salvation!

God is always in every occurrence whether we think it’s good or bad. Each prayer is reaching out to God to find God in the situation. It is looking for God’s face. Where do we find God’s face? For some it is nature or in a church. It may be in your own face or the faces of loved ones. For others it is in the faces of hurting humanity. It’s easy to overlook the fact that each person we meet is God’s face looking back at us. Whose face will you look at to find the Face of God? 

Psalm 27:1, 5-13

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? *  the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid? 5 One thing have I asked of the Lord; one thing I seek; *  that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; 6 To behold the fair beauty of the Lord *  and to seek him in his temple. 7 For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe in his shelter; *  he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling and set me high upon a rock. 8 Even now he lifts up my head *  above my enemies round about me. 9 Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation with sounds of great gladness; *  I will sing and make music to the Lord. 10 Hearken to my voice, O Lord, when I call; *  have mercy on me and answer me. 11 You speak in my heart and say, “Seek my face.” *  Your face, Lord, will I seek. 12 Hide not your face from me, *  nor turn away your servant in displeasure. 13 You have been my helper; cast me not away; *  do not forsake me, O God of my salvation.

The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? The one thing I ask of the Lord—the thing I seek most—is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, Delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple. For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary.  He will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music. Hear me as I pray, O Lord.  Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”  And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” Do not turn your back on me.  Do not reject your servant in anger.  You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me,  O God of my salvation! (New Living Translation)

Next week we’ll look at what Psalm 15 has to say.