# Psalm 27 š: The Lord Is My Light
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[[-Psalm Overview]] | [[Psalm 26]] | [[Psalm 28]]
> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#š Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#š Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#š§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#āļø Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#š Key Principles / š Life Application]]
> [[#š¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#āļø Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#š Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#š Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#š Internal Notes]]
## š Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
## By David.
[[#Verse 01]]Ā TheĀ LordĀ is my lightĀ and my salvation.
I fear no one.
TheĀ LordĀ protects my life.
I am afraid of no one.
[[#Verse 01.]] By David. The Lord is my light and my salvation. I fear no one. The Lord protects my life. I am afraid of no one.
[[#Verse 02.]]Ā When evil men attack me
to devour my flesh,
when my adversaries and enemies attack me,
they stumble and fall.
[[#Verse 03.]]Ā Even when an army is deployed against me,
I do not fear.
Even when war is imminent,
I remain confident.
[[#Verse 04.]]Ā I have asked theĀ LordĀ for one thingā
this is what I desire!
I want to liveĀ in theĀ Lordās houseĀ all the days of my life,
so I can gaze at the splendorĀ of theĀ Lord
and contemplate in his temple.
[[#Verse 05.]]Ā He will surelyĀ give me shelterĀ in the day of danger;
he will hide me in his home.
He will place meĀ on an inaccessible rocky summit.
[[#Verse 06.]]Ā Now I will triumph
over my enemies who surround me.
I will offer sacrifices in his dwelling place and shout for joy.
I will sing praises to theĀ Lord.
[[#Verse 07.]]Ā Hear me,Ā OĀ Lord, when I cry out.
Have mercy on me and answer me.
[[#Verse 08.]]Ā My heart tells me to pray to you,
and I do pray to you, OĀ Lord.
[[#Verse 09.]]Ā Do not reject me.
Do not push your servant away in anger.
You are my deliverer.
Do not forsake or abandon me,
O God who vindicates me.
[[#Verse 10.]]Ā Even if my father and mother abandoned me,
theĀ LordĀ would take me in.
[[#Verse 11.]]Ā Teach me how you want me to live,Ā Lord;
lead me along a level pathĀ because of those who wait to ambush me.
[[#Verse 12.]]Ā Do not turn me over to my enemies,
for false witnesses who want to destroy me testify against me.
[[#Verse 13.]]Ā Where would I be if I did not believe I would experience
theĀ Lordās favor in the land of the living?
[[#Verse 14.]]Ā RelyĀ on theĀ Lord!
Be strong and confident!
Rely on theĀ Lord!
## š Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
## š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. The motto of the University of Oxford, *Dominus illuminatio mea* ("The Lord is my light"), comes from 27:1.
2. The psalm moves from bold confidence (27:1-6) to urgent prayer (27:7-14). Some scholars once thought it was two psalms, but most read it as one.
3. The Hebrew word for the Lord's "splendor" or "beauty" in 27:4 (*noam*) means pleasantness or delightfulness.
4. The "shelter" in 27:5 is a word for a booth or hut, the same idea behind the booths of the Feast of Tabernacles.
5. Seeking God's face (27:8) is Old Testament language for coming into God's presence in worship and prayer (2 Chronicles 7:14).
6. In Jewish tradition Psalm 27 is recited daily during the month of Elul and through the fall High Holy Days season.
7. "One thing" (27:4) finds echoes in Jesus' words to Martha (Luke 10:42) and Paul's "one thing I do" (Philippians 3:13).
8. "The land of the living" (27:13) means this present life, not only heaven.
9. False witnesses "breathing out violence" (27:12) reflects the legal danger of false testimony in ancient courts (Deuteronomy 19:16-19).
10. The command to wait for the Lord is repeated twice in the final verse (27:14) for emphasis.
## š§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## āļø Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the light of the world (John 8:12), and in His face we see the glory of God (2 Corinthians 4:6). The "one thing" David longed for, to dwell with God and see His beauty, is found in Jesus.
## š Key Principles / š Life Application
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## š¬ Discussion Questions
1. David asks, "Whom should I fear?" because the Lord is his light and deliverer (27:1). What fears lose their grip when you remember who God is?
2. David's one request is to live in the Lord's house and gaze on His splendor (27:4). If you could ask God for only one thing, what would it be?
3. David ends by telling himself to wait for the Lord (27:14). What does waiting with strength and courage look like in your current situation?
## āļø Key Verses to Remember
- š verse 1: The Lord is my light and my deliverer, so there is no one to fear.
- š verse 4: David's one desire is to live in the Lord's house and gaze on His splendor.
- š verses 13-14: David is confident he will see the Lord's goodness in this life, so he waits on the Lord with courage.
## š Related Passages/Cross Reference
- š [[John 08#Verse 12.|John 8:12]] - Jesus is the light of the world.
- š [[2 Corinthians 04#Verse 06.|2 Corinthians 4:6]] - God's glory shines in the face of Christ.
- š [[Isaiah 60#Verse 19.|Isaiah 60:19-20]] - The Lord will be your everlasting light.
- š [[Luke 10#Verse 41.|Luke 10:41-42]] - Only one thing is needed.
- š [[Isaiah 40#Verse 31.|Isaiah 40:31]] - Those who wait on the Lord renew their strength.
## š Devotional Reflection
š SOAP: [[Psalm 27- SOAP|The Lord Is Greater than Fear]]
## š Internal Notes