City Life Starter

I. The Word: Psalm 27:3-4

3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident.
4  One thing I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the LORD,
and to inquire in his temple.

Psalms are beautiful and different. Much of the Bible is meant to be understood in a literal, and culturally-cognizant, way; however, the Psalms has a unique goal of emotional expression. This book adds vibrancy and grit to the historical events of David, Moses, and many other writers; we need its color to humanize its writers’ stories and validate our desire to feel and express. I’m not the type of person who reads the Word for the “feelings”, yet I must accept that reading Psalms without its emotion is practically wrong; removing the feelings nearly violates its purpose. In this book, your logical breakdown is incomplete without the emotional drive, and your emotions will be misguided without logical analysis. As we enter this series on Psalms, I encourage you to be carried by the words while staying keen to the details and context. It’s an exquisitely difficult balance, but also a fruitful one.

Logical Perspective

Today’s verses come from a Psalm written by David. David is a young shepherd boy who has been anointed the King of Israel by Samuel, but Saul is currently reigning as King. Naturally, Saul doesn’t appreciate this news and aims to kill David. This poem likely originates while David is fleeing Saul’s pursuit. Verse 3 repeats a structure of a bleak circumstance followed by a statement of content, and Verse 4 further explains David’s comfort in this difficult situation. When you think about the verbs “behold” and “inquire”, don’t they tend to happen when you’re at your leisure? Yet David chooses these actions while his life is threatened. All in all, David is telling us that his only chance at victory is resting in the Lord’s will for his life.

Emotional Perspective

David should be terrified. He is a young boy who was miraculously anointed by God to become King but is now running for his life from Saul. His situation should cause a mixture of confusion, despair, and hopelessness. Yet, this poem expresses a confidence deeply rooted in the Lord. He has yet to escape Saul, but he finds comfort in fulfilling his purpose of worshipping the Lord. He specifically states that God is the “one thing” he is seeking after, even though his potential worries should be moving his attention elsewhere. Finally, there’s a sense of peaceful awe that comes when you “behold” and “inquire” about God. It’s striking that David feels a supernatural peace to be able to focus and study the Lord’s beauty in his trial.

Conclusion

Trusting in God Is an intentional choice that can soothe any fear. David is completely aware of his grim situation, yet solely asks the Lord for more of His presence. Moreover, his pursuit of God removes fear from his heart and builds confidence. Emotions change, and there are many psalms expressing David’s despair during this time. However, his emotional inconsistency is human and doesn’t negate this psalm’s message of choosing the Lord during hardship. We fulfill our purpose, cast out fear, and guarantee victory when we abide in Him.