No need for fear, wait for the lord

February 6, 2009

No need for fear, wait for the lord

Psalm 27

Ian Daniels

Central Truth

We can all be prisoners of fear, but through the light of the Lord we can conquer it.

The Lord delivers and vindicates me! I fear no one! The Lord protects my life! I am afraid of no one! (Psalm 27:1)

The LORD Is My Light and My Salvation

Of David.

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold^{1

27:1
Or refuge} of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.

3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet^{2

27:3
Or in this} I will be confident.

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^{3

27:4
Or meditate} in his temple.

5 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.

6 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.

7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud;
    be gracious to me and answer me!
8 You have said, “Seek^{4

27:8
The command (seek) is addressed to more than one person} my face.”
My heart says to you,
    “Your face, LORD, do I seek.”^{5

27:8
The meaning of the Hebrew verse is uncertain}
9     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!
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
    but the LORD will take me in.

11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
    and lead me on a level path
    because of my enemies.
12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
    for false witnesses have risen against me,
    and they breathe out violence.

13 I believe that I shall look^{6

27:13
Other Hebrew manuscripts Oh! Had I not believed that I would look} upon the goodness of the LORD
    in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the LORD;
    be strong, and let your heart take courage;
    wait for the LORD!

Footnotes

[1] 27:1 Or refuge
[2] 27:3 Or in this
[3] 27:4 Or meditate
[4] 27:8 The command (seek) is addressed to more than one person
[5] 27:8 The meaning of the Hebrew verse is uncertain
[6] 27:13 Other Hebrew manuscripts Oh! Had I not believed that I would look

I'm sure you can think about a moment in your life when you have had a sense of fear: a feeling at the bottom of your stomach that made you feel sick. Throughout this psalm, David writes about different times we may feel alone. This could be a breakup, an addiction, or an illness. David encourages us to pray and wait for the Lord. It is important not to become discouraged if something you are praying for is not happening. The Lord is always looking out for you.

I've had to pray a lot for courage and peace and especially while I waited for my permanent residency visa. I had to move back to England, leaving my wife in Texas. I was afraid of my application being turned down, and I was afraid for my wife's safety. The devil was putting these fears in me, but through praying and continually turning to God, I was given peace. It took the better part of two years to finally receive a visa that allowed me to live and work in Dallas and be with my wife. There were plenty of times when I thought, "Why can't I be with her now?" God had blessed me with a wife, but I could not live with her. While I was in England, though, I was given opportunities to share my relationship with the Lord with my family, and I think that was one reason why I had to be apart from my wife.

As we begin the next phase of our lives, the future is still unknown. Buying a house and starting a family are things we need to pray about and wait for the Lord to guide us. But we are not living in fear.

Even through our hardest times, our purpose in life is to live in relationship with Jesus Christ and to glorify God. There will be times when it may seem like there is an easier way to escape the fear, but it will still be there. Only through Jesus can we truly be free.

1. What are you fearful of right now?

2. When were times you didn't trust in the Lord?

3. How are you leaning on the Lord during times of fear?