King David boasted a long history of success on the battlefield. He attracted talented advisors and amassed great wealth. A gifted leader, he could have easily placed great confidence in his talents and wisdom. But his reliance turned a different direction.

Notice the supreme confidence of David in the Lord his God: 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?

A shepherd who faced a range of difficulties on his rise to the throne, David no longer worried about personal enemies or marauding armies. Instead, David worried only that God would turn away from him, hide his face, or abandon his servant.

Despite threats both external and internal, David clung to the Lord. With unshakable belief he expressed his thoughts: I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

I appreciate those words and need them in my life. David’s confidence reflects a long walk with the Lord, years of persistence. His confidence can be ours, if we stick to that long walk in the same direction.

Psalm 27 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Karl Fredrickson