perspective and praise over problems

For he will hide me in his shelter

in the day of trouble;

he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;

he will lift me high upon a rock.

And now my head shall be lifted up

above my enemies all around me,

and I will offer in his tent

sacrifices with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

Psalm 27:5-6

David’s experience of deliverance from the hard-pressing threats of his enemies led him to faithfully worship God. In this psalm he turned to God when the trouble began, he trusted God to deal with it, and he praised God as he was delivered from it. And in verses five and six the immediate word pictures of God’s complete care provide insight and hope for us when we find ourselves dealing with a life difficulty.

All of us have that occasional “day of trouble”. Sometimes we see them coming. Sometimes they bum-rush us from a back alley as we are merely minding our own business. We have been in a season like this for almost all of 2020! And God is present with us. We call out to Him and He shelters and saves. David’s way of describing it was that he found protection... God hid him in his shelter. God covered him under God’s own tent. God brought him to the safe high ground lifting David upon a rock.

The response to God’s nearness and deliverance on the part of David is immediate. The high rock gave new perspective. David was above all the trouble caused by his enemies. As he dwelt close to God upon the rock, the threats of his enemies receded. The tent that God sheltered David under became a tabernacle of worship. There David worshiped with sacrifices, with shouts of joy, and in song to the Lord, rejoicing and praising the God Who never leaves us alone in our troubles.

In all difficulty, Jesus is near. And because He saved us from ALL trouble caused by sin and death, He will deliver us when we call on Him. His blood already covers our sin and shelters us. His love lifts us up. His righteousness clothes us in praise. He is the Rock of Ages! In Jesus we can stand strong and secure! And we can shout and sing despite our troubles because Jesus has defeated our worst enemies: sin and death!