Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 27

Fear or Faith?

What do you fear? All of us have things in our life that the mere mention of, strikes fear into our hearts. Some fear that an act of violence will be perpetrated upon them. And certainly, we live in a world filled with violence and crime. Others fear illness. Just last night on the news was the story of how ticks can cause serious illnesses in us. I spend a lot of time outside. I like to hike and I like to fish, so quite often this requires me to walk in places where ticks are prevalent. Watching the news, I was tempted to let fear enter in and curtail my hobbies. Sometimes fear is a good thing for it helps remind us not to do certain things that might hurt us. But fear can also cripple us. It can stop us from enjoying the wonderful life God has blessed us with. Probably it is fear that keeps us from sharing the Gospel more than any other thing. David spoke about fear in Psalm 27, asking two questions.

Psalm 27:1

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?

Whom shall I fear? Of whom shall I be afraid?

David asked these questions while he was clearly in the middle of legitimate threats on his life.

Psalm 27:2-3
When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.  Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.

In the midst of an imminent attack, David refuses to fear. Why? How?

The answer is found back in verse 1. The LORD is his light and his salvation. The LORD is the stronghold of his life. He is confident in his Lord. He knows who to trust. So, he puts his priorities in order. He prays and asks one thing of God.

Psalm 27:4
One thing have I asked 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 gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.

This is an example of Matthew 6:33 put into real life. "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

David refused to fear and instead sought God, even in the most precarious of situations. He knew that if he sought first the Kingdom, God would handle the rest.

Psalm 27:5-6
For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.  And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

These same promises are ours, if we seek God and trust in Him.

Notice that David faced rejection, even from those who were his family.

Psalm 27:9-12

Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation!  For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in.  Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.  Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence.

When you feel forsaken, when lies are spoken about you, even when violence is a real threat, pray as David did. Cry out to your God.

But then stand against it all in faith and wait on God to handle it.

Psalm 27:13-14
I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!  Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

As Christians, we have a wonderful future ahead of us. We must believe that we shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. We must be strong. We must take courage. But we must wait on God.

Do you trust God? As Christians, we say we trust in Christ for our salvation. We say we believe He died on the cross to save us from our sins. We say we believe He rose from the dead, so we can also rise with Him. We believe this by faith. Then we must also live this life by faith.

The very opposite of fear is faith. Which one will you live in?