ANALYSIS OF THE TWENTY-SEVENTH PSALM

There are four general parts in this Psalm. David shows, I. How free he is from fear in any danger; and he shows also the cause of his confidence, ver. 1-3.

II. He expresses his love to God's house and his religion, ver. 4-6.

III. He prays for succour and support ver. 7, &c.

IV. He exhorts others to dependence on the Lord, ver. 14.

I. It is possible (independently of the reason given in the notes) that some person, friend or foe, might ask David how he felt during the persecutions raised against him by Saul? To whom he may be supposed to return this answer: "I was never disheartened, never in despair; and the reason was, God was my Light to guide me, my Rock to save me, and my Strength to sustain and support me: 'The Lord is my light,' &c." And this he amplifies in the next two verses: 1. By experience: he had already found this true: "When the wicked, even mine enemies, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell." 2. He puts a case: "Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident." The arguments for his confidence were, 1. God's goodness, ver. 1. 2. His own experiences ver. 2. To which he adds, 3. What God would do for him.

1. He would hide him in his tabernacle, ver. 5.

2. That though his father and mother should forsake him, God would take him up, ver. 10.

3. That he should see the goodness of God in the land of the living, ver. 13.

II. He expresses his great love and affection to the house of God: "One thing I have desired," and in this he was constant. "THAT (emphatically) I will seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life." For three ends: - 1. "To behold the beauty of the Lord." To taste how good and gracious he is.

2. "To inquire in his temple." There to search the mind of God.

3. "To offer in his temple sacrifices of joy and to sing praises to the Lord." And this was another argument of his security: "For in the time of trouble he will hide me in his pavilion-he shall set me upon a rock, and my head shall be lifted up." And: - III. He prays for succour and support.

1. For audience, and an answer: "Hear, O Lord, when I cry; have mercy upon me, and answer me." 2. The ground of his prayer; his having willingly received the commandment of God: "He hath said, Seek ye my face. Thy face, O Lord, will I seek." 3. The matter of his prayer in general: "Hide not thy face from me; put not thy servant away in anger." In which he had good hope of success from former experience. "Thou hast been my help;" be to me now as thou hast been: "Leave me not, nor forsake me, O God of my salvation," &c.

4. The matter of his prayer in particular: "Teach me thy way, O God; lead me in a plain path." That is, teach me what to do that I may please thee, and "lead me in a plain path," that I may escape the snares of my enemies. "Deliver me not over to their will," for they seek my ruin. 1. They are perjured men: "False witnesses have risen up again me." 2. They are mischievously bent: "They breathe out cruelty." 5. And their cruelty and falsehood are so great that "unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living," what would have become of me! IV. He concludes with an exhortation that all others would consider his example, and in their greatest extremities be courageous, and put their trust in God as he did: "Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thy heart; wait, I say, on the Lord." Be an expectant; for he that has promised to come will come, and will not tarry. But wait actively; be not idle. Use the means of grace; read, hear, pray, believe, work.