◄ What Does Psalm 27:13 Mean? ►

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.

Psalm 27:13(NASB)

Verse of the Day

"I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living", are the words that bring Psalm 27 to a close They were written by a man who demonstrates a living faith in the living God. He had an assurance that no matter what difficulties and dangers stalked his path, God would come to rescue him, and he simply had to wait confidently for the Lord to act."Be strong" he wrote, "and let your heart take courage; and, wait for the Lord."

These words were penned by the man that slew the great giant Goliath and who was honoured as one that slew his tens of thousands, yet he admits that without trust in his God, his heart would faint, and he would despair. Faith in the Lord was to David like a fragrant perfume that revived his weary soul or the sweet honeycomb that re-energies the exhausted traveller.

Hope in His God was to David a soothing ointment that eased his flagging spirit. It became a refreshing, heavenly hope that ministered to his mind, calmed his emotions and revitalised his fainting heart. David determined in his heart that even if a host encamped against him, his heart would not fear. If war broke out against him, and his enemies tried to devour him, his confidence in God would stand fast.

The eye of faith is to see beyond the visible and to discern the invisible. It is to maintain an unswerving assurance that the promises of God are all 'Yes' and 'Amen' in Christ Jesus our Lord. It is to trust the Lord our God with all our heart for things which we have hoped for, and it is the evidence of the reality of things that can only be seen with the eye of faith. It is a secure knowledge of the holy, deep within the heart, which enables us to take a peep into an eternal reality that is hidden from the unsaved man, but which is a right that is reserved for the children of God in heavenly places.

Unlike many of his other writings which open by lamenting the tremendous trials and tribulations the psalmist is facing, and crying out to God for help and relief before finally recalling the faithfulness of the Lord towards His people, Psalm 27 opens with an outburst of praise and confidence in the Lord, "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?" The confident opening of this psalm continues throughout, and the psalm ends with an equally stirring affirmation of God's great goodness in the land of the living, as well as the eternal advantages for those that trust in Him.

Rather than starting to write from a position of weakness for fear of wicked men and enemies that encompass him round about, and allowing his spirits to be lifted as he reflects on the goodness and faithfulness of God, this Psalm begins from a point of victory, because God IS good, His mercy endures forever, and He is the God of our Salvation. What a good example David gave us in this psalm to remember the goodness and grace of God and not bemoan the passing problems of this transitory life.

The strength of hope is to believe in the reality of the promises of God - promises that we cannot yet see with our physical senses, but facts we discern with the eye of faith. This was the trait in David that delighted the Lord. And David proved once again to be a man after God's own heart, a man that trusted the Word of the Lord, a man who not only expected God to supply all his needs according to His riches in glory, but a man who believed God would deliver him from the hands of all his enemies.

We too have great hope in the God of our salvation and like David, we too will please Him when we unreservedly trust in His Word and believe that he is a God Who rewards those who diligently seek Him and obey His Word in spirit, in truth and out of love for Him, Who loved us first.

Today, men's hearts are fearful of what is coming on the world, but we are not of this world that we should despair, for our faith is in the same God in Whom David trusted. Let us hold fast to the joy that is set before us and watch and wait for that Blessed Hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, what a wonderfully faithful God You are, to all who trust in Your name. Thank You for the example of David, who reminds me that Your goodness and mercy lasts from generation to generation, and that all You have promised in Your Word is true and sure. I pray that I may be a, "man after God’s own heart", who maintains my trust in You, despite the difficult circumstances that I am facing. I know that in Your goodness, You will provide for me and protect me as You have promised. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.