Sources of Courage – Psalm 27

I appreciate Tyler for leading our songs this morning, and I’d like to join in welcoming everyone to our service today, and we’re glad to have you with us. We’re going to be looking at Psalm 27 this morning, and so no PowerPoint, just going to open up the Bibles and read from God’s Word and think about what the Scriptures say.

So I would encourage you to get your Bibles out, and we’ll be spending some time here with Psalm 27. And so let’s look at that together and we’ll think about sources of courage. You know, there are times within our life when we need courage. I suppose David needed courage more than many people, just given the fact that he was involved in so many circumstances where his enemies were seeking to take his life away from him.

But as we think about courage today, I think a lot of times we need courage in different situations. We need courage to stand up for what is right when our friends are asking us to do something that maybe we shouldn’t do.

We need courage to speak out on behalf of Jesus when perhaps someone else is saying something that shouldn’t be said. We need courage to deal with our own family members, even, to a certain degree, in that we have children to rear, we have spouses to work with. There’s all kinds of reasons for us to need and practice courage.

And this Psalm is all about courage. Just briefly look at the end of the Psalm, Psalm 27 and verse 14, and you will see that there’s the conclusion that this Psalm is driving toward. Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord. Now, a lot of times we think about this Psalm in reference to waiting on the Lord, and we’re going to talk about that when we get to the end of the Psalm, but this Psalm is about courage, waiting on the Lord, yes, but also having courage.

And we’re going to see there are several sources of courage within this Psalm. First of all, there is confidence in salvation. Secondly, there is constant service. Third, there is consistent seeking. And finally, there is certainty of success. So, as we think about these four areas, each one of these areas can give us courage so that we can then use the things that God gives us, these blessings that God gives us, to strengthen ourselves and be courageous in the face of opposition, whatever that opposition might be.

So, David is one speaking from experience here in this Psalm, and he gives us these sources of courage, and they were things that helped him to overcome the obstacles and enemies that were before him in his life. So, as we’re reading this Psalm, let’s remember David is writing this Psalm, and he’s speaking to us, and he’s telling us, these are the things that I have learned, and these are the things that the Lord has inspired me to write, to give you courage.

What are they? First of all, there is confidence in salvation. Look at verses 1 through 3. 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? When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell.

Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war may arise against me, in this I will be confident. What is it that we’re going to be confident in? What is it that David was confident in? He was confident in his salvation in the Lord.

And so confidence in salvation begins with the Lord. The Lord is my light, He says. Remember Psalm 119, verse 105? Thy way is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. The Lord is salvation. Remember Moses’ proclamation at the Red Sea when all of the children of Israel were concerned that Pharaoh’s army was approaching them? He said, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Exodus 14, verse 13.

The Lord is my strength, David writes. And in Philippians chapter 4, verse 17, what do we have there? I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And so our confident salvation begins with the Lord. And our confident salvation overcomes fear.

There is, of course, the fear of other people. And David was talking about that to a certain degree. Of whom shall I be afraid? Jesus said in Matthew 10, verse 28, Do not fear Him who is able to destroy the body, but fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell.

And so, we’re not to fear people, but to fear God. And there’s different kinds of people out there, but David was primarily concerned about the wicked and what the wicked would do to him. Notice he says, “…when the wicked came against me,” verse 2, “…to eat up my flesh.” They wanted to destroy him. They wanted to kill him. Well, the wicked can eat us up in other ways as well.

They can threaten to take away our livelihood. They can threaten to take away our property. They can threaten to take away members of our family, even the wicked. They’re always wanting to eat us up. And so there’s a lot of things to fear. Fear of wicked people, fear of loss, fear of failure. But notice what David said.

They stumbled and fell. Wickedness ultimately is going to only hurt the wicked because the righteous know to whom they belong and the righteous know who they are also. Now think about Hebrews chapter 13 and verses 5 through 6 when we think about the Lord being with us and not being afraid. It says, Let your conduct be without covetousness. Be content with such things as you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.

So we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me? When we have the Lord, we have everything. And so there is no need to fear men. And so confident salvation begins with the Lord, it overcomes fear, and it helps us to face difficult circumstances. Look at these difficult circumstances that David faced in his lifetime. He said, though an army may encamp against me, and though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident. That is, in the Lord, I will be confident.

Now, what are the difficult circumstances that we face in life? Maybe loss of job. Maybe change of location. Maybe different people who are causing problems. Maybe the death of a loved one. There are difficult circumstances that we face every day in this life. I’ve never had an army encamped against me.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never had an army encamped against me. I’ve never had war waged against me personally. Now, David did. He had war waged against him personally, but even under those very difficult circumstances, he understood that God was on his side and he could face those difficult circumstances with the Lord’s help.

And he could face those difficult circumstances with the Lord’s help. And certainly we can face whatever difficult circumstances we are up against with the Lord’s help. Sometimes it’s illness. Sometimes it’s death. Those are the worst things that tend to happen in our lives. But we can face them with the Lord being on our side.

Remember what was written in Romans 8, in verse 37, Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. And yes, as Christians, we are more than conquerors. And those difficult circumstances we have already overcome through the Lord Jesus Christ today.

And so, we can have courage because of confidence in our salvation. But then secondly, notice the constant service that David gave to the Lord in verses 4 through 6. Let’s read those verses, 4 through 6. One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek, that I may dwell 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.

For in the time of trouble, He shall hide me in His pavilion. In the secret place of His tabernacle, He shall hide me. He shall set me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me. Therefore, I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

Now, David found courage in worship. He found courage in being able to go to the temple and worship the Lord there. And that’s something that we need to find courage in as well. That is, in constant service and worshiping God with His people.

First of all, you know, David looks at the everything of God here. One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, notice, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple, to behold the beauty of the Lord.

You know, God is constant. He never stops. He never gives up. He always endures. He doesn’t sleep like we do. He’s never distracted. He’s always focused. And He always has our best interests at heart. Isaiah 43 and verse 2 says, When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. And though the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.

God is promising to His people a very special presence. And if we will put Him first within our lives and we will give ourselves to Him, to the everything that He is, to His beauty and His strength, His holiness, His purity, then He will provide.

And we will have a relationship with God. Worship shouldn’t just be something we do. It should reflect the relationship that we have with Him. In the times of trouble, God will be with us, and those times will come. And where will we hide? Where will we rest?

David rested in worshiping God. He said, “…In the time of trouble, He shall hide me in His pavilion. In the secret place of His tabernacle, He shall hide me.” What was he talking about there? He wasn’t just talking about finding a dark corner of the tabernacle and hiding from other people. That’s not what he was talking about. He was talking about finding a place of shelter and a place of rest.

And you see, that’s what we find in worshiping God. It’s a place of rest, a place where we’re hidden. Hidden from what? From all the troubles that are around us, from all the concerns of the world, from all the problems that plague all of the people who have no rest.

The Christian has rest in worshiping God. It’s here that David found himself set on a high rock. He got above it all, so to speak, and was able then to look down on it for what it was. Things that were very minor, things that were very unimportant, things that were very little. Why? Because when he came to worship, He elevated Himself. Do we see worship that way? A place of rest, a place to hide from trouble, a place where we’re elevated above all the mundane cares and concerns of this life. Psalm 122 and verse 1 says, I was glad when they said to me, let us go up to the house of the Lord. I was glad. That’s something that we need to do as well. Be glad when it’s time to worship God.

And he had such praise for the Lord, for the triumphs that he had within his life. He says, I will offer sacrifice and joy in this temple. Yes, I will sing praises to the Lord, because the Lord gave him victory. Do we praise God for the triumphs in our lives?

Do we attribute them to the Lord or to ourselves? Do we offer the sacrifices of joy Do we sing praises because of what He’s done for us? Hebrews 13, 15 says, Therefore, by Him, let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Constant service.

David found courage in worship and in constant service and devotion to the Lord. Look at verses 7 through 10. He found courage in consistent seeking. Consistent seeking. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice. Have mercy also upon me and answer me. When you said, Seek my face, my heart said to you, Your face, Lord, I will seek.

Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger. You have been my help. Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me. Consistent seeking. The Lord said, seek my face, and my heart said, your face, Lord, I will seek. Do we seek the Lord like that? We need to seek the Lord in prayer. 1 Thessalonians 5, 17 says, pray without ceasing.

We need to seek the Lord with our efforts. Remember, Galatians chapter 6 and verse 9. Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Do not grow weary in doing good. That’s effort. We need to seek the Lord and companionship.

Psalm 51 and verse 11, there David was very concerned because of the sin that he had committed that it would separate him from God. And he prayed, do not cast me away from your presence and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.

He wanted God in his life. And he prayed for that companionship from the Lord. And then, even when our parents are gone, the Lord will take care of us. And someone was suggesting this, that this isn’t talking about our mother and father casting us out or something like that. And that may be the case. I don’t know. I don’t think David’s mother and father did that. But there will come a time when our parents pass away.

And in that time, while they’re not there anymore, the Lord will continue to be there. So even when our father and mother forsake us, the Lord will take care of us. We’ve got to consistently seek, though. Draw near to God and the Lord will draw near to you.

That’s what James tells us. And so David found courage in consistently seeking after God. But then finally, he found courage in the certainty of success. Look at verses 11 through 14. Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path because of my enemies.

Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have arisen against me, and such as breathe out violence, I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Now look at those words. David was persecuted. David was pursued by his enemies. David was in difficult circumstances, and yet he knew that he would be successful. He said, I would have lost heart, except I believed that the Lord would strengthen me. He believed in God, and because of that, he had the certainty of success. Now, the certainty of success begins It happens with us listening. Verse 11, teach me your way, O Lord. Proverbs 9 and verse 9 says, give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser. Teach a just man and he will increase in learning. That’s the attitude that we need to have. I will be taught. I can be taught.

Maybe there are those among us who are wise, but we can be wiser still. Maybe there are those among us who are just and have learned, but we can yet increase in learning. There’s always something to learn. And we will never stop growing if we will continue to learn. And David was saying that my relationship with God and the certainty of success in that relationship begins with learning.

Now he believed in the certainty of success through learning. He believed it despite the falsehoods that were being said against him. Jesus said, “…Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my name’s sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5, 11 through 12.

We can have success even under persecution. We can have success when we put our hope in the Lord. I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

There’s the faith of David. And our faith and our hope is in the Lord also. Love hopes all things, 1 Corinthians 13 and verse 7 says. And Isaiah 40 and verse 31 tells us this, But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles.

They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. The certainty of success is ours. We are more than conquerors if we will put our faith and trust in God. The conclusion of this song in verse 14, wait on the Lord. Be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord. What were David’s sources of courage? Confidence, salvation, constant service, consistent seeking and certainty.

He believed in the Lord. He worshiped the Lord. He sought the Lord. And he hoped in the Lord. And that will be our source of courage as well as we go through this life. Do you need courage in your life? Maybe you need the Lord in your life. Today, Jesus Christ gives us courage through the message of the Gospel.

He died on the cross so that we could have the forgiveness of sins and live for Him and one day be with Him in heaven. Because of that, we worship God through Christ Jesus today. Maybe you need to become a Christian this morning through hearing His Word and believing it, repenting of your sins, confessing Him as Lord, and being baptized for the remission of sins. Take courage and make that first step. And then you can lean upon the Lord all the days of your life just like David did. Let’s have courage. As we go forth into this week, let’s let this time of worship propel us to live for Christ each and every day.

If you need the prayers of the church, we’d be happy to pray for you, or if you have some other need, you can come forward now and make it known while together we stand and while we sing.

End of transcript. Thank you for reading along!