This Little Light Of Yours

Psalm 27:1-6

A psalm of David.

1The LORD is my light and my salvation—

so why should I be afraid?

The LORD protects me from danger—

so why should I tremble?

2When evil people come to destroy me,

when my enemies and foes attack me,

they will stumble and fall.

3Though a mighty army surrounds me,

my heart will know no fear.

Even if they attack me,

I remain confident.

4The one thing I ask of the LORD—

the thing I seek most—

is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,

delighting in the LORD’s perfections

and meditating in his Temple.

5For he will conceal me there when troubles come;

he will hide me in his sanctuary.

He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

6Then I will hold my head high,

above my enemies who surround me.

At his Tabernacle I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,

singing and praising the LORD with music.

Light was a precious commodity in ancient societies. At nighttime or in dark caves, where David sometimes hid from his enemies, everything was dark as pitch. Even in houses, whether a peasant’s or prince’s, the lighting was from a smoky pine torch or a tiny oil-fed stone lamp. In our world of lightbulbs and neon signs, we have less appreciation for the value of light.

From the opening words of Genesis to the closing words of Revelation, the theme of the Lord being light recurs again and again in Scripture. David said, “The Lord is my light” (Psalm 27:1). Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 9:5). John wrote, “God is light” (1 John 1:5). And Paul wrote, “For God, who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made us understand that this light is the brightness of the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

But spiritually the world is as dark as it has ever been. Jesus tells us, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14) and Paul says that we are living “in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people,” so we must “let [our] lives shine brightly before them” (Philippians 2:15). The world desperately needs to see God’s light shining through us, so consider how you can bring light to those around you today.

The Lord of glory is my light

And my salvation, too.

God is my strength, nor will I fear

What all my foes can do.

ISAAC WATTS

Bible Networking

David asked the Lord for “one thing” (verse 4). The apostle Paul also desired one thing (Philippians 3:13-14). What is the one thing that you desire today?

Notable Quotable

“Adorable Sun, enlighten my steps. Be thou the true noonday of my soul; exterminate its darkness, disperse its clouds; burn, dry up and consume all its filth and impurities. Divine Sun, rise upon my mind and never set.”

JEAN BAPTISTE AVRILLON