The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1, NIV

As a child growing up in the “Bible Belt” of Oklahoma in the sixties, my public school fifth grade teacher had everyone in the class memorize Psalm 27.  (Unheard of these day, isn’t it?) But this one thing I know; when faced with bullies or uncertainty with fear surging in my soul the words of this psalm come forward from childhood to comfort and encourage me. 

How did my teacher know I would need these words so often in my life?  She knew because she knew The Master Teacher.

Psalm 27, The Message

Of David.

Light, space, zest—
    that’s God!
So, with him on my side I’m fearless,
    afraid of no one and nothing.

² When vandal hordes ride down
    ready to eat me alive,
Those bullies and toughs
    fall flat on their faces.

³ When besieged,
    I’m calm as a baby.
When all hell breaks loose,
    I’m collected and cool.

⁴ I’m asking God for one thing,
    only one thing:
To live with him in his house
    my whole life long.
I’ll contemplate his beauty;
    I’ll study at his feet.

⁵ That’s the only quiet, secure place
    in a noisy world,
The perfect getaway,
    far from the buzz of traffic.

⁶ God holds me head and shoulders
    above all who try to pull me down.
I’m headed for his place to offer anthems
    that will raise the roof!
Already I’m singing God-songs;
    I’m making music to God.

^7-9 Listen, God, I’m calling at the top of my lungs:
    “Be good to me! Answer me!”
When my heart whispered, “Seek God,”
    my whole being replied,
“I’m seeking him!”
    Don’t hide from me now!

^9-10 You’ve always been right there for me;
    don’t turn your back on me now.
Don’t throw me out, don’t abandon me;
    you’ve always kept the door open.
My father and mother walked out and left me,
    but God took me in.

^11-12 Point me down your highway, God;
    direct me along a well-lighted street;
    show my enemies whose side you’re on.
Don’t throw me to the dogs,
    those liars who are out to get me,
    filling the air with their threats.

^13-14 I’m sure now I’ll see God’s goodness
    in the exuberant earth.
Stay with God!
    Take heart. Don’t quit.
I’ll say it again:
    Stay with God.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We learn we can depend on God who is always working on our behalf!  We can trust God with every step we take as he parts our own Red Sea of troubles with fear but we must take that first step at His command. So, our one and only response to God is to trust Him with all that is within us.  Don’t quit—Stay with God!  He knows what He is doing!

Warren Wiesbe writes;

“David didn’t close his eyes to the circumstances around him; rather, he looked by faith to the Lord and examined his circumstances from heaven’s point of view (Hebrews 12:1–3). The Lord was everything he needed, just as He is everything we need today. He is our light, so we need not fear darkness; He is our strength (or fortress; see Ps. 18:2; 31:2, 3), so we need not fear because of our weakness; He is our salvation, so the victory is sure.” –Wiersbe Study Bible

So, now, who or what are you afraid of?

Lord,

You are indeed working on behalf even when we don’t see or feel it. You are God; we are not.  Fear comes knocking when our focus turns to the high waters of our circumstances we see around us.  Fear then takes the lead when we become enveloped and overwhelmed by crashing waves of troubles.  Today, Lord we seek you first. Lift us up to your perspective view of life while drawing us closer to you for this how our fear of the world disappears—when we stand in awe of You in Your Holy Presence!

To you be all glory, honor, and praise!  I am no longer afraid for my trust is in You!

In Jesus Name, Amen