No Fear – Psalms 27
Who do you fear? What do you fear? We all probably fear something and it seems to me, after scanning over the worst fears that humans have is that many of them boil down to the fear of death. Fear of heights, fear of enclosed places, fear of snakes or spiders, fear of flying – it all has to do with fear of death.
The message of David from Psalm 27, in the words of Walter Brueggeman in his Theology of the Psalms is: “Confidence wins out over trouble” (152). The thoughts and sentiments of this psalm are very similar to that of Psalm 23.
Take a look at Psalm 27 and consider this outline…
DAVID’S FUNDAMENTAL FAITH – vs 1:
Verse 1 – No one or nothing terrifies David because God is his “light”, his “salvation” and the “defense of his life.” David could run to Goliath because he did not see himself in Goliath’s shadow. He saw Goliath in the shadow of God, his Light.
NO FEAR BEFORE ENEMIES – vss 2-3:
Remember the fight between Israel and the Philistines in which David defeated Goliath – 1 Samuel 17. David knew he could kill the lion and the bear, not because of his own strength, but because of God’s strength. Weiser writes (247): “What makes him so confident is the power of a valiant faith which conquers every emotion.”
WHAT IS HIS CONFIDENCE? TO BE IN GOD’S PRESENCE – vss 4-6:
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“The secret of David’s public confidence was his private obedience. …He came away from his times of worship feeling the rock under his feet and seeing above and beyond the enemy to the victory God had prepared” (Wiersbe, 108).
TO HAVE CONFIDENCE, DAVID WOULD SAY – “WORSHIP” – vss 7-10:
There are eight commands directed toward God in verses 7, 9, 11-12.
Verse 7 – “Hear”; “Be gracious,” and “Answer me”; Verse 9 – “Do not hide your face”; “Do not turn your servant away.” Why does he feel this way? Because, he tells God, “You have been my help.”
Verse 10 – Even if parents forsake you, God will accept you. “There is beauty and considerable emotional power in the announcement that God’s love transcends the intimacy of parental care (cf. Ps. 103:13; Isa. 49:15)” (Ash & Miller, 107).
FINALLY, HIS BEHAVIOR WILL REFLECT HIS CONFIDENCE – vss 11-14:
David wants to learn God’s ways so that he could obey – verse 11. In verse 14, David turns his attention to others – to you and me. His message is: “Wait for the Lord”; “Be strong”; “Let your heart take courage”; “Yes, indeed, wait for the Lord.”
I hope you gained some courage from reading Psalm 27. God is constantly by your side; do not fear.
–Paul Holland
