Delight in the Law of God
Photo: Yanshu Lee. Design: Jonathan Yao.
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night..” ~ Psalm 1:1-2 (NIV)
The poetic and metaphoric psalms began with a direct assertion of one who is called “blessed” by virtue of his disassociation with the “wicked or ungodly, sinners or unholy, and mockers or desecrators” but one who is in close fellowship with YHWH, God Himself, at all times.
Loving God Completely
Photo: Ben White. Design: Jonathan Yao.
“4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” ~ Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NIV)
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 is one of the most notable biblical passages named as the shema (Hebrew for “hear” as found in v. 4) and viewed as the “classic” confession of faith for the Hebrews. Verses 4 and 5 are seen as positive restatement of the first command in the Ten Commandments (Deut. 5:6-21). (Guzik, Enduring Word Commentary or EWC)
See the Goodness of God
Photo: Matheo JBT; Design: Jonathan Yao
“I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:13-14, NAS)
In Psalm 27, verses 1 through 6, King David expressed his confidence in a God of whom he has had deep communion with. Then in verses 7 through 14, he turned from praise to plaintiff prayer of dependence and hope in a redemptive God. This Psalm has been known as one of “composites” with extreme high of joy and jubilance in the first half and thence sinking to the depth of sadness and near despair in the latter part (Pulpit Commentary).
Read how verse 13, as part of the ending verses, unify these extremes to produce hope in us.
Hear My Cry, O Lord
Photo: Guillaume de Germain. Design: Jonathan Yao
“Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!” (Psalm 27:7, ESV)
As David wrote Psalm 27, in verse 7, he pivoted from praise to prayer. There is a sense of plaintiff cry for help in verses 7 to 14. In the original language, verse 7 is succinct and direct: “Hear, O Lord; with my voice I call; pity me, and answer me” (Pulpit Commentary).
Know God, No Fear
Photo: Joshua Hibbert. Design: Jonathan Yao.
“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?” (Psalm 27:1, KJV)
This psalm of King David speaks of a personal YHWH who enlightens, guides, protects, and empowers the psalmist and freed him from the fear of others, of the known and the unknown. This ultimately causes him to seek God’s face and presence “all the days of his life” (Ps. 27:4). In poetic form, this three-part psalm consists of confident praise (vv. 1-6), plantiff prayer (vv. 7-12), and waiting hope (vv. 13-14) (Pulpit Commentary).
As children of God, we too know Him who is the way-maker, the truth-teller, and the life-giver. May we likewise pursue Christ with the constancy of heart, mind, and soul. Because He is my God, I need not fear. Shalom.
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