Psalms 27

Enthusiastic confidence is the keynote of the first six verses of the Psalm. Under Jehovah’s guardianship the Psalmist knows no fear in the midst of dangers (Psalms 27:1-3). His highest desire is to enjoy Jehovah’s fellowship and protection as a guest in His house. He anticipates a speedy triumph over his foes, and promises grateful thanksgiving (Psalms 27:4-6). The swing of the rhythm corresponds to the energy of the thought. Suddenly all is changed: the jubilant rhythm is abandoned; anxious supplication takes the place of joyous faith. Earnestly the Psalmist pleads that Jehovah will not forsake His servant, and appeals to His promises and His past mercies (Psalms 27:7-12). Yet in this crisis Jehovah is his only stay, and he concludes by encouraging himself to faith and patience (Psalms 27:13-14). Thus the Psalm falls into two equal divisions, with a conclusion. If the two parts are by the same poet, he must clearly have written them at different times, and under the influence of different circumstances. When he added the prayer of Psa 27:7-14 to his former song he reaffirmed the faith of happier days, though it had ceased to give joy and comfort in his present distress. But the marked difference in tone, contents, and rhythm, makes it not improbable that two independent Psalms are here combined, or that a later poet appended Psalms 27:7-14 to Psalms 27:1-6. It is as though he would say: ‘I would fain appropriate this bold utterance of faith; but all is dark around me, and I can only pray in faltering tones, and strive to wait in patience.’ The Psalm (or at any rate the first part) has strong claims to be regarded as Davidic, and may best be assigned to the time of Absalom’s rebellion, shortly before the final battle. The language of Psa 27:2-3 is that of a warrior; Psalms 27:3 breathes the same spirit as Psalms 3:6; and with Psalms 27:4 ff. comp. 2 Samuel 15:25. Jehovah’s abode is still a tent (Psalms 27:6), though it can be called a temple or palace (Psalms 27:4) as the abode of a king. Comp. 2 Samuel 6:17. The Sept. addition to the title, before he was anointed, would refer it to Saul’s persecution, or to the wars of the first seven years of his reign. Comp. Psalms 3, 23, 91.

Psalms 27:1-3

1–3. With Jehovah on his side, he knows no fear. This faith, the constant theme of prophet and psalmist, finds its N.T. extension in Romans 8:31.

Psalms 27:2

2. When evil-doers came near against me to eat my flesh, Even mine adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell. This may refer to past experience, or it may be a confident anticipation of the discomfiture of his foes. According to a common Hebrew idiom the perfect tense may realise their defeat as an accomplished plished fact. See Appendix, Note IV. He compares his assailants to wild beasts, eager to devour him. Cp. Psalms 3:7. stumbled and fell] Cp. Isaiah 8:15; Jeremiah 46:6.

Psalms 27:3

3. The language may be figurative, but is more natural, if the writer was, like David, actually exposed to war’s alarms. Cp. Psalms 3:6. in this] In the truth of Psa 27:1. But it is better to render with R.V., even then, in spite of opposing armies.

Psalms 27:4-6

4–6. To be Jehovah’s guest and live secure under His protection is the Psalmist’s chief desire; and even now he confidently anticipates deliverance from his foes. Psalms 27:4 can hardly be understood literally of a lifelong residence in the Temple. Rather, as in Psalms 23:4-5; Psalms 15:1, Jehovah is thought of as the royal host, whose guests are secure under His protection, and enjoy familiar intercourse with Him. But the language is suggested by the possibility of approach to God in His earthly house, and perhaps by the suppliant’s right of asylum there.

Psalms 27:5

5. For he shall conceal me in his pavilion in the day of trouble, He shall hide me in the hiding-place of his tent; Upon a rock shall he lift me up. He will be secured from danger as one who is sheltered from heat and storm, or safe from assault in some inaccessible rock fortress. Cp. Psalms 31:20; Isaiah 4:6; and the expression his hidden or secret ones in Psalms 83:3.

Psalms 27:6

6. And now &c.] In the immediate future he anticipates not protection only but triumphant victory. Cp. Psalms 3:3; Psalms 110:7. in his tabernacle] Lit. in his tent, as in the preceding verse. There it may simply mean dwelling, in a general figurative sense; but here in connexion with the offering of sacrifice, it would seem that the tent which David pitched for the Ark on Mount Zion (2 Samuel 6:17) must be meant. sacrifices of joy] A bold expression for sacrifices of thanksgiving. Joy may mean the jubilant shouting with which religious festivities were celebrated (2 Samuel 6:15; Psalms 33:3; Psalms 47:5); or trumpet-sound, such as accompanied certain sacrifices (Numbers 10:10); here probably the former.

Psalms 27:7-14

7–14. The tone of the Psalm changes abruptly to plaintive and anxious supplication. God seems to be on the point of hiding His face.

Psalms 27:8

8. The A.V. gives the general sense fairly. But the text as it stands must be rendered: Unto thee my heart hath said: ‘Seek ye my face’; ‘Thy face, Jehovah, will I seek.’ In prayer from his innermost heart the Psalmist pleads the invitation which Jehovah addresses to His people, Seek ye my face; and responds to it on his own behalf, Thy face, Jehovah, will I seek. The construction is bold, but finds a parallel in Job 42:3-5, where in Psalms 27:3 a, Psalms 27:4 Job quotes the Lord’s words, and in Psalms 27:3 b, 5 answers them. We need not assume a reference to any particular passage (e.g. Deuteronomy 4:29). The invitation is the sum of all revelation. Cp. Matthew 7:7 ff.

Psalms 27:9

9. Hide not thy face from me (R.V.). A prayer grounded on the divine promise which he has obeyed. Cp. Psalms 22:14. put not &c.] Or, turn not, like the unjust judge who turns the needy from his right (Job 24:4; Isaiah 10:2; Luke 18:1 ff.). in anger] See note on Psalms 6:1. thou hast been my help] An appeal to past experience. Surely God cannot have changed. leave me not] R.V., cast me not off (Psalms 94:14; 1 Kings 8:57).

Psalms 27:10

10. When my father &c.] Or, as R.V., For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but &c. A proverbial expression. (Comp. ‘bereavement to my soul,’ Psalms 35:12). Though he is friendless and forsaken as a deserted child, Jehovah will adopt him and care for him. His love is stronger than that of the closest human relations. Cp. Isaiah 49:15; Psalms 103:13.

Psalms 27:11

11. Cp. Psalms 5:8; Psalms 25:12. In the course of life designed for him by God he will be safe. He prays that it may be like a path along a level open plain, free from pitfalls and places where enemies may lurk in ambush. Plain is the same word as even in Psalms 26:12; and mine enemies means literally, those that lie in wail for me, as in Psalms 5:8. Cp. Mark 12:13 for illustration.

Psalms 27:12

12. enemies] R.V., adversaries, as in Psalms 27:2. false witnesses] Slanderous calumniators are meant, rather than actual witnesses in court. Cp. Psalms 35:11; Proverbs 6:19. such as breathe out cruelty] Bent on injuring him by their talk. For the phrase cp. Acts 9:1.

Psalms 27:13

13. The word for unless is marked with dots in the Massoretic text as probably spurious. Omitting it, we may render; I believe that I shall see &c. If it is retained, the construction is an aposiopesis: O! had I not believed &c.; or an apodosis may be supplied, as in A.V. to see] The construction of the Heb. verb implies the sense, to see and enjoy. in the land of the living] Here, as in Psalms 3:5; Psalms 116:9; Psalms 142:5; Isaiah 38:11; Isaiah 53:8; &c, this life on earth in contrast to Sheol, the land of death: not, as in the natural Christian application of the words and as the Targum already paraphrases, ‘the land of everlasting life’.

Psalms 27:14

14. The Psalmist addresses himself, and encourages himself to patience. His faith rebukes his faintness. Be of good courage] R.V., Be strong, and let thine heart take courage. Cp. Psalms 31:24; Deuteronomy 31:7; Joshua 1:6-7; Joshua 1:9; Joshua 1:18. Wait, I say] R.V., Yea, wait thou. Cp. Psalms 25:3; Psalms 37:9; Psalms 37:34; Proverbs 20:22.