Freedom From Fear

Freedom from Fear

Psalm 34

Introduction

This morning I want to take some time and look at some verses from Psalm 34.

David wrote this Psalm when he was running away from King Saul, who was trying to kill him.

You remember David, right? He was the one who killed Goliath with the stone and slingshot, and a few years later became king of Israel.

Well, for a while, King Saul was trying to get rid of David, and he chased David all over the country. And in one case, David went to another country to hide, and he pretended to be insane for their king, so he wouldn’t hurt David.

This psalm was written just after that.

Yet even when David was in very real danger of losing his life, he was able to look to God for comfort.

My purpose this morning is to show you that even when things look their worst, God can still give you peace and freedom from fear.

Please follow along as I read this Psalm. It can be found on page 396 of the Bibles in the seats.

I will extol the LORD at all times;

his praise will always be on my lips.

2 My soul will boast in the LORD;

let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

3 Glorify the LORD with me;

let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

5 Those who look to him are radiant;

their faces are never covered with shame.

6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;

blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

9 Fear the LORD, you his saints,

for those who fear him lack nothing.

10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,

but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

11 Come, my children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,

13 keep your tongue from evil

and your lips from speaking lies.

14 Turn from evil and do good;

seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry;

16 the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.

18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;

20 he protects all his bones,

not one of them will be broken.

21 Evil will slay the wicked;

the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

22 The LORD redeems his servants;

no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.

Three things I want to point out. The first is…

I. Peace is from God.

Look again at verse 4: I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

Remember, David is running for his life here, and yet he can say that God gives him freedom from fear – God gives him peace.

How can he say that?

Because the peace of God doesn’t depend on our circumstances, or what is going in the world. The peace of God only depends on God and He’s bigger than the dirt dished out by the world, isn’t He?

Listen to the words of Jesus just before He was arrested:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

There are times when I need the peace of God, because the world has no peace to offer.

You don’t have to look very hard to see that, do you? Just tomorrow our government will be executing Timothy McVeigh for killing 168 innocent people.

It used to be that terrorist activity was something that only took place in the Middle East, but not so anymore. It even affects us here in the United States.

In other parts of the world, elections are taking place that are causing rioting and other unrest.

If you live in Israel, be prepared to dodge bullets and car bombs.

Later in the message I will tell you just how you can get the peace of God in your life, okay?

II.