‘YHWH is my light and my salvation,
Whom shall I fear?
YHWH is the strength of my life,
Of whom shall I be afraid?
The Psalm opens with a declaration of the Psalmists confidence in God, and his recognition of His attributes. He has taken his mind off his own troubles as he considers the wonder of God's love and faithfulness. Note the tripod on which his life is built, God is his light, God is his salvation, God is the strength of his life.
‘YHWH is my light.' The Psalmist may have had in mind here the seven-branched lampstand in the Tabernacle/Temple which continually burned (see Psalms 27:4), and which pictured the glory of YHWH that Israel believed was hidden behind the veil. It was a perpetual reminder of the glory of God which was revealed in the pillar of fire that had led His people out of Egypt, and of the further glory of YHWH which had been revealed on Mount Sinai. Compare here Psalms 78:14, ‘In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.' Thus he saw himself as being led forward by the glory of YHWH. This idea of glory ties in with Isaiah 60:1, ‘arise, shine, for your light is come, and the glory of YHWH is risen upon you.'
Furthermore it was from His light that His people obtained guidance, assurance and truth. ‘The entrance of Your words gives light, it gives understanding to the simple' (Psalms 119:130). ‘Your word is a lamp to my way, and a light to my path' (Psalms 119:105). ‘He lightens the lampstand of His people and lightens their darkness' (Psalms 18:28). ‘They look to Him and are lightened, and their faces are thus not ashamed' (Psalms 34:5). ‘For with you is the fountain of life, in your light shall we see light' (Psalms 36:9). ‘Oh send out your light and your truth, let them lead me' (Psalms 43:3).
He is also elsewhere compared by David with the glorious light of the noonday sun. ‘He will be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, a morning without clouds' (2 Samuel 23:4). But to him YHWH outshines the sun, and His light reflects on His people, making them righteous too. ‘He will make your righteousness go forth as the light, and your just dealings as the noonday' (Psalms 37:6). That is why Jesus could say, ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father Who is in Heaven' (Matthew 5:16).
And we need not doubt that it includes the thought of the light of YHWH's favour. The Psalmists regularly speak of ‘the light of His countenance' as shining on His people (Psalms 4:6; Psalms 44:3; Psalms 89:15; Psalms 90:8; compare Proverbs 16:15).
For us the light shines even more clearly. Not the dim light of the Tabernacle lampstand, but the glorious light of Him Who is ‘the light of the world' Who gives the light of life to His own (John 8:12; John 12:35-36; John 12:46; John 1:4; John 1:9). ‘The Word was made flesh and dwelt among and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth' (John 1:14) ‘I am come a light into the world, so that whoever believes in me may not continue on in darkness' (John 12:46), ‘but will have the light of life' (John 8:12).
‘YHWH is my salvation.' What picture could be more comprehensive? He is the God of the deliverance from Egypt at the Red Sea (Psalms 15:2). He saves him by forgiving his sins (Psalms 25:7; Psalms 25:11). He saves him by delivering him from his enemies (Psalms 27:2). He saves him by bringing him through everything that he has to face triumphantly. This indeed is what the name of Jesus means, ‘YHWH is salvation', because He saves His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).
‘Whom shall I fear?' And with such certainty who can be afraid? If my life is hid with Christ in God I need fear nothing but sin, for although sometimes the future may seem dark, He will make all right in the end. None can stand against Him.
‘YHWH is the strength of my life.' This underlines the significance of God's light and salvation. The certainty of God's presence with him provides him with an inner strength that nothing can resist. The ‘stronger than he' is here and Satan and all his enemies will be vanquished (compare Luke 11:22). David was well acquainted with Satan (1 Chronicles 21:1). Furthermore YHWH is like a fortress round about him protecting him from all assaults of the enemy (Psalms 18:2; Psalms 31:2-3).
‘Of whom shall I be afraid?' He knows that having YHWH with him he need fear nothing and no one.