Conquering Fear Series

BIG IDEA:

ONLY FAITH IN GOD CAN CONQUER FEAR OF MAN

INTRODUCTION:

Fear is a powerful, paralyzing force

I. (:1-2) FEAR OF MAN IS THE NATURAL REACTION TO PERSISTENT OPPRESSION

A. How does it feel to be Trampled Upon all day long?

“Be gracious, O God, for man has trampled upon me”

“My foes have trampled upon me all day long”

B. How does it feel to be Oppressed all day long?

“Fighting all day long he oppresses me”

“For they are many who fight proudly against me”

That is why we need the Grace of God!

II. (:3-4) FAITH IN GOD IS THE SPIRITUAL REACTION TO FEAR OF MAN

A. Faith in God Requires an Active Commitment

"When I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee"

B. Faith in God Produces an Attitude of Invincibility

"I shall not be afraid.

What can mere man do to me?"

That is why we need the Word of God!

Refrain: "In God whose word I praise"

III. (:5-7) PERSISTENT OPPRESSION CREATES A VERY REAL DANGER

Don’t underestimate the danger of the situation

A. The Tactics of Oppression

1. Misrepresentation

"they distort my words"

2. Malicious Schemes

"their thoughts are against me for evil"

3. Manifold Variations

a. Open Attack

b. Secret stalking.

B. The Overturning of Oppression

1. "cast them forth"

2. "put down the peoples"

That is why we need the Wrath of God!

IV. (:8-11) IF GOD IS ON OUR SIDE MAN’S ATTACKS ARE FUTILE

A. God is Totally Aware of Our Pressures and Trials

"Thou hast taken account of my wanderings"

"Put my tears in Thy bottle"

B. God Will Respond to Our Cries for Help by Frustrating Our Enemies

C. Key to Victory = God is on Our Side

"God is for me"

That is why we need the Word of God!

Refrain: "In God, whose word I praise,

In the Lord, whose word I praise"

Review (:11)

Faith in God Requires an Active Commitment

"In God I have put my trust "

Faith in God Produces an Attitude of Invincibility

"I shall not be afraid"

V. (:12-13) THANKSGIVING IS THE ONLY RESPONSE TO DELIVERANCE

A. Thanksgiving Because God Keeps His Promises

"Thy vows are . . . upon me, O God"

B. Thanksgiving Because God Has Delivered Us

"delivered my soul from death"

"Indeed, my feet from stumbling"

C. Thanksgiving Because God Allows Us to Continue to Live In His Presence

"So that I may walk before God in the light of the living"

That is why we need the Promises of God!

* * * * * * * * * *

DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:

1) Do we ever feel that people are walking all over us and trampling us down? What types of attacks are pictured here? What are some of the methods of attack that are described? How is the character of the attackers described?

2) Do we combine praise (thanksgiving) and trust in our defense against fear? Why do we fail at times and allow fear to have dominion over us? (vv.4, 10, 11)

3) Do we take comfort in the knowledge that God is taking account of all of our suffering and abuse and “wanderings” (vs. 8)? Note the two images of God’s

compassionate accounting system:

- “Put my tears in Thy bottle”

- “Are they not [written] in thy book”

God has not forgotten or abandoned us!

4) The final word on the conflict is so simple and yet so powerful: “This I know, that God is for me” (vs. 9). Why should we ever be insecure in worrying about who else is on our side?

Download the entire Psalms commentary in pdf format

(including notes on each psalm from other commentators)

from:

http://www.bibleoutlines.com