This psalm was written by David when he was “a hunted fugitive, finding refuge in the rocks and caves of the wilderness” (Ed 164). It reveals the psalmist’s spirit of absolute confidence in God amid the perils of flight. It has been called The Tonic Psalm. In no other psalm is David’s yearning after the service of the sanctuary as intensely expressed as here. Some suggest 1 Sam. 22:22 as a background to the psalm. The psalm has three divisions: vs. 1-6 express the poet’s assured confidence in God, despite the threatenings of the enemy; vs. 7-12 cry out plaintively for help; and vs. 13, 14, as a conclusion, find sure relief in hopeful trust in God. In the modern Jewish ritual, Ps. 27 is recited daily throughout the sixth month in preparation for the New Year and the Day of Atonement.
On the superscription see p. 616.
Strength.
Literally, “a place of safety,”“a stronghold” (see Ps. 28:8). Calvin named David’s triple shield of defense against all threats, “Light, Salvation, Stronghold.” The psalm begins on a note of absolute fearlessness. The psalmist’s confidence in God brooks no fear.
Whom shall I fear?
Neither other gods, for they are false, nor devils, nor men (see Rom. 8:31).
That is, Jehovah is the light illuminating the darkness about me, making clear my pathway. This expression, found frequently in the NT (see John 1:7-9; 12:46; 1 John 1:5), is not so common in the OT. Compare the Aaronic blessing (Num. 6:25).