When you are feeling low, it is oftentimes good to turn to the Psalms. They are filled with many wonderful thoughts, suggestions, encouragements, and cautions. Let's look at the 27th and see how it speaks to us. Fit it into the situations you are facing, and into your life:
 

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? When evildoers assail me, uttering slanders against me, my adversaries and foes, they stumble and fall.

Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord and inquire in His temple. 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 upon a rock.

And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies round about me. I will offer in His tent, sacrifices and shouts of joy. I will sing and make melody to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud. Be gracious to me and answer me. Thou hast said, Seek ye my face. My heart says to Thee, Thy face, Lord, do I seek.

Hide not Thy face from me. Turn not Thy servant away in anger, Thou who hast been my help, Cast me not off forsake me not, O God of my salvation, For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me up. Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.

Give me not up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me and they breathe out violence. I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yea, wait for the Lord.

The two words -- "Be Strong" -- are carved in stone on our Wilson Gymnasium at Zarephath. This building was built by the late Nathaniel Wilson who was a wonderful man of God. When he finished the gymnasium -- which he designed, drew the plans for and constructed -- he chose the simple expression from this Psalm to be the motto for young men and women who would enter: BE STRONG.

The 27th Psalm speaks of enemies. Those are not necessarily people from without; they can be enemies that we have within. Here are two words that resonate in all of us. One is fear, and the other is confidence. We find both of these in the third verse. "Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear, though war arise against me, yet I will be confident."

Some people have a great deal of fear of speaking in public. We can be afraid of saying something ill-advised or not well spoken, or it may be something we are trying to say about ourselves, that gives us a sense of hesitancy and fear.

I recall the Wednesday night testimony service from my time as a student in a Christian school.  When I would get up to say something about my experience or relationship with the Lord, my heart would pound. It would seem like it would leap out of my chest. It was a kind of fear. That was a long time ago. Now I speak many, many times and there is not that fear anymore. There is a victory born of experience. There is now confidence where there was once hesitancy. I thank God for that. He gives us the strength and tools that we need for the work we do.

In David's case, "although a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war arise against me, yet I will be confident." I think of the dreadful warfare and barbaric violence going on at this very moment in the former Yugoslavia. These are frightening times. There would naturally be fear by virtue of the very instincts God has placed in us, but it is possible, by the gift that God has for you and me, to "lift up (our) head." There can be a trust in the Lord that helps us to be strong even in the presence of those who would imperil us.

The Lord is the One Who brings us confidence. "The Lord is the stronghold of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?" Victory is guaranteed to those who will put their trust in the Lord.

Read this Psalm prayerfully and carefully, and you will find it a source of strength in putting your reliance upon the Lord. "I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yea, wait for the Lord." 

The Pillar Monthly