Psalm 27

The week before was my Bar Mitzvah, so that day I went with my father to the Temple was the first time I was allowed to enter the Temple itself, to actually watch the priest offer the sacrifice. It was something else! Father talked to me about it before we went. One of the words he used to describe the experience was “powerful.” I wasn’t exactly sure what he meant by that, but afterwards, I think I did.

Father had already selected the bull to take, a fine animal, one of our very best – no blemishes, no scars, nothing wrong with him. We could have sold him for a lot of money or he would have sired some very fine calves, but Father had been raising him for just this purpose.

We led him to the Temple. He was a little skittish around all those strange people and strange sounds and smells, but he let Father lead him to the altar. There the priest took over.

Father told me that often a crowd gathers around. While the priest prepared the sacrifice, Father spoke to the people.

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?

Now I know my father. I know his faith. He lived it every day. He obeys the law, not just superficially, but carefully, sincerely. We only ate what is allowed. Mother prepared the sabbath meal the day before, and we ate it cold, so the servants didn’t do any labor on the sabbath. We never traveled on the sabbath. We celebrated the feast days, and we shared the celebration with the poor. We followed the law, because we wanted to please the Lord our God. And speaking to the people, Father’s voice reflected that faith.

When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh – my adversaries and foes – they shall stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.

Those were difficult times. Even as young as I was, I knew the dangers we faced. I had heard the stories of invading armies from other nations, Gentiles who attacked our lands and stole our crops. My mother’s father was killed by Assyrians when he tried to defend his farm. She used to tell my sister and me the story. Each time she told it, we could see the fear in her eyes. And then my father would come stand beside her and put his hand on her shoulder, and the fear would go away. My father was not afraid of enemies or armies, and I could hear that confidence in his voice as he spoke at the sacrifice.

One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in the temple.

We went often to the Temple. After the Bar Mitzvah, when I became a man, we would go together, every day. This was an important part of Father’s life, and it still is, even though he is now old.

As Father continued speaking, he spoke of places of security and safety.

For God will hide me in the shelter in the day of trouble; the Lord will conceal me under the cover of the tent; Jehovah will set me high on a rock.

Hiding – I remember hiding behind my mother when I was younger. When bad dreams came, I would hide under the edge of the tent, under the rug, where I felt safe. Mother told us about the time of flooding, before we were born, when they fled to the hills and waited on a huge rock, as the waters washed everything away. Places of safety. My father’s lap was a place like that for me.

As Father continued, I could feel myself standing stronger and taller, my head lifted high.

Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in this tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

I looked at the flames on the altar, and then at the smile on Father’s face. For him this was not a painful sacrifice; it was a joy to bring to God the best he had, to do whatever Jehovah asked of us. We did not consider the law to be a burden, but rather a way to guide our lives so we could please the Lord.

As a youth, I did not understand Father’s next words.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! “Come,” my heart says, “seek God’s face!” Your face, Lord, do I seek. Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation. If my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up.

I know now that I was still a child. I couldn’t understand why my father would plead with God this way. As long as I could remember, God had always protected us. Enemy armies didn’t attack any more, and my parents both thanked God often for taking care of us. We were secure and safe, because God was with us. Why wouldn’t God continue to be with us, to keep us safe?

Now, as a father myself, I think I understand. Perhaps it is because we sometimes fail to obey the law, perhaps it is because sometimes we fall short of God’s expectations for us. Maybe it has to do with others not obeying the law, and we suffer the consequences of their actions. I don’t know, but it seems that there are times when God does turn away from us, when the Lord does not protect us, when Jehovah is not with us, and then bad things do happen. Enemy armies return. Illness, floods, droughts, disasters – I don’t know why, but sometimes we are not protected by God. And I have learned what my father knew, that we must ask for guidance and continue to seek God’s will, whatever happens.

And so my father continued in the presence of the people.

Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and they are breathing out violence.

He concluded with this affirmation.

I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

He turned and looked directly at me, speaking these words, not to the crowd, but to me.

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Even in those times when it seems that the Lord has forgotten us, when it seems that the Lord has turned away, especially in those times, we must be patient, we must be strong, we must be obedient, we must be careful, and wait for the Lord. God will turn back to us. God always has. God always will.

General Questions

1) How does this story follow its Scripture?

2) How does this story expand its Scripture for you?

3) What is the message of this story?

4) How does the message apply to us today?

Specific Questions

5) Does God ever turn away from us?

6) Does God bail us out of the bad decisions we make or others make?

7) What can God be trusted to do?

8) How do we trust in God?