Click here to read PSALM 27 in poetic form.
Background
As a larger group, Psalms 25—41 are in many ways responses to the previous Psalms 16—24. And Psalms 25—28 contain prayers about the Messiah and what he would suffer and accomplish.
- Psalms 25:4,8-10,12 refer to the path and way of the Messiah as in Psalms 16:11.
- Psalms 26:1,11 talk of the Messiah’s integrity as in Psalms 17:1,3,4.
- Psalms 27:5,12 and Psalms 28:1,9 speak of the “rock” and “deliverer” (the Messiah is both) as in Psalms 18:2.
Structure
(Verses 1-3) Messiah’s trust and confidence in God’s help over his enemies
(Verses 4-6) Messiah’s desire to be in God’s presence, victorious over his enemies
(Verses 7-11) Messiah’s desire to be in God’s presence, victorious over his enemies
(Verses 12-14) Messiah’s trust and confidence in God’s help over his enemies
Key Scriptures
Verse 3—“Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear.” Jesus Christ was confronted by the Devil and many evil spirits during his ministry. Shortly before his death, the top religious leaders, government officials, soldiers, and others were used by those spirits to physically and mentally attack him. Yet the Messiah’s heart did not fear, for he accomplished his mission and said “it is finished.”
Verse 4—“to behold the beauty of the Lord.” The Hebrew word for “beauty” means delight, splendor, or grace. Jesus Christ loved his Father and was his Father’s delight—the Son in whom God was “well pleased” (Matthew 3:17; 12:18; 17:5; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22).
Verse 5—“he shall set me up upon a rock.” Jesus Christ was the stone rejected that became the head of the corner (Psalms 118:22; Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:7).
Verse 10—“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.” During Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry, he did not always get support from his family. Not much is mentioned of his stepfather Joseph after Jesus’ visit to the temple at age 12 (Luke 2:42-46). Even his own mother and brothers and sisters did not always think the best of him. At one point they thought he had gone mad (Mark 3:21,33-35). His brothers at one point did not believe in him (John 7:2-5). Yet his heavenly Father was always there and took him “up” in His arms to love and help His only begotten Son (John 8:29).
Verse 12—“ Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.” The Hebrew word for “will” means the soul. The Messiah faced many enemies whose minds (soul life) were corrupt. They rose up against the Christ and breathed out cruel words. Jesus Christ constantly and faithfully walked in love to confront this evil and expose the darkness so that others could be protected and saved (John 3:18-21).
FOR FURTHER STUDY
All 150 of The Psalms in Poetic Form are available from Amazon in a book, either Large Print or a smaller Bedside Reader. Also available for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership. Enjoy!
The entire blog series is now available in the publication The Psalms: Background & Structure with Key Scriptures Explained.
