LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
What does it mean that “the Lord is my light and my salvation” (Psalm 27:1)?
Submitted to Dr. James Sulfridge
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
DSMN 500
Discipleship Ministries
By
Anthony Bean
Psalm 27, a psalm written by David, is an example of Hebrew poetry. One element of
Hebrew poetry prominent in this psalm is a grammatical structure known as synonymous
parallelism. For example, in the first verse of Psalm 27, the main idea and structure of the first
line are synonymous with the idea and structure of the second, as shown below:
Line 1: The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?
Line 2: The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?
Both the first and second lines focus on the Lord. In the first line, David describes the Lord
as his light and salvation. In the second line, David describes the Lord as his stronghold or
refuge. Both lines end with the same question phrased in a slightly different manner. This
parallelism allows for a fuller understanding of the first line by looking at the immediate context
of the second, and vice versa.
A stronghold or refuge was a place of protection during a time of siege. The farmers and
workers outside of the city would be particularly susceptible to attack as they would have been
outside the city walls’ protection (Nehemiah 2:17; cf. Joshua 6:1–21). So, those farmers and
workers would run to the city for refuge and protection whenever battle came. Many cities also
had a strong tower, which would have been an extra layer of defense. The strong tower would
give protection to those within and allow those outside to identify the city’s location whenever
a battle was imminent (see Proverbs 18:10). This protection in the stronghold is why David can
ask the question in Psalm 27:1, “Of whom shall I be afraid?”
Much like God is a stronghold for David, He is also David’s light and salvation. Light is
utilized to see and be aware of one’s surroundings amid the darkness. The idea of “light” is
often used in Scripture as a metaphor for one’s deliverance, such as in Psalm 27:1. Whenever
Jesus makes the claim, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12), He is claiming that deliverance
from darkness comes through Him. Salvation, as seen in Psalm 27:1, can also be thought of as
deliverance. David utilizes three terms to describe God as the Deliverer: light, salvation, and
stronghold. If God is David’s Deliverer, whom should he fear?
According to the context of Psalm 27:1, David seems to be describing God as the Deliverer
from physical enemies (verses 2–3). However, the Christian has also received salvation and
deliverance from his or her enemies. If you have faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ (1
Corinthians 15:3–5), then God has bought you back or redeemed you. He has transferred you
from the domain or authority of darkness to the kingdom of Jesus (Colossians 1:13–14).
Through Christ’s provision, the Christian has been equipped for protection through the “full
armor of God” (Ephesians 6:10–17).
Much as David can proclaim God is his light and salvation from the enemies surrounding
him, the Christian can claim God is his light and salvation from the domain of darkness and
eternal judgment (Ephesians 2:1–10). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Psalm 27:1 starts by saying, "the LORD is my
light and my salvation." The Lord is, quite literally, our salvation. As we continue to read the
Psalm, we see that David, the psalmist in this instance, addresses God's protection over his
physical enemies. Of course, we know that we are only saved in an eternal sense by God's grace
through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:1–10). But beyond this direct meaning, the phrase contains
metaphorical meanings that reveal God and His ways to us.
"The Lord is my light"—Light represents all that is good and is also a source of guidance. The
Lord is the source of all goodness and light in our lives. He has given us His Word as a guide:
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). When we put our faith
in Jesus, we receive the indwelling Holy Spirit who guides us (1 Corinthians 10:10–16; Ephesians
1:12–14). When we worry that we will be engulfed by darkness, even the darkness within our
own hearts, God's presence and light is not overcome (Psalm 139:7–12). The Lord is the light
that shines into the darkness and shows us the path of life.
Christ's life was the light that overcame darkness to be our salvation: "In him was life, and
the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not
overcome it" (John 1:4–5; see also John 8:12). "The Lord is my salvation"—Salvation means
"preservation or deliverance from harm, ruin, or loss." In this verse, salvation means that the
Lord is our source of hope, security, and protection. He preserves us and delivers us. All hope is
found in the Lord. Through Him, because of Jesus' death and resurrection, we can have eternal
salvation (John 3:16–18).
With the Lord as our light and salvation, it's no wonder that the next part of the verse says,
"whom shall I fear?" Romans 8 expresses a similar sentiment: "If God is for us, who can be
against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also
with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God
who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was
raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. … For I am sure that
neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love
of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:31–34, 38–39).
The second half of Psalm 27:1 says, "The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I
be afraid?" A stronghold is a fortress in times of war; it is a safe place. The Lord is our secure
and safe place. There is no need for us to fear. Philippians 4:5–7 counsels, "The Lord is at hand;
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses
all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
This sort of metaphorical language about God that reveals His character to us is found
throughout the Bible, frequently in the book of Psalms. Another similar verse in Psalms reads:
"The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble"
(Psalm 37:39). We learn through the Bible time and time again that God is our source of all that
is good. He is our light, safe place, and salvation. If we are His child through faith in Jesus Christ,
we can rest securely in Him (John 1:12; 16:33; Luke 12:22–34).
