to see the goodness of the LORD
The "goodness of the LORD" refers to God's benevolent character and His acts of kindness and mercy. In the Old Testament, God's goodness is often associated with His covenant faithfulness and His desire to bless His people. This phrase echoes the sentiment found in other scriptures, such as Exodus 33:19, where God declares His goodness to Moses. The psalmist anticipates experiencing God's tangible blessings and favor, which are manifestations of His goodness.

in the land of the living.
This phrase indicates a hope for experiencing God's goodness during one's earthly life, not just in the afterlife. The "land of the living" contrasts with Sheol, the realm of the dead, emphasizing a present and active life. It suggests a belief in God's intervention and blessings in the here and now. This expectation aligns with the broader biblical narrative, where God's promises often include both spiritual and material well-being for His people. The phrase also connects to the hope of resurrection and eternal life, as seen in passages like Isaiah 26:19 and Daniel 12:2, where the faithful anticipate a future restoration and life beyond death.

David begins with a word that sounds small but carries the weight of stubborn hope. “Still” means “even after everything I’ve just said about enemies and threats, my heart refuses to give up.”

• Lamentations 3:21–23 reminds us of the same pivot: “Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s loving devotion we are not consumed…”

• Habakkuk 3:17-18 echoes it: “Though…the olive crop fails…yet I will exult in the LORD.”

When circumstances shout “quit,” “still” whispers, “God has the final word.”

This line is not wishful thinking; it is settled conviction. Faith grips truth until assurance settles in the soul.

• Psalm 56:3-4 shows the pattern: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You…in God I trust; I will not be afraid.”

• Hebrews 11:1 calls faith “the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.”

• Philippians 1:6 adds, “I am confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.”

Confidence is not self-generated; it rests on God’s unchanging character.

David expects more than inner peace—he expects visible evidence.

• John 11:40 records Jesus saying, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

• Psalm 34:8 invites, “Taste and see that the LORD is good.”

Faith looks forward to concrete demonstrations, not mere abstractions.

“Goodness” sums up God’s benevolent, covenant love. David’s hope is fixed on Who God is, not on how the situation looks.

• Exodus 33:19: “I will cause all My goodness to pass before you.”

• Nahum 1:7: “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress.”

• Romans 8:28 ties every detail to that goodness: “God works all things together for the good of those who love Him.”

Goodness here is active, pursuing, rescuing, restoring (Psalm 23:6).

David is not postponing hope to heaven alone; he anticipates God’s intervention now, inside history.

• Psalm 116:8-9 says, “You have delivered my soul from death…that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.”

• Job, in the midst of pain, declares a similar expectation: “I know that my Redeemer lives, and…in my flesh I will see God” (Job 19:25-26).

This phrase keeps us from shrinking our faith to “someday, somewhere.” God’s goodness breaks into ordinary days, families, and battles.

Psalm 27:13 is David’s defiant, clear-eyed confession: even when life is dark, he refuses to surrender hope. He chooses to bank on God’s proven character (“goodness”), expects to witness tangible deliverance (“to see”), rests in unwavering confidence (“I am certain”), and believes it will happen in real time and real places (“in the land of the living”). That same certainty sustains believers today, inviting us to look beyond immediate threats and latch onto the unbreakable promise that God will show Himself good right where we live.