By Christine Darg

Jerusalem Channel

I saw this artwork in a shop window of Jerusalem’s Jewish Quarter of the Book of Psalms acting like an Iron Dome, absorbing incoming rockets.

To me this is a powerful illustration of the power of God’s Word.

One of the hostages who was taken captive to Gaza on October 7, and who was among some of the earliest to be released, shared that Psalm 27 had kept her sane during her ordeal amongst terrorists.

An Israel friend watched the former hostage give her testimony in Hebrew. Her name is Sapir Cohen, and one of the terrorists holding her captive said, “I hate you because you are my enemy, but I see light around you.”

Although the former hostage has a secular background, nevertheless she felt led during the Jewish holidays prior to October 7 to recite Psalm 27 on a daily basis.

Psalm 27 is a cry for help, and ultimately a declaration of belief in the greatness of God and trust in the protection God provides.

Many Jewish Sephardic communities recite this Psalm every weekday at the end of Shacharit, morning prayer. In most Ashkenazic Jewish communities, Psalm 27 is recited twice daily from the new moon of the Hebrew month of Elul through to Hoshana Rabbah of the Feast of Tabernacles.

The former hostage told a friend of mine in Jerusalem that she realizes that the leading she had to recite the psalm daily before and during the Feast of Tabernacles was indeed preparation by God on her behalf because she discovered in captivity that she had, in fact, committed the psalm to memory.

She continually recited the psalm during captivity, and her Hamas guards asked if she was praying because they told her a Presence surrounded her.

She said they even asked her to pray for them!

Below is this beautiful Psalm 27 of David, one of my favorites, and we can certainly see how appropriate are the words for anybody involved in the Hamas war against Israel!  And as war is increasing around the world, it is an appropriate psalm for all of us!

Also below is a link to a YouTube video containing some of Sapir’s testimony:

English translation (King James Version)

  1. 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?
  2. When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
  3. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
  4. 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, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
  5. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
  6. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
  7. Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
  8. When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
  9. Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
  10. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.
  11. Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
  12. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
  13. I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
  14. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

    Heavenly Father, in your mercy, set free all remaining living hostages miraculously (Isa. 49:24-26; Jer. 31:11).

Christine Darg can be contacted at her website www.JerusalemChannel.tv