Psalm 27:1-14

Fear is one of the most paralyzing emotions that we experience.  There are many sources of fear in our lives.  Sometimes our fears are legitimate because we face a dangerous situation.  This type of fear gives us the adrenalin that we need to run faster or whatever the situation may call for us to seek protection.  However, many times our fears are not based on reality but are simply feelings of dread about potentially harmful situations that have not yet materialized.  Another common fear that displeases the Lord is the fear of man.  When we care about man’s opinions of us more than we care about God’s will for us or we live to please man instead of God; we are, in effect, worshiping man instead of God.  No matter if our fears are legitimate or sinful the Bible instructs us to respond to those fears in a way that pleases the Lord.

WE MUST TRUST IN THE LORD: David declares that the Lord is his salvation and his stronghold so that there is no reason to let his fears overtake him.  Even though David had evil men and enemies that were trying to kill him (legitimate fear) he was determined not to live in fear of them but instead he chose to trust in the Lord.  He had great confidence in the ability of the Lord to deliver him and protect him.  Rather than fear his enemies David’s deepest desire was that he might dwell in the Lord’s house and worship Him fully.  David declares war on worry through worship.  Instead of focusing on the power and might of his adversaries, David chose to focus on the hope that God promised for eternity and the help that God had promised for today.  David’s trust in the Lord enabled him to joyfully worship the Lord even in the most fearful of circumstance.  We must learn to trust the Lord instead of living in fear of men or circumstance.  He is our hope and help and we can rejoice in worshiping Him.


WE MUST WAIT UPON THE LORD: When we face danger or distress; if we trust the Lord our first response should be to call upon the Lord.  David calls out to the Lord and he seeks the Lord with all of his heart.  However, it seems that the Lord does not respond to David’s call right away or at least not in the way that David expected.  David pleads for God not to hide from him or cast him away because that is how David feels at the time.  Even though that is the way that David feels he declares that God would never do that.  He knows that his own father and mother would turn against him before God would forsake him.  The silence of God during times of fear is one of the most difficult things for us to face.  When this happens we must learn to respond as David did and call out to the Lord for wisdom and instruction.  We may not understand why the Lord would chose to delay so we must ask Him for understanding instead of accuse Him of not caring.  We must make war on worry through waiting on the Lord.  We are not very patient people by nature but God used trials in our lives to build character in our hearts so we must learn to face our fears by waiting on the Lord.

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