This verse really wrecks me. It describes how I feel. I feel like the Lord is calling me to talk with Him and spend time with Him and I say I’m coming, but I’m just running in circles. I make attempts to connect and hear whispers but still nothing concrete. I can’t seem to reach Him sometimes. I’m wondering what’s going on. Is there any sin in my life? Is work or writing too much of a distraction? Am I tiring myself out physically and coming to my prayer time tired and worn out?
This verse sings my name, but there is no eureka moment where an audible voice tells me what I should be doing.
What am I doing?
I’m seeking Him. Maybe that’s the point.
I zoom out on this scripture and look at the whole chapter. What is David trying to say?
I read this scripture and usually feel empowered. Yes! My Lord is my light, my salvation, my fortress and protects me from danger! When I read it, I totally gloss over the other words, “so why should I be afraid, so why should I tremble?”
This sounds like my self talk. In other words, “I’m trembling, but why? God is my fortress.”
I’ll tell myself I’m failing or I’m weary or some other negative thing. Yet, God is my fortress, so why should I be afraid? David is pumping himself up by reminding himself who his God is.
David had literal armies and evil coming after him. However, I don’t think he’s writing about the physical threats on his life. The man after God’s own heart was battling for his heart. We all remember the sin with Bathsheba, but what we don’t know is how many times David had to battle with problems that we all face as humans. Did David have a massive father wound from being considered least in the family? Did he battle lust constantly because of his privileged access as a king? What about anger? Whether it was literal or figurative, we can all relate to feeling that the world is against us at one time or another.
God’s Embrace
David goes on to say that the one thing he desires is to be in the house of the Lord. Depending on how you read this, it could be the literal temple of God, it could be referencing heaven, but I think it’s a desire for something greater.
Let’s look real close at verses 4-6. David desires to be in the house of the Lord and then lists out these things.
- delighting in the Lord’s perfections
- meditating in his Temple.
- he will conceal me there when troubles come;
- he will hide me in his sanctuary.
- He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
- Then I will hold my head high
- At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
- singing and praising the Lord with music.
While this does sound like heaven, I think David is desiring the presence of God. The only place I’ve ever felt completely safe and at the same time completely full of joy and empowered is in God’s presence. Mixed in this list is the how. Reading God’s Word (meditating, delighting in the Lord’s perfections), worshiping and praising. What David is wanting is the embrace of God.
David wants all of this. His life, as it reads Biblically seems kissed by God, yet here he asking God to answer him. He feels like his world is crumbling, and he longs for the loving affection of his Heavenly Father and he’s not getting the response. He’s not hearing from God.
Is the problem with God, or that David is struggling to listen? I know that’s my problem.
At some point every believer will go through this. God’s calling us to something deeper. He’s saying follow me, but this time He’s not going to carry us there.
Then in verse 8 there’s the turning point. It’s like a toddler learning to walk for the first time. It’s scary and frustrating. We’re just toddlers in this relationship.
David hears Him call and so do I. Psalm 27 paraphrased could be, “where are you Daddy? I need you, I’m scared.” Then in verse 8, “Hear I am, I’ve always been here, while you’ve been learning to walk.”
That verse is like a crescendo because after it, David is humbled. He reminds himself that God has always been there and asks God to never leave him. Obviously, he doesn’t need to request this. It’s more of a heart check. “You alone are God and you’ve been there all along.”
There it is again, God’s embrace.
This chapter hits me because I like to be busy. I’m a doer and I want to be doing. If I’m not active, I get extremely bored. I hear God whisper my name, and I go off in the direction I think He wants. I get lost in the woods and have to call out for my Daddy. He always says, “hear I am.” I’m like a child that just wants to check to see that the parents are there but want to do my own thing. I’m not great at letting Him lead me.
This whole time I’ve felt like I have been chasing Him and in reality I don’t let Him catch me and hold me close.
I’m not waiting on the Lord. I’m busy running. Life problems fall away when I’m in the embrace of the Father. However, if I don’t slow myself down and patiently wait and make time for my Father, I’ll feel weary from the running.