Psalm 27:1-14: Power Prayer

Introduction

(Read once to be introduced to the series. After that skip this to go right to the good stuff!) 

Welcome to my Devotions Series. This series features devotions based on the Scriptures of the Common Lectionary. The series is being prepared for eventual and hopeful print publication.

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Lectionary Series Year A: The Third Sunday After Epiphany
Psalm 27:1-14 (Read it on Bible Gateway)
Power Prayer
In this Psalm, another prayer of David, we find a model of Prayer that could easily be called Power Prayer. Let's take a closer look here to see what I mean.

First, let's remember who David was. He was a young shepherd boy who first came to prominence when, by faith and being a good shot with a sling, he took down the Philistine warrior Goliath. This was Goliath, the giant who had managed to humble the entire army of the Israelites (I Samuel 17). He went on to gain a great deal of fame through his continuing exploits and warrior prowess. This rise in fame was part of what contributed to King Saul's being at odds with him. When it became clear people respected David more, Saul became jealous of David, which resulted in David being hunted for a while, and led ultimately to Saul losing his mind and committing suicide (I Samuel 18-31). David then went on to become King of Judah (II Samuel 2) and as has been mentioned here, several times, went on to become the greatest King Israel ever knew. So great was his place as King that God chose his dynasty, his lineage, to give rise to the Messiah in the promise that the Savior would come from the "stump of Jesse" (see Devotions: Isaiah 11:1-10).

Now David's life was not just stories of glory. His best friend as a young man was Jonathan, Saul's son. The two friends were torn apart by Saul's insane jealousy and Jonathan eventually was killed as a result of the ongoing struggles which sprung from that. David was also certainly guilty of making major mistakes as a King and a man. His illicit relationship with Bathsheba (II Samuel 11) led to an illegitimate son who would seek to overthrow David and lose his own life as a result. So, David was by no means a paragon of virtue, nor a man whose life was untouched by tragedy and loss.

However, for all that, Scripture gives us a deep insight into David as a man, and as a king. David was a man of deep and powerful passions and conviction. Subtle was not part of David's personality by any means. As a warrior he seemed unmatched in the field of battle, a thing which seemed to be drawn from his conviction of victory in the face of battle, no matter the odds. This was a conviction he had when he first walked out to meet Goliath and it served throughout his entire reign. He possessed incredible charisma, a gift and curse considering the impact it had on his life throughout. He was also a man of incredible passions and given to great emotion. Scripture shows us a David who danced with total abandon before the people in celebration, and one who fell to his knees, tearing his clothes, screaming in anguish at the death of his son.

In this passage, we see some insight into these aspects of David in how he approaches prayer. This is a prayer of incredible confidence. It sums up the faith of a young boy willing to face the giant warrior and a young man who would be king. There is no doubt in this prayer that David feels he can not only be delivered from his foes, but can crush them with the blessing of God. Anything and indeed, everything, is in the reach of he who calls on God!

But there is more here. There is also an impassioned plea for God to remember his promise, to keep David safe, to keep him close. There is almost a fearful plea to not be abandoned by God out of anger, a plea for God to not reject or forsake him. Even though his family might turn against him, David cries out to God to receive him and to surround him in God's grace and love. This speaks of a man humbled, one convicted of his own failings and faults. More, it speaks of a man who has paid a heavy price for those choices and fears an even greater price: to be abandoned by God.

The passage closes with an affirmation of that conviction that God will provide, then a final recommendation of patience, to be strong and wait for the Lord. This echoes the opening, and brings a comforting assurance to the pleas that immediately precede it, almost as if there is a dialogue going on here in the heart of the author, or of David. He seeks to calm his own fears and doubts, to remind himself of the deep confidence which has served him well before.

So, altogether we see a prayer of strength, confidence, great passion and conviction, but also a pervading need and vulnerability that shows the conviction, strength and confidence comes not from within the author, but clearly from God.

For the complete listing of our Devotions, see our Devotions Archive