Psalms 27:1-6 - Homilies By C. Short

Fearless, courage.

I. THE SECRET OF A FEARLESS COURAGE .

1 . His experience of what God had been to Aim. "Light" in the darkest periods of his life. Light is a revealing power—for guidance. Salvation from his greatest dangers, temporal and spiritual "Strength," the power that had upheld his life when falling into weakness and despair. Experience confirmed and rewarded the faith which he had in God. When experience coincides with our faith, then we are at our strongest. But faith must always live above experience.

2 . His experience of his enemies. Their most furious and savage onsets had been baffled. This also was of God. And the explanation was—they were wicked , and he was righteous. This thought was fundamental to his faith—that God would not permit the evil to triumph over the good. His experience of this in the past gave him confidence for the future ( Psalms 27:2 , Psalms 27:3 ). Our past victories should inspire us for the future.

II. HOW A FEARLESS COURAGE MAY BE FURTHER STRENGTHENED .

1 . By fellowship with God. Beholding his beauty or goodness, and meditating upon it. The heart and mind must be fed and strengthened by constant converse with God in worship and holy thought.

2 . Frequent seclusion is the best way to strengthen ourselves for conflict. ( Psalms 27:5 .) "In time of trouble, he shall hide me, and set me up upon a rock;" i.e. shut out from man, and shut in with God, is the way to conquer trouble and prepare for danger.

3 . Thankful worship is another help. ( Psalms 27:6 .) "Sacrifices of joy," or "shouting," "singing praises,"—all mean grateful exercises of the heart towards God, recounting to ourselves what he has done for us in his wonderful goodness. Courage, hopefulness, must be fed with joy, and not with sadness and sorrow.—S.