Notes on the Book of Psalms, Psalm 27
The xxvii. PSALM.
David rowseth up his faith to overtop his fear by many arguments, taken from former preservations, and confidence, that as God hath stirred up an earnest desire in him, to worship him in his Tabernacle, so he shall be preserved thereunto. He further backs his faith with prayer, pressing upon God the warrant of his own word, and his former remarkable providences; as also his strong affiance and trust in him, and his enemies malice against him; and so concludes with great incouragement to himself, and every one of Gods people to wait and trust everlastingly in a promise, never to give out, but incourage themselves in God his goodness, be their condition never so desperate.
A Psalm made by David.Psalm xxvii. A Psalm of David.
1 IN my most afflicted state and darksome condition,1THe Lord is my light, and my salvation, whō shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid. the Lord hath and doth afford me both comfort and direction; yea, and also preservation and deliverance, and so hath promised to do alwayes, and I believe no less by him, from whom then need I fear any harm. The Lord is he, that according to his promise and my trust in him, defends and upholds me spite of all the power of men and devils, of whom then need I be afraid, be they who they will, and do they what they can.
2 When as multitude of wicked ones with cruel hatred conspired against me,2When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. and joyned all their forces to wreak their teen upon me, and barbarously destroy me; what got they by it? but ruine to themselves, which they thought to bring upon me, by the just judgement of God upon them for my sake.
3Though an host should en…amp against me, my heart shall not fear; though warre should rise against me, in this will I be confident.3 Whilst thus I am sure of God on my side, though an whole army of men should be ready to make an assault upon me, my heart by faith shall bear up in God without dismaiedness. Though I were never so implunged in warres by forraign enemies, or domestick insurrections, yet by faith in Gods grace and powerful assistance, will I confidently exspect an happy issue out of them all.
4One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, & to enquire in his Temple.4 The thing I have alwayes in all conditions mainly desired of God, and which still I do and ever will principally sue to him for, is, that he will so order mine affairs, that I may not be put besides my hope, and desires of that transcendent happiness of frequenting his presence, and enjoying his ordinances in his tabernacle, where I could gladly lead my life, there to behold through those many legal types and shadows, the admirable grace and wisdom of God in the salvation of man through Christ, and to make there my dayly prayers, and to ask advice of him upon all occasions, as the people of God shall one day do in his holy Temple.
5For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion; in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me, he shall set me up upon a rock.5 Nor shall I entreat this of him in vain, for he that hath stirred me up to seek it, will fulfil it, and to that end in my greatest trouble, I am confident he will preserve and safely protect me; Yea, as if I were shut up in his holy Ark, so shall I be kept and secured by him, he shall make me invincible spite of all mine adversaries, and set me above and out of their reach to hurt me.
6And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me; therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy, I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.6 And sure I am it is not long too, before I shall have the better of all mine enemies one and other, and shall live in a flourishing state of peace and prosperity, therefore do I confidently aforehand vow peace-offerings to him, which I will plentifully and publickly offer in his tabernacle, with joyful thanksgiving in the congregation, for my deliverances, where I so much desire to serve him. And where also I will sing his praises, and publish his praise-worthy mercies to me in manifold Psalmes and Himnes.
7 Thou that art the God of my faith and trust,7Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. O hear me when mine afflictions cause me to cry and pour forth my prayers unto thee, and in mercy answer me with deliverance.
8 For whereas thy word warrants and enjoynes thy people in all their difficulties to seek thy gracious help and favour in prayer and faith,8When thou saidest, seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, thy face, Lord, will I seek. my heart readily ecchoes, and sayes Amen to it, doth as it bids, for it hath alwayes been my practise to prefer thy grace as my greatest good, and onelyonly support because of thy faithfulness.
9 And still do I beg of thee above all things not to ecclipse thy favour,9Hide not thy face farre from me, put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help, leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. or withdraw thine assistance from me, take not such displeasure at me, who though a sinner yet am thy servant, as to divorce me from thy favour and protection. Thou knowest, and so do I, what mercies and providences thou hast shewen me in my need, which is wont to bind thee to further goodness, and to incourage us to greater faith, and therefore let me in the faith thereof, humbly put thee in mind of thy former grace, to move thee to second it now and alwayes as I have need, and thou hast opportunity, by standing for me and sticking to me, not leaving me to mine enemies, nor withdrawing thy help; for thou hast been, art, and ever shall be the God that I onelyonly have and will trust in for preservation.
10 Truly my faith is more in thee,10When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. and a nearer tie of love and affiance doth mine heart apprehend from thee, than from the dearest bonds of nature and natural affections, so that my father that begot me, and my mother that bare me, I more distrust to fail and forsake me in their love and care, than thou, who I am confident wilt never forsake me, nor fail in thy love and promises to me, whosoever do, nay thou wilt then most of all be a freind unto me, when I am left most friendless and forlorn.
11Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.11 O Lord manifest thy love and care both in my protection and direction, instructing me how to walk obediently towards thee in all my temptations, and safely in regard of mine enemies, by escaping their traps and snares, who would be glad to see my fall both into sin, that they may have whereof to accuse me, and into danger, to have their wills upon me.
12Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breath out cruelty.12 But, Lord, let mine enemies never have their wills and desires of me by my miscarriages any way, though they seek and long for it every way, by fraud and force endeavouring it; forging lies against me, and threatning all manner of cruelty to me.
13I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord, in the land of the living.13 Certainly, so many and grievous have been my pressures, that I could never have subsisted under them, unless I had had a promise to stay me, and faith to stay upon the promise through the goodness of God for my deliverance and settlement one day in a happy condition, free from persecution and banishment, amongst the ordinances and people of God, which I am sure I shall have before I die, though in the nature of a resurrection from the dead.
14Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart, wait, I say, on the Lord.14 And truly this hath ever upheld me, and so doth still to wait on the Lord, which for the promise sake I will never fail to do, for I know it shall be fulfilled, therefore will I incourage my self by faith in God, and so shall I be sure of him to give me heart-upholding grace and spirit. No, never will I give over waiting on the Lord, till he cause me cease it by fulfilling what I wait for according to his promise. And so let all and every one of the people of God, be incouraged to do in like sort by mine example.