"Gleanings from Psalm 27" by Art Katz

Greetings in Jesus from Dallas!Interestingly, prior to coming here. I had not known of Art Katz, nor of his ministry.The first lecture or if you perfer to call it sermon, I listened to here was "And They Crucified Him" by Art Katz.I had been so deeply moved by this message that I had chosen to take out a folder here and to share my thoughts, and of what I had believed God had put in my heart relating to this message that was preached by Art Katz.Thereafter, I was drawn to another sermon of his "Gleanings from Psalm 27."If you have just recently heard that message "And They Cruified Him" by Art Katz. And if it served to bring you to a place of spiritual renewal as it did me. I would now urge you to listen to this second sermon of his I listened to today: "Gleaning from Psalm 27," for I believe it will lift your spirit and serve to really strenghten your faith if you do.In Christ,Jake

Psalm 27:1 (NJV) says,The LORD is my light and my salvation;Whom shall I fear?The LORD is the strenght of my life;Of whom shall I be afraid?What does this passage mean to you?What does it say to you?Jake

Greetings in Jesus!I am going to breifly share my thoughts about that verse (Psalm 27:1).In this verse we can see that God's STRENGTH lessens our need for FEAR! Notice what the psalmist David said in that passage: "The LORD is the strength of my life." If the LORD is the strength of your life, and if you know that the Lord is the strength of your life. Then knowing that once it has come to be more than an intellectual acknowledgement of that truth, and to be a revelation to you.Then that will serve to lessen your need of fear!However, it's no really going to do that for you until it comes to be a revelation to you. In part, I say this because I know many Christians that are very fearful and are always worrying all the time inspite of the fact they know the Bible say this.Well, what is that?It's just well, how can I say it?I will say it this way, they may know this but only it's an intellectual acknowledgement of this truth, but it's still in their head, and has yet to have dropped down into their heart. Therefore, it has yet to be a revelation to them as of yet. But to have remained still just an intellectual acknowledgement of this truth at best.Only, after it has really come to be a revelation to us is it really going to lessen our need to be fearful.Art Katz seem to has said this also only using different words, in bringing forth this revelation of the truth of God's Word.If you have not heard this message Art Katz preached. I would strongly urge you to do so if you haven't, for I believe it will help you if you do. I know it did me, as I listened to this message he preached. It was v-e-r-y encouraging and as a Christian, if you are able to receive the things he said in talking about this psalm I believe it may help you just as it had me.Moreover, we see in the first verse of that psalm, that the Lord is our LIGHT and SALVATION.However, often I believe we may could over look it's potential to lessen our need to be fearless and to worry about things in which so many of us may be prone to do so often.The next two verse of this psalm says .....When the wicked came against me.To eat up my flesh,My enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. (v.2)Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear;Though war may rise against me,In this I will be confident. (v.3)(Psalm 27:2,3, NJK)What does this passage say to you?What is the psalmist David really trying to say in that passage?Jake

When the wicked come against me,To eat up my flesh,My emenies and foes, they stumbled and fell.Though an army come against me.My heart shall not fear;Though war may rise against me,In this I will be confident.PSALM 27:2,3 (NJK)My Thoughts ....Threats such as these can be withstood because of David's confidence gained from the next verse, verse 4:One thing I have desired of the LORD,All the days of my life,To behold the beauty [delightfulness] of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.Being godly, living holy lives is birthed out of one thing and one thing only, and that is knowing God personally, having an intimate personal relationship with God will effect permanent positive change in our lives.The more we delight in and seek time with God, the more we are going to know Him, and the more we know God, the more we will love God, and love to behold His beauty.Jake

Dear Jakethis Psalm is an encouraging one, it turns your eyes on Jesus, to expect it all from Him! (this is the 8th Psalm of distress)a band called Disciple made also a song on this PsalmDisciple - FearWhen the wicked come against me to take my life,eat my flesh, cut me down, break my bones, leave me dead. (Psalm 27:2)When the trouble’s all around me He will hide me inside, the secret place where His face, I will seek (Psalm 27:5)If You are for me who can be against me (Romans 8:31)I’ll not fear the one, not fear the one,who’d take my life, take it with his hands (Luke 12:4-5)When the enemy’s around me I won’t run,I will stand, confident, He’s with me, I’m in His Hand (Psalm 27:3)When the flood rises against me,You’re my Rock, Fortress, Deliver, Advocate, my defense (Psalm 18:2, 16-17)this note they made will writing/singing this song.This song is an anthem that God will never leave us nor forsake us. There are so many things in this life that try to bring fear to our hearts; whether they be circumstances or people actually threatening us with our lives. But God says, "Dear friends, don't be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill the body; they cannot do any more to you. But I'll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill people and throw them into hell" (Luke 12:4-5). We don't have to be afraid of anyone or anything on this earth. We can trust that God loves us (1 John 4:10) and that He is definitely for us (Romans 8:31). And if He is for us, then it doesn't even matter who is against us. For who can win against God? He truly is our Rock, Fortess, and Deliverer (Psalm 18:2)i tought, i share this with you, and i will go and listen to that sermon soon!in Him William

Hi, William.Your post is v-e-r-y encouraging!I hope you do get around to listening to this Jewish brother Art Katz's teaching and exhortations based on PSALM 27, it will help you if you do. For my part, since listening to it the first time. I have now lost count as to how many times since I have listened to it again and again repeatedly, it is very, very encouraging.Be blessed, brother!In the forth verse of this psalm we can see that the desire of David's gives us a key to understanding why he was a "man after God's own heart," and as to why he was so beloved and blessed by God.In PSALM 27:4 (NJK) David says .....One thing I have desired of the LORD,That will I seek:That I may dwell in the house of the LORD,All the days of my life,To behold the beauty [delightfulness] of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.Going now on to verses 5-14, I am not going to say all that much about these verses, but only just to note a few things here and there that I see in these verses:For in the time of troubleHe shall hide me in His pavilion;In the secret place of His tabernacleHe shall hide me;He shall set me high upon a rock.(v.5)And now my head shall be lifed [lifted up in honor] above my enemies all around me,Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy [joyous shouts] in His tabernacle;I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD. (v.6)Hear O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. (v.7)When You said, "Seek My face,"My heart said to You, "Your face,LORD, I will seek."(v.8)"Do not hide Your face from me;Do not turn Your servant away in anger;You have been my help;Do not leave me nor forsake me,O God of my salvation.(v.9)When my father and and my mother forsake me,Then the LORD will take care of me.(v.10)This was David's way of saying that God is more concerned about our welfare than even our own natural parnets -- father and mother could ever be. Here we see that God's love transcends parental love. And this is more of a "proverbial statement," and is not to be understood as if David's parnets had forsook him. Teach me Your way, O LORD,And lead me in a smooth path,because of my enemies.(v.11)Do not deliever me to the will of my adveraries;For false witnesses have risen against me,And such as breathe out violence.(v.12)I would have lost heart, unless I had believedThat I would see the goodness of the LORDIn the land of the living.(v.13)Wait [wait in faith] on the LORD;Be of good courage,And He shall strengthen your heart,Wait [wait in faith] on the LORD! (v.14)Notice that after David's praise towards God in the first half of this psalm, he turns to prayer, ending with a statement in which reveals the key to successful Christian living: WAIT [wait in faith] ON THE LORD.Have you ever recited Psalm 27 before the LORD as being your confession and prayer?We do in the final month of the Jewish year, "Elul" [September-August] for that is the time in which we prepare spiritually for the High Holy Days. Jewish tradition recomends reciting the psalms throughout Elul, ESPECIALLY PSALM 27. Art didn't mention any thing about that in this lecture or sermon he gave, but I am going to talk a little bit about that in my next post (the Lord willing).This psalm -- PSALM 27 is a exuberant declaration of faith. It is a psalm of fearless trust in God. Art Katz called it an ULTIMATE DECLARATION Of FAITH. Actually, I like the term "ultimate" in which he used better.Why don't you open your Bible and recite Psalm 27 before the LORD?Just say, "LORD, I ask that you will receive this as my confession and prayer" leading into your prayer time or prayer times if you are so inclined to do so.I can assure you it will make you feel better every time you do it, if you do as often as you do.Jake

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ!In Hebrew we say, Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah).I came to want to further share this with you, only for reasons that I felt some may would find it interesting really is the only reason for what I am now about to share with you.Being Jewish (part Jewish, any way), and in being a Christian, and in being that I do have an appreciation for Jewish tradition (especially for Jewish tradition that's biblical) and for Jewish customs and in being that I do chose to keep Jewish traditions and customs.When I first lisiened to this talk of Art Katz's on PSLAM 27, for reasons of my background. It caused me to think of what we call in Hebrew "Elul" (September-August) what is the final month of the Jewish year.For traditional Jews, "Elul" is time to prepare spiritually for the High Holy Days, and Jewish tradition recommends reciting the psalms throughout "Elul", ESPECIALLY PSALM 27.That's why hearing Art Katz talk about this particular psalm caused me to remember this or to think about that. It reminded me of it, you could say.But why this particularly psalm?Why PSALM 27?It opens with these words, "ADONAI [The LORD] is my light and salvation."A Midrash (traditional commentary) states that "my light refers to Rosh HaShanah (the traditional New Year), the Day of Judgment.Likewise, "my salvation" refers to "Yom Kippur" (the Day of Atonement), when God provides salvation through atonement for sins.Finally, PSALM 27 hints at Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles) in the words, "He will hide me in the folds of his tent [Sukkot]" (Psalm 27:5).This last reference is surprising.A "sukkah" is a temporary and even flimsy structure, yet the psalmist uses it as a synonym for God's house.A "sukkah" is a place to celebrate God's deliverance of our people (Jewish people) from Egypt, yet the psalmist calls it a place to hide from trouble.This provides a lesson for the Jewish people."Elul" is time of spiritual preparation.The most essential preparation may be learning to hide in the Lord.We need to examine ourselves, confess wrong, and make amends; however, we are not fully prepared until we seek refuge in God's mercy.This may seem like a flimsy response to our trials, but God's refuge is sure.Any way, the message is clear!Seek restoration by drawing close to the Lord and depending on His mercy!For Yeshua's (Jesus) glory,Jake

Yehuda,Thank you for that explanation brother. I am always very curious about the "implicit" Hebrew that is found in the biblical texts. I'm a firm believer in the fact that the "Jewish Roots" of the Christ-centered faith we hold is a necessary piece of the puzzle. Is there any resources you would recommend that talk about the types and shadows of Christ in the old Testament feasts/practices etc? I would like to be able to see what you have in Psalm 27 by your understanding of these things, more than merely just the words, but even perhaps prophetic statements of times and seasons.Thanks!

Thank you, Ryan for your post!Yes, there does seems to be a growing minority now within the contemporary church discovering the Jewish roots of their faith, and to be drawn to the Messianic movement to more fully explore the Hebraic foundations of biblical Christianity.However, while this is good, and can serve to be helpful. There is a need to be careful and to test things with Scripture, for theology today varies near as much in Messianic movement now as in more traditional forms of Christianity.I hope you are understanding what I am trying to say.If I say much here about all this, I fear it may would take this discussion off topic.However, if you have interest in this I would be happy to further discuss it with you privately through private messages or by email, or if you like you can take out a new folder and start a new topic of discussion, and if you will let me know where in the forum you have placed it. I will meet you there and try to answer any questions you may have and we can take this on from there if you like.If you chose to do this, please let me know.Be blessed, brother.Jake