This psalm of thanksgiving reminds us of our confident security in God who is our stronghold.
Verses 1-3
Merriam-Webster defines “stronghold” as a place of security or survival; a fortified place. David understood military strongholds. Even if we were unfamiliar with his history as a soldier, his language in verses 2 and 3 makes this apparent. However, verse 1 should not be overlooked.
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?
In the darkness, in a battle, in a life and death situation, God keeps us warm, protected, and peaceful. We can be confident in Him.
Verses 4-6
David makes a connection in this stanza to a truth we often ignore. To have true communion with God, we must be where He is, love what He loves, and seek relationship with Him.
It is true that God pursues us. And He answers us when we call on Him. But if our only connection to Him is asking for help when we need it, we have reduced God to nothing more than a genie in a bottle. Instead, we must spend time with Him, praise Him, and enjoy Him.
Verses 7-10
You can sense David’s desperation for the Lord in these verses. He has promised to seek God’s face, but he wants to be sure God will be there when he does. He praises God for being a help in the past and reminds himself God will still love him even if his close earthly relationships fail.
Verses 11-12
David seeks direction in the midst of his enemies. He understands one misstep will set him up for failure. He asks for God to make a way before Him, guiding him with each step.
Verses 13-14
The closing verses are both a declaration of confidence, and a self-direction to be patient.
I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and courageous. Wait for the Lord.
David believes he will endure his current trial and rejoice at its completion. This will not end in death, but in joyful living. Even still, he is anxious to see progress. He reminds himself to wait on the Lord’s timing and not to give in to doubt.
We must also trust God will move when the time is right in our trials and times of waiting. If we rush ahead of God, we can lose our footing and stumble or walk into a trap. But if we wait on His guidance, He will prepare the path before us, remove the land mines, and lead us into success.
This post is Day 27 of the 31 Days of Journaling through the Psalms series. If you would like to read the first post, Psalm 1: The Wise and the Wicked, click here. The introduction to the series can be found here.
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