Suffering From Fear

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Scripture:

Psa. 27:0   Of David.
1     The LORD is my light and my salvation;
        whom shall I fear?
    The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
        of whom shall I be afraid?

Observation:

David had plenty to fear, spending much of his time either fighting or staying away from enemies. Even those who professed to be his family and friends could push him to the very brink. As a young man he learned to face his fears with God’s help. He shepherded his flocks and protected them from wild animals. The giant Goliath was no match for this young man who was filled with courage from the Lord. However, now, a bit later and more experienced he could have felt like all of life was crashing in on him. He needed to be reminded again that he did not need to fear.

This is the only place in the Old Testament where the LORD is referred to as light. For David, God is the source of life and strength. He had become a great warrior because God had fought with him and given him all of his vitality and courage. Therefore David poses the rhetorical question, “Whom shall I fear?” The point is that he recognized that everything he had came from God, therefore there is no one and nothing that is to be feared.

He again affirms his confidence in the LORD by referring to him as “the stronghold of my life.” This is a place of refuge where God is in control and protecting him from the enemy. God is the fortress and we are to be safe within his walls. Again the rhetorical question, “of whom shall I be afraid?” If the enemy cannot reach him in the place of refuge he has no need to fear.

It is the LORD alone whom David fears and he recognizes that fear of God casts out all other fear. There is no one and nothing to fear if David is faithful in following the LORD. He refuses to allow fear to win the day because of his confidence in the LORD.

Application:

Fear has a way of creeping into our lives. The enemy knows how to attack us and make us fearful about all kinds of things. David knew what that was like and this Psalm seems to be a counter attack. Fear is nothing that ought to control our lives if we our confidence is in the LORD.

Just as the LORD was David’s light, salvation and stronghold — so he provides the very same for us. The only thing we have to fear is God. A healthy respect and understanding of God’s promises and work in and through our lives means that we can trust in him wholeheartedly.

David didn’t get to experience the light of Jesus Christ. As we continue to celebrate the Christmas season may we remember that Jesus came as the light of the world providing peace and shelter for all who would follow that light. We have nothing to fear when we place our trust in him. The enemy is locked out of the fortress when we are hidden in God. The promise for David becomes even more real for us. Jesus came to destroy all fear and so we wholeheartedly put our trust in him.

Prayer:

Lord, you are our light and salvation. Thank you that we have nothing to fear.  Amen.

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