A bed of glowing coals

A companion psalm

Psalm 27
The Oscillation

the oscillation

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?

When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear:

though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after;

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion:

in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me;

he shall set me up upon a rock.

And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me:

therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy;

I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice:

have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

When thou saidst, Seek ye my face;

my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

Hide not thy face far from me;

put not thy servant away in anger:

thou hast been my help;

leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies:

for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Wait on the LORD:

be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart:

wait, I say, on the LORD.


Watch the turn at verse 7. The first six verses are bold confidence - "whom shall I fear?" - and then suddenly: "Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice." The confidence cracks. "Hide not thy face far from me... leave me not, neither forsake me." The psalmist oscillates between faith and fear inside the same prayer. That is the threshold experience exactly. And the psalm does not resolve into one or the other. It ends in waiting: "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." The person at the mouth of the fire is waiting - not yet in, not yet at peace. Psalm 27 lives in that oscillation.