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?”
Explanation and Commentary of Psalm 27:1
Penned in a time of distress, David reaffirms his faith in his God, strengthening himself by the strength of God. Having trusted the Lord, he has seen first-hand on many occasions the faithfulness of God towards those whose hearts are fully devoted to him (2 Chron 16:9). God helped him slay the lion when his sheep were under threat (1 Sam 17:37). God helped him slay the giant who defied God’s armies, and the Philistines, the king who wanted his head, and all other opposition.
The only true threat to David was his own weakness. When his heart was steadfast, there was simply nothing to fear. For the Christian, we have such a hope that we can trust God in any and every circumstance. When times are good, we can thank God and trust him to always provide and protect us, remembering we have nothing that he has not given us, even when what we have is by the grace of God to bless the work of our own hands. When times are difficult, we thank God, and we trust in him who is sovereign and does absolutely everything for our good. As stewards of what is given, we seek to use what God has provided to live according to his will, and trust him for the results of righteous living.
When we are in need, the Lord is our salvation. When we are full of his abundant blessing, the Lord is still our salvation. God has promised to bless us, we have only to look to him in faith. One thing we must not do, is fear, for “the Lord is the stronghold of my life…”
Breaking Down the Key Parts of Psalm 27:1
#1 “The Lord is my light…”
Our Father in heaven sent his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the light of the world (Jn 8:12). “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light” (). God is the light for our path, he is the light of truth, and he is the illumination of our salvation.
#2 “…and my salvation—”
We do not trust in might or wealth, or any manifestation of our own strength to save us. We surrender to God and put our faith in his perfect Son. Our ultimate salvation from our sin and from the wrath of God for sin (Jn 3:36) is reflected in the myriad ways God saves us from harm every day.
#3 “whom shall I fear?”
If the Christian feels afraid, he can rest assured that his fear is not from God, and is unnecessary. God is sovereign. Nothing can happen apart from his will and his good plan, and he watches his children (Ps 121:5-8), never slumbering (Ps 121:4).
#4 “The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”
A stronghold is a fortress with high walls. Fortresses can be breached, but if God wills to protect us, he will protect us. Man can take care to build a fortress and walls, as did David, but he knew that apart from the protection of God, those walls will fall. Those who are in Christ and live according to his purposes need to fear nothing and no one.
Expert Overview of Psalms
Biblical Translations of Psalm 27:1
NIV
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?
NLT
The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?
ESV
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?
KJV
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
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?
Natalie Regoli is a child of God, devoted wife, and mother of two boys. She has a Master's Degree in Law from The University of Texas. Natalie has been published in several national journals and has been practicing law for 18 years.