Psalm 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1
The Courageous Woman
During the US civil war in the 1800s, fierce fighting occurred near Moorefield, West Virginia. Because the town was very close to enemy lines, it would be controlled one day by union troops while confederates would take over the next day. In the heart of the town lived an old woman. According to the testimony of a Presbyterian minister, one-morning several enemy soldiers knocked on her door and demanded breakfast. She welcomed them in and began preparing something for them.
When the food was ready, the woman set the table. She said, “ it is my custom to read the bible and pray before breakfast, i hope you do not mind.” With their consent, she took her bible and opened it randomly only to read Psalm 27, from the vs 1(the Lord is my light and my salvation) through to vs 14 (wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart). After she was done reading, she said, “ Let us pray.” While she was praying, she heard the sounds of people moving around in the room. By the time she said “amen” and looked up, the soldiers were gone.
Jehovah Is My Light
Before there could be any life, there was light, which God created, but God Himself is also light. Therefore when Jesus announces that He is the light of the world, it is equivalent to an announcement of Him being God. The wonderful thing about light is its ability to bear witness of itself. Jesus is the source of light. Darkness is the emblem of distress, trouble and perplexity, and sorrow, while the light is the exact opposite of this. Jesus gives us the vision to see who we are in Him. It is only through this light that we are illuminated to our identity and receive instructions for life. “Following Jesus is more than tagging along behind Him. It means following Him for who He is. Being so taken with Him that you join yourself to Him.” John Piper.
Jehovah Is My Salvation
God’s salvation has been made available to all men, provided they shall believe in Jesus. While in the desert, the Israelites went through a period where many died because of snake bites, and God asked Moses to put up a bronze snake as the solution for the ailing Israelites. However, the healing was conditional. It was accessible to everybody, provided they kept their eyes on the bronze snake. Apostle John summed up the whole business of salvation in a few words when he said, “God gave unto us eternal life and this life is in His son” (1 John 5:11).
Let us learn, therefore, to put a high value on God’s power to protect us. The old woman knew her protection was in the word of God, and even when the intruders came, she still trusted the power of the Word. It is those who have never tasted the grace of God that tremble because they refuse to rely on Him. However, with the promises of God before our eyes, we can boldly stand against all enemies.
King James Version (KJV)
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
New International Version (NIV)
“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
New American Bible (NASB)
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom should I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom should I dread?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
The Living Bible (TLB)
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; he protects me from danger—whom shall I fear?”
