Declaration of Faith and Rejoicing in Answered Prayer

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 27-28

 

Psalm 27:1

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?

(NKJV)

 

To please God, we need to have faith (Hebrews 11:6). For David, it was his faith in the Lord as his light, salvation, and strength that helped him not fear his enemies. This faith in God led to assurance in God hearing and answering his prayers. In times when we are bombarded with news that can bring fear, we must have unwavering faith and belief in God, who hears and answers our prayers. The psalms of this text encourage us to have unwavering faith and confidence in God to answer our prayers to Him.

 

In Psalm 27, David offers an exuberant declaration of faith. It begins with a declaration of the Lord as his light, salvation, and strength that dispels fear (Psalm 27:1). David has seen his enemies fall and now has confidence that the Lord will bring victory, even if an army comes against him (Psalm 27:2-3). David then makes a request of the Lord, that he be able to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life, his secret hiding place in the time of trouble (Psalm 27:4-5). David can now hold his head high and offer sacrifices of joy in the Lord’s tabernacle (Psalm 27:6).

 

David is then honest with the Lord, expressing fear that the Lord may not hear him when he cries out to him, for the Lord has told David to seek His face and that he has done (Psalm 27:7-8). David pleads with the Lord not to hide from him or forsake him, declaring that even if his father and mother forsake him, he has confidence that the Lord will not forsake him (Psalm 27:9-10). David then asks the Lord to teach him His ways and to lead him down a smooth path because of his enemies (Psalm 27:11). David does not want to be delivered to the will of his adversaries who breathe out violence against him letting the Lord know he would have lost heart without knowing the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Psalm 27:12-13). David concludes by telling us to wait on the Lord and to be of good courage, for the Lord will strengthen our hearts (Psalm 27:14).

 

In Psalm 28, David rejoices in answered prayer. David cries to the Lord his rock and asks the Lord not to be silent to him fearing he may become like those going down to the pit (Psalm 28:1). He pleads with the Lord to hear him when he cries out and lifts his hands towards the Lord’s sanctuary (Psalm 28:2). David does not want to go the way of the wicked who work iniquity, speaking peace while evil is in their hearts (Psalm 28:3). He asks the Lord to give them what they deserve according to their wickedness because they do not regard the works of the Lord (Psalm 28:4-5). David blesses the Lord for hearing his supplications, for the Lord is his strength and shield, for he trusts in the Lord with his song praising the Lord (Psalm 28:6-7). David concludes by declaring the Lord as the strength and saving refuge for his anointed, asking the Lord to save, bless, and shepherd his people (Psalm 28:8-9).   

 

In these psalms, David presents a vivid picture of his unwavering faith in God and rejoices in answered prayers. His unwavering faith is based on the Lord as his light, salvation, and strength that gets rid of fear in his life (Psalm 27:1). From this foundation of faith, David has no fear of his enemies. Fear in one’s life is not from God (2 Timothy 1:7), with the fear of man, or what others think or say about us, a trap (Proverbs 29:25). Faith in God is the antithesis of fear and why David had confidence when facing insurmountable odds, like taking five rocks and a sling shot with him to battle Goliath. In fact, without faith we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6). This faith led to the expectation that God would hear and answer his prayers.

 

While Psalm 28 begins with David crying out to the Lord to not be silent (Psalm 28:1), it ends with David blessing the Lord for hearing him (Psalm 28:6). We can glean from this that David would have doubts God heard him because his prayers were not immediately answered, with him understanding God heard him when his prayer was answered. While we wish God would immediately answer every prayer we offer, waiting on the Lord renews our strength (Isaiah 40:31). Our earnest prayers, offered to God, will be answered, but in God’s timing.

 

Like David, we live in a wicked world and need unwavering faith in the Lord who hears and answers our prayers. In the digital age in which we live, we are constantly bombarded with news and opinions. These can cause fear that can cause our faith in God to waver. In fact, Scripture warns us that in the last days, the faith of many will grow cold with fear of what is coming (Luke 21:25-26). May the Church learn from Psalm 27 and Psalm 28 and have unwavering faith in God and the assurance that God hears and answers our prayers. Let us be people of prayer because our prayers are powerful and effective (James 5:16).

 

For anyone reading this who has not prayed to accept God’s free gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:9-10), I invite you to do so now by praying with me.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

‘

I encourage you to find a church that teaches the truth of God’s Word from the Bible, so that God’s Word can transform your life by renewing your mind. May God convict, challenge, and empower everyone reading this post.