Carlton McPeak

Life is filled with disappointments. Close friends move away. Parents, who have always been a source of comfort and advice, pass away. Places of employment go out of business. One’s health begins to fail them with the passing of time. But the Lord can always be trusted.

The faithful follower of God learns that God is always the one they can trust. Regardless of the many difficult circumstances in life, the Lord will always be there to help. He is like a light, always illuminating the way. He is the one in whom our trust must be placed.

The great king of Israel, David, wrote a psalm (27) expressing his trust and confidence in the Lord. He considered God as his “light” and his “salvation” (v. 1) as well as his defender when his enemies and adversaries attacked him.

One of the reasons why David had such confidence and trust is because he was always seeking the Lord. David wanted to “dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of [his] life.” He wanted to “behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple” (v. 4). Regardless of the troubles of life which came his way, David believed that security and protection could only be found in the “tabernacle” of the Lord.

This great ruler of Israel affirmed that he had obeyed the command of God given to the nation of Israel for them to “seek [God’s] face” (v. 8). David pleaded with God not to “hide [His] face from [him],” nor “turn [His] servant away in anger,” nor “abandon” or “forsake” him (v. 9). David had great confidence that God would not forsake him, even if his parents should forsake him (v. 10).

David had the desire for God to teach him and to learn the ways of God. David wanted God to “lead” him in the way that he should go.

David confessed that he “would have despaired unless [he] had believed that [he] would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (v. 13). He exhorted those around him to “wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yes, wait on the Lord” (v. 14).

The example from this great man of faith should encourage us to have this same degree of confidence and trust in the Lord. His example shows us where our desires in life should be: seeking the Lord, meditating upon His teachings and wanting to be in His presence. Truly this psalm must be understood as words of encouragement to us as we are trying to duplicate David’s example of living God’s way.

Carlton G. McPeak is an evangelist working in the Florida Gateway region. All Scriptural quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Holman Bible Publishers, unless otherwise stated. He may be contacted at carlton_mc@msn.com.