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Psalm 27:1-3 Whom Shall I Fear?

July 19, 2021 | by: Gregg Hunter | 0 comments

Posted in: Psalm 27

Nearly a decade ago, Chris Tomlin released his popular song, “Whom Shall I Fear?” You can probably sing a line or two in your head now without even looking it up. This song is heavily based on Scripture, and alludes to many different passages. One of them is Psalm 27, which we will begin studying today.

 

Please Read Psalm 27:1-3.

 

Before David asks the title question, he boldly declares “The Lord is my light and my salvation.” Notice that he doesn’t say that the Lord provides light or gives salvation, but that the Lord is light and salvation. God’s very nature is one of light. In Him there is no darkness at all. His light reveals the dark things of the world for what they are, and for that the world hates Him. Yet, if any in the world would but acknowledge their darkness and turn to Him, then they would also find that the Lord is salvation. He alone is the one who can save you from your sins!

Yet, David declares more than simply the nature of God. He does not objectively say, as one observing God from a distance: “The Lord is light and salvation.” He makes it personal: “the Lord is my light and my salvation.” It is only through a personal relationship with God that you can come to know Him as your light and your salvation. Once you have this relationship with God, you too can agree that there is no one to fear. If the Lord is the stronghold of your life, then no one else and no thing else is great enough to cause you fear.

This threefold cord (the Lord being my light, my salvation, and my stronghold) is not easily broken. I can trust in God in all circumstances, and need not fear any enemy.

How can I have such assurance? Because God has demonstrated His greatness in my life. For the Christian, we have witnessed Jesus conquer death and sin when he rose up from the grave. Through the eyes of faith, we see our resurrected Lord standing in victory over every enemy. For David, God demonstrated His greatness through military victories.

When evil people assaulted David, “it is they who stumble and fall.” This is an example of the divine passive. What caused them to stumble and fall? By not mentioning any cause, the implied answer is: God. God caused David’s enemies to stumble and fall without him having to lift a finger in his own defense. How did God do this? We are not told. One theologian suggests “God’s breath blew them off their feet.” Another that “they have stumbled over the chief cornerstone.”

Whatever the case may be, David remembers God’s faithfulness in the past, and it assures him of future faithfulness… even if the future brings greater challenges. When a small group of evildoers attacked, God gave David victory. Now, even if an army encamp against him, he will have no fear.

Notice that he doesn’t talk about an army attacking, but merely encamping against him. It is often the night before the battle that brings more dread than the battle itself. It’s the waiting and anticipating that can turn your stomach in knots.

Have you ever had to have a difficult conversation with someone? Before you actually have the conversation, you practice it over and over in your head and anticipate all the ways that it can go wrong. Then, you actually have the conversation, and it goes so smoothly that you wonder why you ever worried about it? The same is true for the battle. It may only last a few moments, but you may spend days beforehand analyzing possible scenarios and dreading everything that could go wrong. Yet, because God has proved Himself in battle in the past, David can have an army encamped around him and rest in confidence.

Faith gives him courage. May it do the same for us. May we boldly declare with David: the Lord is my light, my salvation, and my stronghold. Whom shall I fear?!

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