"The Strength and Confidence of Worship"

 

 

Psalm 27:4-6: One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek.  That I may dwell 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.  For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.  And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

 

In this section of the psalm we see . . . The Secret of Fearless Confidence in Battle is Worship!

             A. The battles of David were won in his private times of worship with the Lord (v. 4)—David had many responsibilities and many demands upon his time, but his number one priority was seeking God’s face.  He said, like Paul, “This one thing I do, forgetting the things that are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.”  Jesus told the weary Martha that one thing is needful—and her sister Mary chose the right thing—to worship and listen to the Lord. When God comes to visit each Sunday, where are so many of our folks?  Not there, doing like Martha something more important for which God gave them the strength to do—but did they choose wisely on God’s day.  David said, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” David also sang, he was the singing soldier, and he sang God’s praises.  George Washington felt that one of the reasons the Continental Army was losing so badly at the start of the Revolutionary War was the profanity of the soldiers.  He gave orders that it cease, that each soldier receive a Bible, and that chaplains be sought for each group of soldiers.

  B. Entering into God’s tabernacle in time of trouble provides God’s protection (v. 5).  In Eastern countries, when you are invited into a Bedouin’s tent to eat and rest, you are automatically protected by your host.  You are safer in the tent than if you were hiding in a cave, for all of your host's resources are at your disposal.

             C. When we lift up our eyes to behold the Lord, He will lift up our head above our enemies –we should lift our heads in worship for each victory that God gives us (v. 6).  Did you ever notice after all the spiritual armor is described in Ephesians 6 so that the Christian will have the victory, the capstone verse is often neglected:  It is verse 18—Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.