I used to think Psalm 27 sounded like the kind of scripture you might frame or embroider on pillows.
But after spending time hanging out in the 14 verses, I learned it's more about provision than pillows. For the last three months, I decided I would metaphorically "camp out" in this passage of the Bible. I didn't want to breeze through the passages for more head knowledge and historical information. This time, I wanted to rest in things and go deeper.
My intention was to slow down, take it sentence by sentence, word by word. There was no skipping over things, consuming huge swaths of information, and feeling accomplished over an expansive Bible dive. This was deep work and it required more of my heart than I expected.
Sort of like a steady hike, I found the slower I went, the more I got from Psalm 27.
Looking over the passage, you will see it's not that long - only 14 verses in fact. Just for context, Psalm 27 was written by David. Not everyone can agree why, some say it was written before he became a king, others when he was older. But what is evident is that he was in a wilderness season and desperately seeking God's care, provision, and protection. It feels like a declaration both out loud to himself and to the closing enemies that God is on his side.
When I got started in Psalm 27, I didn't know how much I could relate to David in the wilderness, longing for confidence in times of fear. But looking back, I see that sometimes fear is a quiet thief, seeping into anxious conversations, nights lying awake, bickering with your spouse. Sometimes it can be big stuff, but sometimes wilderness can be a stale state of living where you have no idea what is bothering you.
For me, wilderness felt like an undercurrent barely detectable below the surface of life. Restlessly tossing through the night, wondering what if x happens. Replaying conversations with others when I clearly said something I regretted. Situations with loved ones that I didn't handle well out of fear, out of worry, out of insecurities. Sometimes wilderness is there below it all, seeping its darkness in subtle ways.
If you saw me in the grocery store and said, "hey, real quick, what did Psalm 27 teach you?" I would say, it gave me words to speak over myself when wilderness times show up. It pointed out to me that if I'm stewing and fretting, I've got my mind on myself. I can recite the words of Psalm 27 and be reminded again of where my confidence is - I can trust in the man who died for me, Jesus.
Through the slow time I spent in Psalm 27, I learned sometimes we need to hang out with scripture before it can work its way into our hearts. And when I begin to fear, I can pray its life-giving words of provision and protection. I can claim that anthem of battle-tested faith for myself.
Psalm 27 taught me how to enlist the beauty of scripture for provision in wilderness times.
PS. If you haven't read Psalm 27 lately, you can check it out here.
Thank you for not only sharing this practice but for its impact on you. The last verse of that Psalm - yes!