If you have kept abreast of the events that have been transpiring around us as a nation, a society, and a family, you would agree then that we are afflicted with many adversities: such as terrorism, bankruptcy, betrayal, suicide, drugs, divorce, embezzlement and all sorts of violence which affected the fabric of our being as a people.
These adversities or diabolical acts have caused millions to live a life of fear within their place of residence, community, and/or place of employment. Therefore, today I will like to expound upon this very subject, “In the Grip of Fear.”
For every one of us has experienced this horrible uncontrollable feeling of fear: and in our text in the third stanza we have echoed these words verbally out load or silently to our selves several times when we encountered something inexplicable, horrible, or unknowing: “I am afraid.”
How many can testify to that openly and honestly?
For I believe many of you at this moment, watching this broadcast as well can testify that you have echoed these very words, “I am afraid.” If the truth were told, you are living at this moment in a life filled with fear. Fear of losing a love one, fear of losing your job, fear of starting that business, fear of confronting your problems, fear of standing for what you believe in, and even fear of coming to church.
Therefore, due to this feeling, which causes some to flee, others to fight, and many to become immobile and unproductive, I want us to look at what our psalmist did about his fear so that we can better overcome this grip of fear.
However, before we do let me direct your attention to the ending of the subtitle of our text. For it is extremely significant and it will gives us the actual story behind this psalm. Look with me at the bottom part of the subtitle: for it states, “when the Philistines took him [referring to David] in Gath.”
This subtitle is referring to how this psalm came about: for fear griped the soul of David when he encountered his enemies in Gath.
So, let me extend the parameters of our text to get a clearer understanding of our subject and a better picture of our character David.
First Samuel the twenty-first chapter verses ten through twelve states,
“And David arouse, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.”
Let me emphasize now and mark two statements in your mind of what I just read. Verse 10 of 1 Samuel 21 – "And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul” and verse 12 – "And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish." Now let us look at our text again in Psalm 56.
• Verse 3 – What time I am afraid …
• Verse 4 – In God, I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
• Verse 11 – In God I put my trust: I will not be afraid…"
In 1 Samuel 21, the Holy Spirit saw fit to only record the facts of David’s experiences. Psalm 56 of our text, the Spirit reveals the feelings that went with them. Those feelings were fear, uncontrolled fear, which gripped David’s soul.
As stated, we can relate as a nation, as a society, as a community, and as individuals to David here within our text: for all of us has experienced or is experiencing presently this feeling of fear. For we know what it is like to be in the vise-grip of panic like David– driven and controlled by fear.
For fear has robbed some of us of sleep. Fear has caused some of us to lie about our problems. Fear has caused some of us to remain silent when we should have spoken out about our opinions and convictions.
I’m talking about fear, you know that fear which wars against your soul and your purpose. I’m talking about that fear which ties your hand, cripples your feet, and stresses your heart.
I’m talking about the “fear” of rejection which has caused some of us to compromise. The “fear” of failure, which has caused some of us to work harder and harder – trying to be the perfect parent, the perfect spouse, the most productive employee – but the result left pain, grief, and sorrow.
I’m talking about “fear,” for it is a controller, and for a time, it was controlling David. Out of fear of Saul, David fled to Gath. Try to figure that one out! Gath was Goliath’s hometown.
Can you imagine what kind of welcome David got at Gath? Psalm 56 indicates that David was detained while there. His motives were questioned, his every move carefully watched. With good reason, David felt threatened; he felt the icy fingers of fear taking hold of his life. He had to get out – he had to escape – so he pretended to be crazy.
If you will allow me to put it like this, “fear had become David’s lord.” He was governed by fear, no longer guided by faith: and he knew it. That is why the psalm begins with a plea for mercy. David knew that he had allowed fear to cripple his walk with the Lord.
However, today I want us to look at what David did about his fear so that you can break the grip of its power in your life.
For one, David when he realized the effect it was causing him, he begun to confesses fear. Look again within our text of Psalm 56, the first two stanzas.
“Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up [meaning trample me or devour me]; he fighting daily oppresseth me. Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou Most High.”
These two stanzas are the cause of David’s fear: for fear always has a definite object. This is where fear differs from worry.
We worry about something uncertain or unknown. Such as, “Will I have enough money to pay my bills next week? However, when it comes to a particular person or persons, or even a situation, the feeling is more identified as fear than worry: why, because we are afraid when we feel threatened by a particular person or situation.
Therefore, this leads me to my second point. After David confesses fear, he identified his fear as an object or as a group.
This would include Saul and those loyal to him. This would include all the Philistines in Gath: for these people had both the power and the desire to hurt David.
What makes us afraid of certain people and things? Power and presence. For example, how many of you are afraid of pit bull dogs? How many of you are afraid of being bitten by a pit bull right now? Why? (There are no pit bull dogs in this place at this present time.)
Therefore, every fear object is something we perceive as both present and powerful. Pit bulls can bite me or tear my flesh, so I should "fear" them. But since none are present, I am not afraid at this moment. Suppose I see a baby pit bull in a cage. Would I be afraid? No, because it would be present, but not powerful. So one way to deal with fear is to remove the presence of the fear object or take away its power.
David learned from these circumstances, which surrounded his life that he couldn’t spend the rest of his life running from people. For some people will always be in a position to hurt us. A boss can fire you. A family member can reveal secrets about your past. People can laugh at you when you make mistakes. Yet, God doesn’t want us to be controlled by fear. So, what’s the solution?
Lets look at verses three and four of our text. It says,
“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise His word, in God I have put my trust: I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.”
Someone said, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of fear by faith.”
David didn’t deny his fear. He said, "What time I am afraid." There are times when we cannot help but be afraid. David determined that his fear however would be controlled; it would no longer control him: and that is exactly what you and I must do, “Put our fear under control.” David decided to stop running in fear. He decided to exercise his faith and learn to trust God to protect him.
This is the secret to conquering fear, and that is putting it under control as you put God in control of your life within that area were fear dominates and controls you.
We need to let the Lord direct our responses, not fear. When God is in control of our lives, we know that He will take care of us no matter what happens.
Why, because He promised to always be with us. He said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Secondly, He is always more powerful than anything or anyone who encounters our path or enters our life.
This doesn’t mean that we will never be hurt. It means: we can trust God to only allow those things in our life that will bring Him glory and further His will. And, that He will provide whatever we need – boldness, comfort, courage, grace, etc. – to meet our circumstances.
If you are experiencing fear today like David, fear that your spouse is divorcing you, fear that you job is letting you go, fear that your children will never come home, confront it with the promises of God today.
For David confronted his fear with the promises God had made. So therefore, if you want to be loose from the grip of fear you must believe that God will keep His Word. You must learn to look at your insecurities through the lens of divine certainty.
For David’s enemies were powerful, but they could not prevail over the promises of God: and what ever you are facing, it to is unable to prevail over the promises of God.
What are the promises of God concerning fear?
Deuteronomy 31:8 exclaims, “And the Lord, He it is that doth go before thee {on that job, with those children, starting that business, with that spouse}; He will be with thee {and with them}, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”
Or how about Proverbs 18:10, for it declares, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower for thee: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”
Or even Proverbs 29:25, for it says, “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso puts his trust in the Lord shall be safe.”
To conquer the grip of fear, you must keep these promises deep within the recesses of your mind and spirit, and remember God is the source of your security as David did.
For the opposite of fear is to feel secure. Although David’s enemies were still present and powerful, David was no longer afraid. When he began to walk by faith, putting God in control of his life, the result was a feeling of security. He confidently declared that he would walk before God in the light of the living.
You and I can enjoy the same sense of security when we yield our lives to God.
Wherever we may be – alone at home, walking across a dark parking lot, at work or in school. Whoever may be breathing down our necks, threatening us with their power. Whatever we may be facing. Too often, we let fear keep us from serving the Lord, using our talents, or stepping out into a new area of ministry. Fear of failure. Fear of rejection. Fear of people and what they think. When that happens, we are making fear the lord of our lives.
Satan wants you to picture your fears as bigger than life – bigger even than God. It’s time that we listened to the One who again and again said, "Fear not," and turn our lives over to Him.
Now if we look at verses five through seven in our text we will see how David considers his circumstances or outward trials. For it reads as such,
“Every day they wrest or twist my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil. They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul. Shall they escape by iniquity? In thine anger cast the people, O God.
In the grip of fear, David’s imagination became a fertile ground for the seeds of panic.
David believed that EVERY DAY his words were being picked apart for the slightest hint of treachery. He believed that ALL the Philistines thought about was how to destroy him. He saw a Philistine spying from every shadow and listening at every doorknob.
Satan uses fear to magnify the menace of our circumstances, our inner turmoil to rob us of our peace, strip us of our joy, to wear us out, and to make us physically and emotionally spent.
Therefore, you must have an intimate relationship with the Lord. Why, because perfect love {which is Jesus Christ}, cast, conquers, and or overcomes, fear.
