Think, if you will, of your greatest fear. You might have some very serious financial fears, or perhaps of not surviving a serious illness you or someone you love has. Perhaps it is a fear of getting seriously sick in the future, or of aging and being alone. Some people have a fear of actual physical enemies, or fears of certain types of animals. There are so many different types of fears that disturb our life, sometimes dramatically. What do you do when your fears become overwhelming? Some may try to overcome their fears by seeking counseling. Others think they can drown their fears in alcohol and/or drugs. Some people just allow their fears to overwhelm them. Our psalm selection this week gives us another option with what we can do when faced with fear. Let’s see what God’s Word says.
Psalm 34 was written by David following a rather fearful event in his life. David had defeated Goliath, then was court musician, and later son-in-law to King Saul. However, Saul grew jealous of David’s success and popularity, and tried on numerous occasions to kill him, so he had to spend many years fleeing Saul. At one time David sought refuge with the King of Gath, however when other courtiers reminded the king that David was the one who killed their champion Goliath, he feigned madness and fled for his life (I Samuel 21:10-15).
Having to flee from Saul all across his homeland of Israel, and now one of his places of refuge was also now a threat to his life, this would be discouraging and even fearful to many people. What do we see David do, though? He wrote this psalm to celebrate his deliverance from the king of Gath, and the first thing David did was to give praise to God, blessing His Name (vs. 1). We may feel overwhelmed by our fears, all of those terrible things in our life that keep knocking us down, and we might not feel like praising God. We can, though, always praise Him, whether we “feel” like it or not. We can schedule praise breaks into our day, like devoted people in the Old Testament did (Psalm 119:164). Praise is not conditional, but is an act of faith and obedience, as Paul tells us in Philippians 4:4 and I Thessalonians 5:18.
Satan is the instigator of fear and discouragement. He will do anything he can to dishearten us, and keep our focus on negative things instead of on God. Irrational fears, or even legitimate ones don’t need to terrify us. David found true solace and comfort only in his relationship with God. When he sought help from human sources, they often failed, as with the king of Gath, or when circumstances separated him from his good friend Jonathan. God, though, was always there. He could turn to Him in prayer, and He would hear and answer him (vs 4-6). God hears and delivers those who earnestly seek him. He is all-wise and all-loving. When fear starts to overwhelm us, we need to stop and remember that God is our God, and He will always hold us up. When we trust in Him, we can face our trials with confidence (II Timothy 1:7).
When we are afraid, it is good to remember those occasions in the past when God has heard and answered yours and your loved one’s prayers, and delivered you all from your fears. Are you afraid of physical danger? Remember times in the past when he protected you. Remember all of the times the Lord brought healing to you and your loved ones when you fear for your health. When financial fears stalk you, remember the times in the past when He has provided for your needs.
David continued in his psalm by reminding us that believers have another reason not to be overwhelmed with fear. As we read in verse 7, the Lord surrounds us with His angels. These mighty warriors of the Lord provide us with their protective presence as we also read in Psalm 91:11-12. David closed this portion of the psalm with an invitation and challenge for all to try the Lord, just as one would recommend a good meal. This was a call for all, both then and now, to have a personal experience with God, one beyond just an intellectual knowledge to a tangible relationship with Him.
Even in the darkest hours, when our fears seem the strongest, Psalm 34 reminds us that we can turn to the Lord, calling upon Him for help and deliverance. Worshiping God fills the heart with joy and the mind with peace. The joy and deliverance from our fears that David described in his psalm should motivate us to share the Gospel so that others, too, may also “taste and see.”
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