Psalm 27: 1-4….The soldier thinks.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.
One thing have I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to inquire in his temple.

Comment: I had to do National Service as a young man, but I have never been to war. This is a psalm written by a man who fled around the mountains for some years hunted by the king who was determined to kill him. Later, when king himself, he had to direct and often lead his army into the horrible slash and thrust of sword and spear – the maiming and killing of hand to hand blood bath filled battles. So my life is miles apart from his, although people as attackers or defenders go through it every day even in this modern, so called enlightened, era of history. We have here the thought of David and his army facing an enemy determined to cut them to pieces. What is going through his mind? He is God’s man. His enlightenment as to what life is about is from God. He thinks about the God whom he trusts to protect and save him. And his mind goes beyond the battle and in the long run his aim and desire is to worship God meaningfully. This psalm is not written by a theologian in a fancy sheltered academic tower but by a blood splattered warrior between battles delighting in his absolutely trustworthy God.

Prayer: There are plenty of things I want to avoid God, but help me to be faithful wherever life leads me.