Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

“Then Achish called David and said to him, “As Yahweh lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army is good in my sight; for I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords don’t favor you. Therefore now return, and go in peace, that you not displease the lords of the Philistines.” David said to Achish, “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant so long as I have been before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” Achish answered David, “I know that you are good in my sight, as an angel of God. Notwithstanding, the princes of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ Therefore now rise up early in the morning with the servants of your lord who have come with you; and as soon as you are up early in the morning and have light, depart.” So David rose up early, he and his men, to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines; and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.”
(1 Samuel 29:6-11)

“In you, Yahweh, I take refuge.
    Let me never be disappointed.
    Deliver me in your righteousness.
Bow down your ear to me.
    Deliver me speedily.
Be to me a strong rock,
    a house of defense to save me.
For you are my rock and my fortress,
    therefore for your name’s sake lead me and guide me.
Pluck me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me,
    for you are my stronghold.”
(Psalm 31:1-4)

“In you, Yahweh, I take refuge.
    Let me never be disappointed.
    Deliver me in your righteousness.
Bow down your ear to me.
    Deliver me speedily.
Be to me a strong rock,
    a house of defense to save me.
For you are my rock and my fortress,
    therefore for your name’s sake lead me and guide me.
Pluck me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me,
    for you are my stronghold.”
(Psalm 57:4-5)

David had fled to the Philistine territory to escape constantly being pursued by Saul. He did not consult God about it, but went ahead and did it. He ended up a favourite of one of the city-kings. However, one false step and the gig would be up. David fought against his enemies and pretended he was fighting Israel. That worked for a time. But then he was conscripted to fight. If it went ahead, he would be forced into killing his own countrymen. Taking a side against the anointed king of Israel. David was in a tough jam. He couldn’t afford to back down. Instead of trying to run away, David sought the Lord. David gave himself over to the Lord and trusted that God would deliver him.

Sometimes our enemies surround us. We find ourselves in places where the Lord is not honoured. Where the Lord is not respected. Where those who follow the Lord are targets and enemies. Even in those circumstances we can trust in the Lord. We can rely on Him. We can look to Him, pouring out our hearts, and then thanking our GOOD God for the rescue – making sure to be obedient to anything He tells us.

The Lord should be our fortress. Our rock. The place where we go to flee. It should be instinctive. When we are troubled, we run to Him. When the storm blows, He is where we take shelter. We won’t ever need to be disappointed because He IS a rock. He IS a shelter. He IS a fortress. His Name is power and might and mercy and grace. We will NEVER be disappointed when we look to the Lord for strength, salvation, and shelter – in ALL circumstances.

Summary

The Lord should be our first stop EVERY time. When we are in trouble, scoot under His wings. When we are celebrating, dance in thankfulness before the Throne. No matter WHAT is going on, He is where we should be first and foremost. He is our ROCK. He is the place for our thanksgiving because He is our Source for EVERYTHING. He is the place for our shelter because it is by HIS might and HIS Word that we make it through EVERYTHING. God is our Lord. He is our God. He is our EVERYTHING. No matter what is going on, good or bad, go to the Lord first. Trust in Him. Thank Him. Have a heart of gratitude. He is MORE THAN ENOUGH for anything, so our everything should be invested in Him.