Nothing To Fear

King David, who wrote this Psalm 27, probably knew more about FEAR than many of us. For the earlier part of his life, he was often on the run for his life. One attack came after another. Initially hiding from King Saul, who wanted him dead. Later on, his life was threatened by his own son Absalom. And yet through it all, he learnt to overcome his fears by placing his trust in God.

We fear all kinds of things, in differing degrees:

· Fear of the unknown· Fear of death · Fear of failure· Fear of being rejected · Fear of sickness· Fear of being attacked

These fears may not be all real, yet we suffer under it. Sometimes for a long time. We lost confidence and strength to live on, just like Elijah when he was running for his life.

We can learn from King David today... read Psalm 27 and find the encouragement to stand strong in crisis.

David began with a declaration - that’s the source of his confidence. WHO can really help us? WHO are we trusting in times of a crisis? Our faith is as good as the object of your faith... If our source is shaky, then how can we fully trust they can help us?

But David declared, (Psalm 27:1)

1The 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?

Both line ends with a similar question - and an obvious answer. No one!

Notice the way David expressed it - he did not say God will give me light, God will save me, will give me strength. Instead God Himself is my light, He is my salvation, He is the stronghold of my life. His focus was not on WHAT God will do... but WHO He is.

WHAT God can do, HOW He is going to do it, WHEN is He going to do it... all these are not as important to him because he knows WHO God is. David knew God personally. He knows the character of God - One who loves him, who is always faithful and true. That’s why he can fully trust Him.

Which explains why David said in verse 4:

4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: 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 seek Him in His temple.

· We see his desire - just ONE THING - that which he longs for...

· What is that - spend time with Him. To dwell in His house and fellowship with Him.

· There is this picture of conversation with God, this "get together" time with the Lord.

This is all that is important - WHO do I really know?

Sometimes in the business world, people say success depends on WHO you know...

In LIFE too, it depends on WHO you know. David KNOWS God - He commune with Him daily and therefore he is able to say, "Whom shall I fear? Whom shall I be afraid?"

Psalm 27:5 "For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock."

Notice the repeated reference to God’s dwelling place -

· dwell in the house of the Lord

· seek Him in His temple

· safe in His dwelling

· in the shelter of His tabernacle

These are expressions of being in the place of contact with the Lord. And because of this close fellowship, David experienced God’s help...

· He will keep me safe...

· He will hide me in the shelter...

· He will set me high upon a rock...

"...If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom 8:31)

Do we spend time with God daily? Do we know Him? The closer we are to Him, the less we fear what life can bring against us.

Not only can we overcome harsh circumstances, even when we are under overt attacks, like David, we can stand strong.

Psalm 27:2-3 2When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. 3Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.

Sad realities but he wasn’t affected. These things were not imaginary - for David, they were real - He was under attack. And it was intense - "devour my flesh"; "besiege me"; "war break out against me."

Yet "in spite of this I will be confident", David said. Hebrew literally says, "I am confident!"