Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: Psalm 27 and Psalm 46

Today you’re invited to memorise Psalm 46:4-7

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
⁵ God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
⁶ Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

⁷ The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

First take the time to memorise it … and then meditate on it in light of Psalm 27:1,

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?

When writing Psalm 27, David must have been reflecting on some situation of darkness, danger and onslaught. As he looked back on his life, he saw how the Lord had delivered him time and time again from such situations in the past. And so, as he considered his current difficulties and dangers, he could proclaim with enormous confidence that he would not fear the situation, nor those causing it. He would go into his future with absolute confidence in the presence of the Lord with him as his light, his salvation and the stronghold of his life.

Similarly, in Psalm 46, God’s people were reminded that their source of absolute security and confidence was the presence of the Most High God within the Holy City. No matter what dangers or attacks they faced, they would overcome because: “God is within her, she will not fall!”

Now, through Christ Jesus our Lord, it is no longer a City or a Temple that hosts the presence of God, making His people safe. Now, through Jesus, His people are the holy dwelling place of the Spirit of God. God is within us now … we will not fall!

“The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress …The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”

Almighty God, in every challenging, stressful or dangerous situation I face today, please remind me that You are with me. The River of God, the Holy Spirit, is within me, so I will neither fear the situation nor the people involved in it. I will not fall! Instead I will find in You, my Stronghold, all the light and salvation I need. Amen.