This Psalm is the most interesting because it is comparing war as a person subjected to a challenging life.10 " Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me".This is why it opens describing the troubles of the person who does not acquire family structure to support him. We used to consider this person "a survivor". The survivor ordinarily befalls a child who grows up in a threatening environment.This unique situation in a one parent home, being inevitably forced into foster care, growing up in a threatening and competitive environment or having to endure ridicule in terrible school. Consequently, the Psalmist opens with a cry for personal care of the Lord. He protects us as He has in David battles. The Psalmist is saying the dear Lord is most faithful when the battle is the fiercest. Ps 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?2 When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.
The Psalmist says "The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?" In Psalms 18 David is describing salvation as the Lord coming from heaven on His chariot and defeating the enemy. 18 9 "He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet.10 He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him-- the dark rain clouds of the sky.12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning.13 The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded.14 He shot his arrows and scattered [the enemies], great bolts of lightning and routed them. "
When the Psalmist is using the metaphor "light" to describe the Lord, watches over people who do not have the normal protection with special care. The light actually shines in our path to blind our foes. If the Lord defends us as the heat and light from the sun are directed against those who ambush us, there is no fear. The blinding light of the curses are extremely dangerous annihilating enemies in war. Consequently, he compares this protective activity as his stronghold. God is his stronghold of exceptional strength flowing through him when he was fighting. 18 28 " You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.29 With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.32 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.34 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.35 You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.36 You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn.37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed.38 I crushed them so that they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet." The Psalmist is saying the Lord fights his fierce battles when he sufficiently advances against considerable opposition, uniquely experiences, the divine power of the authoritative pronouncements flowing through him.
What is the specific purpose of being reluctantly forced to humbly trust God in this special way? The Psalmist passionately declares.18 50 " He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever." Hence, the Lord uses these unique circumstances of the penniless widow and orphan to convincingly show He is faithful to the eternal covenant with Abraham. This everlasting covenant promised to Abraham and his descendants. God is justly saying, he is our blood brother, will professionally pronounce victory over opposition.
The Lord fights our battles
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