Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14 NIV
David begins and ends this verse of his psalm with the authority of a king. His admonition, “wait for the Lord” rings in our ears like a command from a general on a battlefield. With his words, “be strong and take courage,” he demonstrates faith and confidence in the Lord as his protector. These words seem to be directed to those in his company.
This psalm begins with confident words from the great king. David’s enemies are coming against him, but David defiantly proclaims that his enemies will fall. His great faith in God shields him from fear. As he says of God in Psalm 27:5, “For in the day of trouble, he will keep me secretly in his pavilion. In the secret place of his tabernacle, he will hide me. WEB”
In the second portion of the psalm, David cries out to God for protection. He says in Psalm 27:9, “Don’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. WEB” David knows he has nothing to fear from his enemies as long as God is with him. With these words he demonstrates his fear and respect for the Lord.
Be Strong and of Good Courage
In addition to showing reverence for God, David’s words rely on a command and promise of God from Deuteronomy 31:6 which reads, “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. KJV” David is bound by this scripture from the law of Moses to be fearless in the face of his enemies. In turn, God promises to never fail or forsake the faithful.
The phrase “wait for the Lord” indicates trust and reliance on God. It is in hope and anticipation of the goodness of God that we wait. To wait for the Lord is an act of faith. God does not act on our timetable, but he is faithful to provide what we need when we need it.
As Christians, we wait for the Lord. Like David, we know God’s saving grace. Like David, we do not know when the Lord will arrive, but we wait with strength and confidence knowing that victory is certain.
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for the encouragement we receive from the faith filled psalms of David. Thank you for your holy word. Lead me into your will and deliver me from evil. Shelter me in your righteousness all the days of my life. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: That They May Have Life
