What’s In A Word?

Helen Francis

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion
Psalm 27:5 (KJV)

Most of us will have a favourite scripture, a reading that really speaks to us.

For me it's Psalm 27 because so much of it echoes my own walk with God. These are some of the verses that speak to me, especially in the King James translation:

Verse 8 reminds me of my first call: "when thou saidst Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek."

Verse 10 reminds me of how He comforted me at boarding school: "When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up."

Verse 4 echoes my heartfelt desire: "One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life"

And Verse 5 assures me that He is my rescuer and protector: "For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion"

I love the King James version because of this word 'pavilion', it says so much about what the translators where trying to convey. The origin of the word is from the French 'papillon' which means 'butterfly'.

It was used because the first-aid tents on battlefields often were open-sided and looked like butterfly wings. Today it might refer to the hut on a cricket pitch, where tired players retire for refreshments and to change; or perhaps the bandstand in a park, a shelter for musicians from the vagaries of the weather.

And there, in that one word, I get a sense of the Lord camouflaging me with beautiful wings, taking me out of the battle and tending to my wounds, giving me refreshment and space to rest and change, and delighting me with music.

The verse goes on to refer to this place of shelter as a tabernacle, a sacred place, where we are set upon a rock. So, no matter what the week throws at us, we know that Jesus (the rock) will rescue us and we are lifted up as we stand on Him.

Verse 6 echoes our response to this wonderful rescue : joy and singing. Rejoice!

Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
Psalm 27:6 (KJV)