The psalm of David before he was anointed. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life: of whom shall I be afraid?
לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ יְהוָ֤ה ׀ אוֹרִ֣י וְ֭יִשְׁעִי מִמִּ֣י אִירָ֑א יְהוָ֥ה מָֽעוֹז־חַ֝יַּ֗י מִמִּ֥י אֶפְחָֽד׃
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A young follower of Christ shares his journey to faith. The Lord is my light and my deliverance: whom shall I dread? (Psalm 26:1). The Lord will bestow upon me the understanding of His nature and my salvation: who could possibly separate me from Him? The Lord is the guardian of my existence: whom shall I dread? The Lord will thwart every assault and trap set by my adversary: I will not fear any person.
Eunomius states that He illuminates souls with the brightness of understanding. This divine blessing through the instruction of holiness is ascribed to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, for David refers to the Lord as the source of enlightenment, and from Him comes the illumination of knowledge for those who have been enlightened (Hos. 10:12).
A Psalm attributed to David prior to his anointing. This Psalm serves as a prophetic warning regarding the doom of his adversaries, a truth that is evident since David had received divine insight, along with a declaration of faith accompanied by a plea for additional blessings. The phrase "before the anointing" indicates that David, inspired by the Holy Spirit and aware of his forthcoming anointing as King, would face trials and temptations. He prepared himself with courage and fortified his spirit to face these threats. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? Relying on the illumination of the Lord, he triumphs over opposing forces, proclaiming, "I am illuminated by You; I scorn all who stand against me."
A Psalm attributed to David prior to his anointing. Although this title is not found in the existing manuscripts, it appears in certain listings. Some have used this discrepancy to argue against the validity of all titles. They question how David could have composed prophetic psalms when he had yet to be anointed, lacked the grace of the Holy Spirit, was still in his youth tending sheep, was not governing a kingdom, and had not experienced persecution. However, it is important to recognize that the historical account shows David was anointed multiple times: first in Bethlehem by the prophet Samuel, then in Hebron by the tribe of Judah following Saul's death, and lastly by all the tribes after Mephibosheth's demise.
David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord replied, “Go up.” David then asked, “To which city shall I go?” And He said, “To Hebron” (2 Sam. 2:1). The historian records that after David's ascent, “the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David to reign over the house of Judah” (2 Sam. 2:4). Concerning the third anointing, it is mentioned, “Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron” (2 Sam. 5:1), and shortly thereafter, “King David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord, and anointed David king over all Israel” (2 Sam. 5:3). This reveals that the psalm was indeed composed before David's second ascension to the throne, during a time of his persecution by Saul. At that point, he sought refuge with Abimelech the priest, prayed in the tabernacle, and received the sacred loaves, thereby escaping his adversaries. This experience is reflected in the psalm: “You shall hide me in your shelter in the day of trouble” (Psalms 26:5). It was also during this time that Doeg the Edomite, who was present with King Saul, informed him of David’s flight; thus the Prophet states, “false witnesses have risen against me” (Psalms 26:12). This serves to clarify the matter further. “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?” Enlightened by You, declares the Prophet, and illuminated by Your divine light, I disregard all my adversaries combined.
Psalm of David Before His Anointing
David was anointed three times throughout his life. The first anointing took place in Bethlehem by Samuel, as detailed in 1 Samuel 16:1. The second occurred in Hebron from the tribe of Judah following Saul's death, as noted in 2 Samuel. The third anointing transpired when all the tribes came together after the death of Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, the grandson of Saul, as recorded in 2 Samuel 5. According to Theodoret, this psalm was written by David prior to his second anointing while he was still afflicted by Saul’s persecution. This psalm resonates with each of us during times of strife from both visible and invisible foes, though its application requires careful consideration and reflection.
It is important to point out that, as per Theodoret, this particular title is absent from Origen's six-column biblical analysis; nevertheless, its authenticity remains unquestioned. “Lord, my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?” For You, O Lord, are my illumination. You have removed the shadows of despair from my sight, filling them with the radiance of Your divine presence. You are my Savior, having liberated me from the charges brought against me by my adversaries. Instead of fearing anyone, I shall hold no fear with You as my Redeemer. The Lord stands as the protector of my life; whom then shall I dread? Indeed, since You, Lord, are my safeguard and support, who would I fear? Surely, no one. This assurance is reinforced in Psalm 17:3, "My advocate and the horn of my salvation."
On this, Origen remarks that wisdom and enlightenment yield such thoughts. The one who declared, “Who shall separate me from the love of Christ?” understood that if Christ stands with us, our adversaries hold no power. The one who speaks with this profound love will not be overwhelmed by fear, for as stated by the Lord, the fearful shall find their fate in the lake of fire.
Christians are shielded from demonic influences, and even if these spirits are antagonistic, they cannot bring harm to those under God’s protection. God and His angels, who are favorable towards the faithful due to their devotion, have been assigned to safeguard the righteous, ensuring they remain untouched by the forces of evil. Therefore, the individual who enjoys God’s favor, who has received the message of divine wisdom (Jer 32:19) through our Lord Jesus Christ, can confidently proclaim that he will remain unharmed by the legions of demons.
Two Anointings The background of this title is further explored in the book of Kings, specifically when Saul transgressed against God, prompting the prophet Samuel to anoint David as king in the presence of his father. However, this title does not refer to that initial anointing, but rather alludes to the second anointing: when, following Saul's persecution, the people's call brought David to the throne. This psalm was undoubtedly penned by David as a testament to this occasion. If one were to maintain that this refers to the first anointing, it would suggest that no other psalm could have been written prior to this one. Therefore, it is more fitting to conclude that this refers to the second anointing.
Two anxieties arise: "Whom shall I fear?" conveys the message that I shall not be afraid of any person. The reverence for the Lord renders it unfeasible to fear anyone else.
A Psalm of David, written prior to his anointing. This title indicates that David penned this psalm before he rose to the throne, during the time of Saul's persecution. Although he was anointed by Samuel’s oil in his youth, that anointing was private and a matter of appointment rather than a formal declaration of kingship. His official anointing as king occurred much later, after Saul's defeat in battle, as noted in 2 Samuel 2:4. This latter anointing is what the title of this psalm refers to.
In this psalm, David first petitions God to restore him to his homeland, so he may continually partake in acts of worship, both inwardly and outwardly (vv. 4 and 6). Secondly, he implores for divine protection and preservation from all affliction (vv. 7 and 12). Ultimately, he expresses his expectation that with such a divine protector as God, he not only anticipates earthly blessings but also eternal joy in heaven, encouraging others to share in this hopeful vision (vv. 13 and 14).
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Adversity brings darkness, while prosperity brings illumination. Tribulation can unsettle and confuse the soul, obscuring clarity of action, leading either to impatience or other sins. Yet when the Lord dispels the darkness with heavenly light, the soul perceives that the sorrow, which instilled fear in the night, is but a shadow. Under God's guardianship, not only does this fear hold no power, but it also yields remarkable blessings. Acknowledging this grace, David sings, The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? This can be understood as: ignorance and frailty have made me anxious during trials; however, when the Lord illuminated my understanding and revealed that temporary hardships are neither perpetual nor severe, and when He restored my health with the balm of His grace, I ceased to fear anyone. The Lord is the fortress of my life; whom shall I dread? He bolsters his assurance by affirming that no fear should overtake him. For the Lord, he states, not only provides illumination and healing but also does not abandon those He enlightens and heals, continually enveloping them with the shield of His divine provision and goodwill. Of whom shall I be afraid? If God is for us, who can stand against us (Rom. 8:31)? And if a king, safeguarded by an army of mortal soldiers, is unafraid, can the servant of the Almighty shielded by the eternal Lord’s protection be afraid?
This psalm likely dates back to the period of Saul's persecution and can be seen as consisting of two segments. In the first part (vv. 1-6), the psalmist soars to the heavens through faith, observing calamities and threats below, and finds them laughable. The adversities crafted by his deceitful foes (v. 12) manifest as deep shadows; yet, the Lord shines upon him as a beacon and guide (Micah 7:8), serving as both his Savior and Protector. Consequently, the psalmist refuses to succumb to fear, regardless of the greater perils that may arise (vv. 2-3). There is no mention of anointing in the Hebrew text. Testimonies from Didymus and Theodoret indicate that this heading was absent from Origen's Exaplae.
Nonetheless, this heading is of ancient origin, suggesting that the authorship of this psalm has been associated with Saul's persecution prior to David's second anointing. Based on v. 5, some scholars have linked the context to 1 Samuel 21 and following, while others refer to 26:12 and beyond.
This Psalm, attributed to David prior to his anointing as king in Hebron (2 Sam. 5:3), reflects the many tribulations he faced and is divinely revealed for the illumination of our understanding. It unveils the mystery of Christ the Lord's anointing by the Holy Spirit, which establishes His eternal reign (Is. 61:1). This understanding is gained through the pure Passion of Christ. Additionally, it unveils the mystery of grace in the anointing that empowers believers, who, enlightened by holy baptism, are infused into their inheritance of the Heavenly Kingdom. This is achieved through enduring trials, as it is written, "It is fitting to enter the Kingdom of God through many tribulations" (1 Pet. 2:24; Acts 14:22).
Jesus Christ, the true Light, enlightens every person coming into the world, dispelling the darkness of original sin through the sacrament of baptism, and guiding them towards the pathway of salvation. Just as man cannot bestow life upon another, so he cannot sustain it through his own means; it is God who grants life, and this divine gift acts as a defense for us. God entrusted the Life-Giving Cross to the Lord’s care, which causes demons to tremble, and He has given us the holy name of Jesus, through which the faithful find salvation.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS