Psalm 27 is a psalm of confidence and trust. David uses the words "light" and "salvation" to describe his relationship with God. "Light indicates deliverance from darkness (Genesis 1:3), which is a biblical symbol of evil. The word salvation combined with the word light means 'saving light'" (Nelson Study Bible, note on Psalm 27). Like a lighthouse beacon, God shines through the darkness and shows us the way to go. David won't fear when the wicked come against him, because the Almighty God is His guiding light and defending strength (verse 1). Though surrounded by an entire army of hostile forces, David says, "...even then will I be confident" (verse 3, NIV).

Come what may, David's chief desire is to dwell in God's house forever (verse 4; compare Psalm 23:6). David wrote this before the physical "house of the Lord," the Jerusalem temple, was built. The "temple" in the same verse likely refers to God's temple in heaven—into which David may come through prayer. However, the tabernacle of David's time may have been in view in part, as that was the manner through which God then dwelt among His people. There is a mention of God's "pavilion" and "tabernacle" in verse 5—of figuratively being hidden away in God's tent when trouble comes (compare Psalm 31:20). The wording would seem to imply seeking God in His tabernacle in the midst of adversity and finding divine protection there. (Some, it should be noted, relate this to God's people being protected during the Great Tribulation at the end of the age.) Verse 6 of Psalm 27 refers to offering sacrifices at the tabernacle.

Yet by dwelling in God's house David ultimately meant something more than the physical tabernacle and temple. As with Christians now, dwelling in the house of the Lord means being part of God's very family—and living forever in His Kingdom. Even in verse 6, offering sacrifices at the tabernacle seems to point, at least in an ultimate sense, to worshiping God for all eternity as part of His household.

David next pleads with God to respond to his prayers (verse 7)—to not hide Himself (verse 9)—because David is faithfully seeking Him as God has commanded (verse 8; see Deuteronomy 4:29-31). There is no indication that David's parents ever abandoned him. But in that unlikely event, David declares that God "will take care of me" (verse 10). Certainly this applied not only to David but to all people who serve God, even today. Abandonment could mean complete absence or just emotional detachment—for various reasons. We should consider that Jesus warned there would be family splits, even from father and mother, for the sake of God's Kingdom—but gave encouragement that God would bless us with other spiritual relations in this life and greatly reward us in the age to come (compare Matthew 10:34-36; Matthew 19:29).

David's plea in Psalm 27:11 that God lead him in a smooth path because of his enemies recalls the imagery in Psalm 23 of the Shepherd leading His sheep down right paths so they may find peace and fulfillment despite enemies. And in verse 12, just as David faced false witnesses, so would Jesus Christ later face the same (Matthew 26:60-61). Indeed, many of the sufferings of God's people in the Old Testament foreshadowed to some degree what Jesus would have to go through—and what His followers today still must endure.

In verse 13, the NKJV has added to the beginning of verse 13 the italicized interpolation, "I would have lost heart..." The NIV translates the verse without this addition: "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." David waits on God's intervention with strong confidence, trusting that He will help and strengthen him now in this life (verses 13). If his hope in God were solely affixed to life after death, there would be no reason to have any hope in this life. But David does have hope in this life because God has encouraged him—and David passes this encouragement on to others (verse 14). This should give all of us hope for today—not just for tomorrow. Of course, our ultimate hope lies in eternity to come. For, as the apostle Paul later stated, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most pitiable" (1 Corinthians 15:19). What a blessing to know that we have hope in God both in this life and for eternal life to come.