Ellen Little, Library Circulation Supervisor, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Scripture

Psalm 27

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation;
 whom shall I fear?
 The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
 of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evildoers assail me
 to devour my flesh —
 my adversaries and foes —
 they shall stumble and fall.

3 Though an army encamp against me,
 my heart shall not fear;
 though war rise up against me,
 yet I will be confident.

4 One thing I asked of the LORD,
 that will I seek after:
 to live in the house of the LORD
 all the days of my life,
 to behold the beauty of the LORD,
 and to inquire in his temple.

5 For he will hide me in his shelter
 in the day of trouble;
 he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
 he will set me high on a rock.

6 Now my head is lifted up
 above my enemies all around me,
 and I will offer in his tent
 sacrifices with shouts of joy;
 I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud,
 be gracious to me and answer me!

8 “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
 Your face, LORD, do I seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me.

 Do not turn your servant away in anger,
 you who have been my help.
 Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
 O God of my salvation!
10 If my father and mother forsake me,
 the LORD will take me up.

11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
 and lead me on a level path
 because of my enemies.
12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
 for false witnesses have risen against me,
 and they are breathing out violence.

13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD
 in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
 be strong, and let your heart take courage;
 wait for the LORD!

Devotional

The world seems to be full of things we could or do fear, from seemingly minor things (such as spiders, the dark, or snakes) to the overwhelming things (such as the loss of a loved one, terrorism, cancer, or death). And yet this Psalm says that we need not be afraid, because the Lord is our refuge. Verse 3 says that the Psalmist is confident in his God even when war is waged against him.

How are we to develop this confidence? At times when life seems to be more than we can handle, how can we trust that God will be with us? Read verse 14 again. We are to wait for the Lord. Spend time this Lenten season developing your relationship with our Lord so that you know His voice and can learn to wait for Him. Wait, for He died and rose and will come again. Wait, for He (and He alone) will bring you peace. Wait.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for loving us more than we can ever imagine. Help us to know You better, to trust You more, to live with the confidence that You are always with us even to the end of the age. May we bring You glory in all that we do and say in this most holy season. Amen.

Ellen Little, Library Circulation Supervisor, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Scripture

Psalm 27

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation;
 whom shall I fear?
 The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
 of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evildoers assail me
 to devour my flesh —
 my adversaries and foes —
 they shall stumble and fall.

3 Though an army encamp against me,
 my heart shall not fear;
 though war rise up against me,
 yet I will be confident.

4 One thing I asked of the LORD,
 that will I seek after:
 to live in the house of the LORD
 all the days of my life,
 to behold the beauty of the LORD,
 and to inquire in his temple.

5 For he will hide me in his shelter
 in the day of trouble;
 he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
 he will set me high on a rock.

6 Now my head is lifted up
 above my enemies all around me,
 and I will offer in his tent
 sacrifices with shouts of joy;
 I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud,
 be gracious to me and answer me!

8 “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
 Your face, LORD, do I seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me.

 Do not turn your servant away in anger,
 you who have been my help.
 Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
 O God of my salvation!
10 If my father and mother forsake me,
 the LORD will take me up.

11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
 and lead me on a level path
 because of my enemies.
12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
 for false witnesses have risen against me,
 and they are breathing out violence.

13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD
 in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
 be strong, and let your heart take courage;
 wait for the LORD!

Devotional

The world seems to be full of things we could or do fear, from seemingly minor things (such as spiders, the dark, or snakes) to the overwhelming things (such as the loss of a loved one, terrorism, cancer, or death). And yet this Psalm says that we need not be afraid, because the Lord is our refuge. Verse 3 says that the Psalmist is confident in his God even when war is waged against him.

How are we to develop this confidence? At times when life seems to be more than we can handle, how can we trust that God will be with us? Read verse 14 again. We are to wait for the Lord. Spend time this Lenten season developing your relationship with our Lord so that you know His voice and can learn to wait for Him. Wait, for He died and rose and will come again. Wait, for He (and He alone) will bring you peace. Wait.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for loving us more than we can ever imagine. Help us to know You better, to trust You more, to live with the confidence that You are always with us even to the end of the age. May we bring You glory in all that we do and say in this most holy season. Amen.