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The LORD Is My Salvation
Psalm 27 is a song that moves from bold confidence to honest prayer. The singer speaks about fear, worship, enemies, guidance and waiting, while keeping Yahweh at the centre from beginning to end.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
This passage is poetry and prayer addressed to Yahweh. It uses picture language such as light, a house, a pavilion, a rock and seeking Yahweh’s face. The psalm begins with confidence, turns to requests for mercy and help, and closes with confidence joined to patient waiting.
Psalms 27:1–14Main takeaway
Psalm 27 shows that trust in Yahweh leads the singer to seek him, call to him, ask for his guidance, and wait for him with courage.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Yahweh answers fearThe song opens by naming Yahweh as “my light”, “my salvation”, and “the strength of my life”.
Explanation
The song opens by naming Yahweh as “my light”, “my salvation”, and “the strength of my life”. Those words shape the response: the singer asks whom he should fear. Even with evildoers, foes, or an army nearby, he says his heart will not fear but will remain confident.
02One thing the singer seeksThe singer focuses on one request above all others: to dwell in Yahweh’s house, look on Yahweh’s beauty, and inquire in his temple.
Explanation
The singer focuses on one request above all others: to dwell in Yahweh’s house, look on Yahweh’s beauty, and inquire in his temple. In trouble, Yahweh is pictured as keeping him hidden and safe, then lifting him onto a rock. That safety leads to joyful sacrifices and singing praise.
03Seeking Yahweh’s faceThe middle of the psalm becomes direct prayer. The singer asks Yahweh to hear, show mercy and answer.
Explanation
The middle of the psalm becomes direct prayer. The singer asks Yahweh to hear, show mercy and answer. When Yahweh says, “Seek my face,” the singer responds willingly. He asks Yahweh not to hide his face or forsake him, and still calls him the God of his salvation.
04Help, guidance and waitingThe singer says that even if father and mother forsake him, Yahweh will take him up. He asks to be taught Yahweh’s way and led in a straight path because of enemies and false witnesses.
Explanation
The singer says that even if father and mother forsake him, Yahweh will take him up. He asks to be taught Yahweh’s way and led in a straight path because of enemies and false witnesses. Even so, he stays confident that he will see Yahweh’s goodness, and ends by calling for courageous waiting on Yahweh.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What names or descriptions of Yahweh in the opening verses help explain why the singer refuses fear?
Look at the words used for Yahweh in the first verse, then connect them to the statements about not fearing enemies or war.
02What is the “one thing” the singer asks for, and what three parts make up that request?
Read the verse slowly and notice the linked ideas of dwelling, seeing and inquiring.
03How does the ending combine painful possibility, prayer for direction, and confidence?
Notice the movement from being forsaken, to asking for teaching and protection, to confidence in seeing Yahweh’s goodness and waiting for him.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Psalms 27:1–14
1Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?
2When evildoers came at me to eat up my flesh, even my adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell.
3Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war should rise against me, even then I will be confident.
4One thing I have asked of Yahweh, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in Yahweh’s house all the days of my life, to see Yahweh’s beauty, and to inquire in his temple.
5For in the day of trouble, he will keep me secretly in his pavilion. In the secret place of his tabernacle, he will hide me. He will lift me up on a rock.
6Now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me. I will offer sacrifices of joy in his tent. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to Yahweh.
7Hear, Yahweh, when I cry with my voice. Have mercy also on me, and answer me.
8When you said, “Seek my face,” my heart said to you, “I will seek your face, Yahweh.”
9Don’t hide your face from me. Don’t put your servant away in anger. You have been my help. Don’t abandon me, neither forsake me, God of my salvation.
10When my father and my mother forsake me, then Yahweh will take me up.
11Teach me your way, Yahweh. Lead me in a straight path, because of my enemies.
12Don’t deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen up against me, such as breathe out cruelty.
13I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of Yahweh in the land of the living.
14Wait for Yahweh. Be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for Yahweh.