“Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; though war arise against me, in spite of this I shall be confident. One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall 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 meditate in His temple…. And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, and I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD…. Do not hide Your face from me, do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not abandon me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation!” (Psa 27:3-4, 6, 9).
Psalm 27 is a fitting psalm for a people at war, not only because of its emphasis on trusting the LORD, but especially because it gently exposes our misplaced priorities and values. We all long for wars to end because we long for peace, for thriving economies, national budgets focused on the good of society rather than military spending, lower gas prices, and an uninterrupted pursuit of happiness.
If our prayers for deliverance and peace are primarily focused on material benefits and personal comfort, then we must confess that we are losing sight of what truly matters.
For King David, however, being at war meant being away from the temple. He longed for victory over his enemies so that he could dwell in God’s house, behold His beauty, and sing His praises with His people. David’s wartime prayer invites us to reconsider our priorities. If our prayers for deliverance and peace are primarily focused on material benefits and personal comfort, then we must confess that we are losing sight of what truly matters. We must let David teach us that the “chief end of man” and the truly good life is to “glorify God and to enjoy him forever.”
“Save me from the lion’s mouth; from the horns of the wild oxen You answer me. I will tell of Your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise You” (Psa 22:21-22).
