John Calvin Commentary Psalms 27:5

"For in the day of trouble he will keep me secretly in his pavilion: In the covert of his tabernacle will he hide me; He will lift me up upon a rock." — Psalms 27:5 (ASV)

For he shall hide me in his tent. Here the Psalmist promises himself that his prayer would not be in vain. Although he is deprived of the visible sanctuary for a time, he does not doubt that, wherever he may be, he will experience the protecting power of God. And he alludes to the temple because it was a symbol to the faithful of the divine presence; as if he were saying that in making the request which he mentioned, he by no means lost his labor, for everyone who seeks God sincerely and with a pure heart will be safely concealed under the wings of His protection.

The figure of the temple, he therefore affirms, was not meaningless, for there God, so to speak, spread out His wings to gather true believers under His protection. From this he concludes that, since he had no greater desire than to flee for refuge under these wings, a shelter would be ready for him in times of adversity under the divine protection.

He tells us that this divine protection, under the figure of a rock, would be impregnable, like towers which, for the sake of strength, were customarily built in ancient times in lofty places.

Although he was, therefore, at this time, surrounded by enemies on every side, yet he boasts that he will overcome them. It is, indeed, a common form of speech in the Scriptures to say that those who are oppressed with grief walk with a bowed back and dejected countenance, while, on the other hand, they lift up their heads when their joy is restored.

Thus David spoke (Psalms 3:4): Thou, Lord, art the lifter up of mine head. But because besieging is here put in opposition to this, he meant to say that in that divine refuge he would be, as it were, lifted on high, so that he might fearlessly disregard the darts of his enemies, which might have otherwise pierced him.

And in hoping for victory, though he was reduced to such straits as threatened instant death, he gives us a remarkable proof of his faith; by which we are taught not to measure the aid of God by outward appearances or visible means, but even in the midst of death to hope for deliverance from His powerful and victorious hand.