The Lord Is My Hope
Psalms 27 1. The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
Light
In scripture, light always represents good, and darkness always represents evil. We live in a world full of darkness. Satan’s forces are referred to as the powers of darkness. The are all around us. But so are the forces of God. The angels are encamped about us, and the Holy Spirit dwells within us.
Though we live in this darkness, we have a light – we have THE light. The Lord is our light.
Ephesians 5
8 For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light
Ephesians 6
12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Colossians 1
13 who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love;
What a comfort to know that the light we have will not go out. Candles burn out. Power fails. But God never fails.
Strength
Not only is He our light, but he is our strength. Sometimes we think we cannot make it, but God is our strength.
Notice it didn’t say God will strengthen you, or God will give you strength, but it says God is our strength. "The Lord is my strength." We are reminded here that our trust must be totally in Him. We can depend on ourselves for nothing. God is our strength. He can enable us when nothing else can. Through Him we can do all things.
Philippians 4: 13 I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me.
Protection
2 When evil-doers came upon me to eat up my flesh, Even mine adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though a host should encamp against me, My heart shall not fear: Though war should rise against me, Even then will I be confident.
I think of Haman, when he tried to wipe out the Jews in the days of Esther. He set a trap and build a gallows for Mordedai, but the plot turned and Haman was exposed and hanged on his own gallows.
Over and over the Lord has caused the enemy to stumble and fall, even into their own traps.
Even when there is a large number or a particularly powerful enemy, God is still in control. Remember David as he stood before Goliath. God gave the little guy the victory. And when Gideon face an uncountable army, God gave victory. Once Jonathan overcame an entire army with just himself and his armor-bearer. God is not limited by our lack.
Your heart’s desire
What is it that you desire more than anything else? The psalmist desired God himself.
4 One thing have I asked of Lord, that will I seek after; That I may dwell in the house of Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of Lord, And to inquire in his temple.
Of all our noble plans and ambitions, the greatest should be the Lord himself. Just to dwell in his presence is better than life itself. Do you enjoy your relationship with God? Or is it a duty?
God created you not to follow the rules, but to fellowship with Him. The rules must be followed, because they are the way the universe works. But we were not made for the rules. The rules were made for us, for our good. They were made for our protection.
But our purpose is to fellowship with God – to enjoy relationship with him and to give him pleasure in that relationship.
Psalm 91 says he will hide me under the shadow of his wings.
6 And now shall my head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me. And I will offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto Lord.
Remember, promotion comes not from the north or the south, but from the Lord. When we strive for position, we look foolish. When we try to justify ourselves, we usually end up looking petty. But when God vindicates us, we tower above our enemies.
7. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; My heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
9 Hide not thy face from me; Put not thy servant away in anger: Thou hast been my help; Cast me not off, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me, Then Lord will take me up.
We cannot imagine our parents turning on us, but even the closest of earthly relationships can turn sour. But God will never let us down.
11 Teach me thy way, O Lord; And lead me in a plain path, Because of mine enemies.
12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine adversaries: For false witnesses are risen up against me, And such as breathe out cruelty.
13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of Lord In the land of the living.
He is saying, I would not have made it if I had not trusted in the Lord. Think of all the false hopes there are out there. None is totally trustworthy except the Lord.
We miss a lot because of our impatience. Learn to wait on the Lord. Stop trying to force his hand and wait upon Him.