Psalm 27

¹¹          Teach me Your way, O Lord,

and lead me in the path of integrity.

because of my enemies.

¹²          Give me not over to the purpose of my foes;

false witnesses have risen against me,

who breathe out violence.

            ¹³          [I could have despaired]

                                    [Except] for my confidence in this:

 I shall look upon the beauty of the Lord

                                    in the land of the living!

            ¹⁴          Wait for the Lord;

                                    and let your heart take courage.

                                    Yes, wait for the Lord!

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Wait for the Lord!

For the Lord’s Day:  the 29^th of May 2005

 

Introduction:  I want everyone to understand that the division and the arrangement of the lines of poetry in the translation of the Psalms should not be considered in any way inspired.  It is indeed difficult to translate any poetry into another language and therefore, the language in transition becomes a less than perfect host for the intentions of the Holy Spirit’s whisperings into the ears of David and the other psalmists.

 

That is why we teach an absolute authority of the word in the first draft of the original language.  The reason I mention this today, is that the beginning of verse thirteen is different in several of the most ancient sources, as well in the rendition into Greek of the LXX version.  As you can see in your bulletin insert, like older versions of the authorized translation, words that are not considered canonical are bracketed in a plain font.  Now, in our ongoing paraphrasing and transliteration of the poetry of the Psalms, I am very careful that my translation conveys a literal rendition of the Hebrew, while at the same time arranging the thoughts in a preaching outline allowable from that same text.  Whenever a Calvinistic nuance appears valid, there will have been significant leanings in that direction in my translation helps along the way.  But enough of this necessary reminder from time to time.

 

Let us consider the last four verses of Psalm Twenty-seven.  In this beautiful composition, the four preaching portions have treated not only the fears of David the king, but also the underlying confidence in God which empowered him to live, work, witness and wage war in His name.  There is an essential unity in this psalm where certain words, ideas and phrases unite the various parts.  In our last four verses, the willingness of David to be taught, to be used for the cause of God’s providence and the foundation of his confidence are repeated for the spiritual record of David’s prayer diary, if I may use that idea as an example of how David could possibly have organized his material and kept it together for final editing and arrangement by those who followed after him.

 

“Teach me Your way, O Lord.”  David begins in all humility.  Calvin sees this as nothing more than an earnest desire to find his way through the troubled times of his coming to power as well as in the life long exercise of reigning in the name of heaven.  Calvin also notes that others “think that David here requests that God would guide him by his Spirit.”  This thought is certainly useful no doubt, but this view tends more toward a New Covenant understanding that was not so certain in its definition in the Old Covenant economy.

 

Of course, we may – in the light of Christ and the further revelation given through Him, now see it and read it in this light.  However, even as Calvin observes, those, “who commit [themselves] to the safeguard and protection of God, must first renounce crafty and wicked devices.”

 

Therefore, we read in the second and third lines of verse eleven:  “Lead me in the path of integrity, because of my enemies.”  In this petition, David begs that his conduct and manner of waging war and politics be above the common deceitful and cunning dealings of his political and military enemies.  I certainly understand the pain of David’s heart here.  Over the years, during not only my public but also sacred service within the church – I have had to deal with all manner of opposition and the conniving cut throat dealings of those whose own agenda was always more important than the common good.

 

Certainly, I appreciate that the word “enemies” in this context can also be translated “adversaries” as well.  I say that to soften the opposition within any organization for competing philosophies and idealism where the concept of “enemies” is less threatening than a difference of opinion on how to achieve civilized and worthwhile goals.

 

And yet, it is hard to always tell the difference.  I would imagine our Ohio Senators initially acted in good faith with their Democratic adversaries to “save the United States Senate.”  However, the fact that their best wishes were trashed within forty-eight hours should teach them seriously to reconsider the good faith of their all too humanistic opposition.  I am inclined to think that David would have been more careful and even principled in his political dealings.

 

Development:  Verse twelve continues David’s petition, not so much in repetition, but in prayerful insight.

 

“Give me not over to the purpose of my foes;

false witnesses have risen against me,

who breathe out violence.”

 

Here David, like many Christian politicians and leaders must – begs that the plan and purpose of those who oppose the will of God be kept from his and their own hands.  Let us not serve the cause of humanity, but instead let us institute the will of God in so far as we can see it and accomplish it.  But, any such basic integrity that informs the rule of law and civilization must run up against all too many human interests.  Graft, corruption and power would rather have their way, and in order to accomplish it – all kind of sad tales and lies must be used to discredit any and all who would only wish to see God’s will be done.

 

Violence even was in the cards in David’s day.  A relative of a deceased politician in my area once told me of specific threats being made to arrest and jail an honest broker if he and his cohorts voted wrong on a specific tax issue which could generate thousands and thousands of dollars, if it was not passed immediately and quietly.  I remembered sending in a letter of protest to the local court when the high-handed tax was taken from people who should not have been forced to contribute.

 

But let us be careful, like wars and rumors of war – such political connivances are too much with us in every place and every age.  Over the years I am certain that I was the victim of far too many implied threats - that only lacked a fist in the face and a challenge to do something rash about it.

 

Verse thirteen speaks volumes for any and all who must use the political power to which they have been elected.  In today’s world, anyone who has been given lawful power stands in a very vulnerable limelight.  To hear the liberal reports, all too many worldlings supposed that the newly elected Pope should cater only to humanity’s basest emotions rather than hold firm on the ancient concept that some actions, thoughts and desires were sinful!

 

I am convinced from a life long profession in areas of public exposure that this reading is what was on David’s mind when he wrote this Psalm:

 

“[I could have despaired]

[Except] for my confidence in this:

 I shall look upon the beauty of the Lord

in the land of the living!”

 

Commentators are all over the page on exactly what the text should read.  Some side with confidence alone, while others like Calvin insist that: “David intimates that he was supported solely by faith, otherwise he had perished a hundred times.”

 

Spurgeon is pastoral in his encouragement, as he applies the second strophe of this verse:  “Hope is heaven’s balm for present sorrow.  In this land of the dying, it is our blessedness to be looking and longing for our fair portion in the land of the living, whence the goodness of God has banished the wickedness of man.”

 

Of course, as commentators allow, the Christian must invariably read into these words the promise of heaven and eternity with the Lord.  David’s clear hope here is for a restoration of his place and power in the Israel of his day and time.  Certainly, we enjoy life all the more when we live in the realization that God is in heaven and all things work out according to His plan and purpose.  But, it is also blessed to know that there is the ring of eternity in these words that were not so evident when they were first written.

 

Application:  All that remains is for David to await the acts of God in history, and as we see by the double emphasis of lines one and three in verse fourteen, this is his common experience and commitment.  “Wait for the Lord; and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for the Lord!”

 

Alas, we live in a thoroughly modern world where patience is not a virtue.  We want to see things happen now and are unhappy when the Lord tarries in giving us an answer.  David begs the essential focus of instant gratification to which we are so accustomed.  “Wait for the Lord,” he insists without any qualification except the heartfelt injunction to have courage in patience.  What a testing David went through day by day, learning as we all do – only slowly.  I once met a man in church who told me he had been struck by lighting twice in his life.  I asked him when he had realized the Lord was speaking to him.  The second time, he sadly admitted.  “I was a slow learner,” was his heartfelt confession.

 

May we imitate David and take his counsel to hold fast to the love of our Covenant God, to serve Him without hesitation and to await His pleasure in all things.  Amen.

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PREACHING RESOURCES

 

Calvin, John:  Commentary on Book of Psalms.

Delitzsch, F:  Commentary on the Old Testament – Psalms.

Spurgeon, C.H:  Treasury of David.

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