Psalm 27
Of whom shall I be afraid
Intro
√ Fear
1.a. A feeling of agitation and anxiety caused by the presence or imminence of danger. b. A state or condition marked by this feeling.
2. A feeling of disquiet or apprehension.
3. A reason for dread or apprehension.
Fear is a powerful emotion! Left unchecked it will…
Rob you of your peace
Cause you to lose sleep
Create a bad attitude toward others
Weaken your resolve to do what is right
Warp your perspective so that everything looks bleak
…you'll find yourself depressed, unhappy, lashing out at people without cause, etc.
Ex. 9/11 and the
current war with
The constant news coverage and awful images we see on TV bring fear into our hearts. You may not recognize it as fear, but as an "unsettled" feeling in your gut.
I watch the people in the fellowship and even my own family and can see how fear spills out in relationships.
Nervous behavior, incessant talking, little tiffs between people over insignificant issues.
Additionally, fear is one of the predominant emotions that will grip the hearts of people who are alive during the time immediately preceding the Great Tribulation.
Jesus said…
Luke
So, fear is a common human emotion and will become more prevalent in society as we approach the end of time.
Ex. Interesting to
note the huge increase in the
√ Fear is human
Every person has to learn to deal with fear - it's a human emotion.
Ex. Joshua when he took over after Moses' death
Josh 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
In fact 4 times in the first
chapter of Joshua God encourages him not to be afraid!
Big bad Joshua - one of only two
spies who gave a good report - a guys who had seen combat already!
Reminds us that when we’re afraid it serves only to remind us that we are human and bring us to the One who can chase our fears away.
Ap. Psalm 27
David knew what it was like to be afraid and he found deliverance from his fears in his relationship with God.
You and I can find the same peace and courage that David and Joshua found right here in this psalm.
Of what are you afraid? (vs. 1-3)
Ps. 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
Ps. 27:2 When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell.
Ps. 27:3 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war should rise against me, In this I will be confident.
√ What are you afraid of?
Darkness? - The Lord is your light!
Danger? - The Lord is your salvation!
Deficiency? - The Lord is your strength!
David knew from personal experience that he had nothing to fear so long as the Lord was with him!
Yet, we like David still find ourselves gripped with fear.
So, what should we do when we are afraid? Look to the Lord and see what He does for those who trust Him!
God saves you! (vs. 4-6)
Ps. 27:4 One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.
Ps. 27:5 For in the time of trouble in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.
Ps. 27:6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.
√ God saves you!
When David was afraid he went immediately to the "house of the Lord"!
Note that David found safety in the…
"house of the LORD" - vs. 4
"His Temple" - vs. 4
"His pavilion" - vs. 5
"His tabernacle" - vs. 5 & 6
But, interestingly enough there was no "Temple" yet built in David's time! Nor was David a priest so he couldn't go into the tabernacle!
The understanding then is that David isn't speaking of a physical place…like a church building…
…rather, he had in mind that "place" in the spirit where he could find refuge in the presence of the Lord whether…
He was hiding in a cave
In the midst of battle
On his throne in Jerusalem
So, David found refuge from fear, not in a place, but rather, in a Person!
In New Testament lingo we call it…
"abiding in the Lord" - John 15:1-11
It's that place of realization you discover when you set your heart and trust upon the Lord and find that He meets you there and can save you from whatever makes you afraid.
Ex. Peter Mcpheters in North Viet Nam
Surrounded by hungry tigers at night, alone for months, without hope of help from his buddies…
…he found safety in the Lord by singing "Jesus loves me".
Ap. In Jesus is perfect safety
Practice spending time in "His house".
God smiles on you! (vs. 7-10)
Ps. 27:7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
Ps. 27:8 When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”
Ps. 27:9 Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.
Ps. 27:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me.
√ God smiles on you
More than just asking God for help, David sought God's face!
You see, when the faces of people around you make you afraid…
…the smile of God's face will drive those fears away!
David may have had in mind the blessing which God commanded the priests to speak over His people.
Num. 6:22 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
Num. 6:23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:
Num. 6:24 “The LORD bless you and keep you;
Num. 6:25 The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;
Num. 6:26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”’
Num. 6:27 “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”
The encouragement is this…
…in the face of fear
seek the face of God!
What is there in all the universe that might cause you and I to fear that wouldn't melt away under the protective eye of God!
It pleases God when we turn our face from that which we afraid of, to seek His and in the light of His smile there is no fear that can hold your heart.
God shows you the way out (vs. 11-13)
Ps. 27:11 Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
Ps. 27:12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence.
Ps. 27:13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.
√ God shows you the way out
David faced many traps and knew what it was like to have every way of escape blocked.
Ex. 1st Samuel - Saul's relentless attacks
Yet, God always made a way out for David. When it looked as if every path of escape was blocked…
…God made a way out for David.
The truth is that Satan wants to trap you. If he can't trap you in sin, then he will try and trap you with fear.
Ex. Fear of change - to keep you trapped in the routine, or the fear of failure - to keep you trapped in your own strength
The disciples would not have left their boats if they allowed fear of change to keep them from following Jesus.
Not one wall would fall, not one giant would be slain, not a single mighty work of God would be accomplished if the hero's of the faith had let fear of failure keep them from doing God's will!
Satan wants to trap us - God wants to lead us out by a safe path to accomplish mighty works in His power!
Ap. I was afraid to come to Arkansas!
No place to live, no job opportunity, a family to support, no guarantee that the church would make it…
…yet, with the little faith that I had God has proved Himself faithful to do more than I could have hoped for!
Please - don't let fear trap you! Believe His promises and walk by faith, His goodness will be with you.
God strengthens you! (vs. 14)
Ps. 27:14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!
√ God will strengthen you
David had found by personal experience that he could trust in the Lord to provide the strength he needed…
…whether it was for the battle, or for the journey!
But notice, the strength comes to those who wait on the Lord!
Isa. 40:31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
When we run ahead of God, or lag behind His leading…
…we make ourselves easy targets for the devil!
Waiting on the Lord means that we don't rush ahead with a decision, or hesitate to follow His lead, because of fear.
Rather, we wait for Him to make His will clear and then follow it.
Close
√ So, we don't need to be afraid because…
God knows how to save you
God smiles upon you
God will show you the way of escape
God will strengthen you