Go! And Fear No More Psalm 118:5-6 Series

Go! And Fear No More Psalm 118:5-6

Introduction

Today, we continue our series of "Go! And..." sermons by exploring the courage and confidence we have when God is with us. Our anchor text is Psalm 118:5-6, which challenges us to live boldly and fearlessly as we go forward in faith. Let us read these verses together from the New Living Translation:

Psalm 118:5-6: "In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?"

These verses are a powerful reminder that when God calls us to "Go!", He equips us with His presence and peace.

This morning, we’ll explore three truths that empower us to obey God’s command to "Go!":

Go! And Pray in Distress.

Go! And Walk in Freedom.

Go! And Live Without Fear.

Let us unpack these truths together.

1. Go! And Pray in Distress

Psalm 118:5: "In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free."

The psalmist begins with a heartfelt declaration of what happens in times of distress. The Hebrew word for "distress" here, metsar, literally means "a narrow or confined space," symbolising pressure and hardship. It is often in these moments of pressure that God calls us to "Go!" and seek Him through prayer.

The psalmist’s response was to pray. Prayer is not a last resort but the first line of obedience. In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul reinforces this call:

Philippians 4:6-7: "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

In both Psalm 118 and Philippians 4, prayer is presented as the gateway to God’s intervention. The psalmist experienced deliverance because he called on the Lord. The verb "prayed" (qara) suggests a cry for help, a desperate plea. This reminds us that God hears us when we cry out to Him in faith and obedience.

When you face challenges, how quickly do you turn to prayer? God is calling us to "Go! And pray in every circumstance." Let’s cultivate the habit of immediate prayer, trusting that God hears us. Charles Spurgeon once said, "Prayer moves the arm that moves the world." Let your cries of distress lead you to the One who can truly deliver.

Imagine a child lost in a crowded marketplace. What does the child do? They call out for their parent. That’s the kind of instinctive trust we should have—crying out to our Heavenly Father, knowing He will respond.

2. Go! And Walk in Freedom

Psalm 118:5: "...and the Lord answered me and set me free."

When God answers prayer, it is not passive; it is transformative. The phrase "set me free" comes from the Hebrew merchav, meaning "a broad or spacious place." God’s call to "Go!" is often accompanied by His deliverance, taking us from places of confinement to spaces of freedom.

Consider Psalm 34:4: "I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears."

In both passages, the theme of deliverance is tied to God’s active intervention. Merchav signifies liberation from constraint—an image of God removing the barriers that hold us captive. Whether it’s fear, sin, or circumstances, God’s deliverance is complete and purposeful.

God is calling you to "Go! And walk in the freedom He provides." Reflect on the areas in your life where you need God’s intervention and trust Him to move. Freedom in Christ enables us to move forward in His purposes.

Pastor Tim Keller once said, "God will only give you what you would have asked for if you knew everything he knows." Trust in His wisdom and timing.

Think of a bird released from a cage. At first, it hesitates, but once it spreads its wings, it soars. That’s the freedom God offers when He answers our prayers and calls us to go forward.

3. Go! And Live Without Fear

Psalm 118:6: "The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?"

This verse reminds us of the profound security we have in God. When He calls us to "Go!", we can do so boldly because of His presence. The phrase "The Lord is for me" conveys a deep assurance of God’s personal commitment to His people. The apostle Paul echoes this in Romans 8:31:

Romans 8:31: "What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?"

The psalmist’s confidence is rooted in God’s sovereignty. The rhetorical question, "What can mere people do to me?" underscores the futility of human opposition when God is on our side. The Hebrew word for "fear" (yare) here implies terror or dread—the kind of fear that paralyses. But in God’s presence, fear is replaced by boldness.