I am sure that each of you have experienced moments in the last few months when these forces have threatened to overwhelm and overtake you.īut what does David write here in response to his enemies? The Lord is my Stronghold. Fear, anxiety, and doubt are real and valid feelings but they can also become powers of darkness in our lives. But I would suggest that beyond the realm of the medical professionals and patients fighting this virus on the frontlines, we are all battling other unseen powers of darkness. I’m not suggesting for a minute here that the world is not currently in a struggle against flesh and blood. So as I read these first few verses, I wondered: who are your enemies today?Įphesians 6:12 says, “ O ur struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.” Now, of course, the battles and the enemies described in this Psalm is not what we experience in modern times. Though a war breaks out against me, I will still be confident. Though an army deploys against me, my heart will not be afraid When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh, my foes and my enemies stumbled and fell. The Lord is the stronghold of my life-whom should I dread? The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom should I fear? I love each one of these titles it tells you right at the start that this Psalm will be a declaration of trust in God’s protection over you. The Passion Translation uses “Fearless Faith”. The Lexham English translation titles it “A Declaration of Trust”. In my translation, the Christian Standard Bible, Psalm 27 is titled “My Stronghold”.
Now that you have opened up your Bible or Bible app, I’m curious, does your Bible have a title for Psalm 27? What is it? Yes, this is your first chance to participate! Share it in the comments. The backstory to Psalm 27 plays out like a blockbuster film, which amplifies the words of praise and trust we are going to study today. He even experienced his own people turning against him. He had to hide out in countless uncomfortable places. His supporters, friends, and family were captured and murdered. You can read all about this period of David’s life in 1 Samuel 21-23. Most agree that it was written during his flight from King Saul. Psalm 27, like the majority of Psalms, is believed to have been written by David. It is the book I turn to most often when I am looking for comfort or encouragement, and it is where I have found myself drawn to often in the last two months. In it, we find words of lament and words of praise. The book of Psalms is a collection of prayers and songs. I will be teaching on Psalm 27 and so I invite you to pull out your Bible or Bible app and turn there with me now. It’s not the same as being together but it is a way to walk together as a Church. Share your thoughts and responses to the reflection questions in the comments, and I invite you to join our Zoom fellowship time after the service. I want to encourage you today to not just be a spectator, but be a participant.
I’ll be honest that it is a strange experience as a teacher to only see my screen and not your faces. Today my hope is that you will find refuge in God’s promises to protect you and that you will seek to hear His voice. My name is Ingrid Hoogenboom and I have the great privilege of being a part of the teaching team here at Calvary.