Psalm 27:title–1 (ESV): 27 Of David.
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?
Abba,
You are my light.
You illuminate the dark places.
You show the way.
You defeat the darkness. Evil, uncertainty, confusion, doubt, fear, anger, jealousy, envy, etc. Your light drives out and defeats the darkness of these things.
You are light. You are good. Pure, righteous, just, lovely, beautiful!
Your light leave us gaping, open mouthed, at it’s beauty!
It is so pure, we can’t look into it without infliction damage upon our being.
Your light is awesome!
There are no shadows with you. Nothing hidden and unrevealed.
There is much not understood by our finite minds, but nothing hidden. We never have to worry about what is unspoken or unrevealed about you. You may not tell us everything, but what you have revealed about yourself give us confidence to trust what we don’t know or can’t comprehend.
Every day, though the sun be shining and the sky clear, dark gloom of depression, fear, anger, discontent, jealousy, envy, and grief threaten to overwhelm us. The weight and oppressiveness of it burden the soul and muddle the mind. We need your light to break through the dark gloom that this life heaps upon us through the lingering damage of sin’s curse.
Your light over comes it all!
There is no darkness and gloom that won’t flee in your presence!
There is no shadow that can persist before your blazing light!
You have made yourself known to us! And that knowledge reveals the purity of your light and the radiance of your glory!
It is truly awesome! (A word I reserve for you and you alone as nothing in this life is worthy of such a descriptor as you!)
Furthermore…
You are my salvation!
You are my protection, my safety, my refuge. You are my guard, my life. You stand between me and danger. You stand between me and my enemy, the one who would want to see me destroyed.
In my minds eye, I see myself hunkering behind you. You standing before me, facing my enemy, one hand to your side and pressed back, palm facing me in a protective gesture, urging me to stay behind you while you stand between me and the one who stands accusing me.
I feel safe here.
I feel loved, cherished, and valued.
I feel humbled be your defense and protection.
Yes, Abba, you are my salvation, my defense.
You even stand between me and myself - protecting me from me when I need it.
You do for me what I am not able to do for myself. I am wholly dependent on you.
Given these two truths…what have I to fear? What harm can come to me when this is true?
It’s all about the definition of harm. Pain, trouble, difficult are not always harmful. They can be used for good. Our problem, Abba, is when we begin to see all pain and discomfort as harm. That is not how you see it. That is not how it works.
You protect me from all harm, from anything that can do permanent, eternal damage. Pain may well be part of the life process but it won’t result in harm, for you are my light and my salvation.
You use pain and trouble, and difficulty to accomplish good!
Your word is clear, you will not allow any harm to come to your children!
This is not a promise of the absence of pain.
This is a promise to use pain to accomplish our good and your glory!
Indeed, Abba. We have nothing to fear. The only fear that should consume and control us is fear of you! May I, may we stand in fear and awe of you today! For your reveal to us that you are light! You are salvation! And in you we find a refuge that is never shaken.
We love you, Abba.
Amen.
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?
Abba,
You are my light.
You illuminate the dark places.
You show the way.
You defeat the darkness. Evil, uncertainty, confusion, doubt, fear, anger, jealousy, envy, etc. Your light drives out and defeats the darkness of these things.
You are light. You are good. Pure, righteous, just, lovely, beautiful!
Your light leave us gaping, open mouthed, at it’s beauty!
It is so pure, we can’t look into it without infliction damage upon our being.
Your light is awesome!
There are no shadows with you. Nothing hidden and unrevealed.
There is much not understood by our finite minds, but nothing hidden. We never have to worry about what is unspoken or unrevealed about you. You may not tell us everything, but what you have revealed about yourself give us confidence to trust what we don’t know or can’t comprehend.
Every day, though the sun be shining and the sky clear, dark gloom of depression, fear, anger, discontent, jealousy, envy, and grief threaten to overwhelm us. The weight and oppressiveness of it burden the soul and muddle the mind. We need your light to break through the dark gloom that this life heaps upon us through the lingering damage of sin’s curse.
Your light over comes it all!
There is no darkness and gloom that won’t flee in your presence!
There is no shadow that can persist before your blazing light!
You have made yourself known to us! And that knowledge reveals the purity of your light and the radiance of your glory!
It is truly awesome! (A word I reserve for you and you alone as nothing in this life is worthy of such a descriptor as you!)
Furthermore…
You are my salvation!
You are my protection, my safety, my refuge. You are my guard, my life. You stand between me and danger. You stand between me and my enemy, the one who would want to see me destroyed.
In my minds eye, I see myself hunkering behind you. You standing before me, facing my enemy, one hand to your side and pressed back, palm facing me in a protective gesture, urging me to stay behind you while you stand between me and the one who stands accusing me.
I feel safe here.
I feel loved, cherished, and valued.
I feel humbled be your defense and protection.
Yes, Abba, you are my salvation, my defense.
You even stand between me and myself - protecting me from me when I need it.
You do for me what I am not able to do for myself. I am wholly dependent on you.
Given these two truths…what have I to fear? What harm can come to me when this is true?
It’s all about the definition of harm. Pain, trouble, difficult are not always harmful. They can be used for good. Our problem, Abba, is when we begin to see all pain and discomfort as harm. That is not how you see it. That is not how it works.
You protect me from all harm, from anything that can do permanent, eternal damage. Pain may well be part of the life process but it won’t result in harm, for you are my light and my salvation.
You use pain and trouble, and difficulty to accomplish good!
Your word is clear, you will not allow any harm to come to your children!
This is not a promise of the absence of pain.
This is a promise to use pain to accomplish our good and your glory!
Indeed, Abba. We have nothing to fear. The only fear that should consume and control us is fear of you! May I, may we stand in fear and awe of you today! For your reveal to us that you are light! You are salvation! And in you we find a refuge that is never shaken.
We love you, Abba.
Amen.