April 9th - Reading 7: Psalms 24-27

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1a)

Many Psalms were written when David was in real fear. His very life was often threatened, first by King Saul and later even by his own son, Absalom. Fear can be a significant factor in all of our lives from time to time.

But fear can be a useful tool. It can help us realize our helplessness in and of ourselves. But also, a greater fear can overcome or cast out a lesser fear. By having a greater fear (respect or awe) for the God who preserves and protects, David could let go of his lesser fear of what man might do to him. Instead, he could choose to put his trust in God. David recognized that “The Lord is the strength of my life;” which allowed him to say, “of whom shall I be afraid” (Psalm 27:1b)? 

A healthy fear of God’s justice can also be very useful. An appropriate fear of God can keep us from sinning. Moses told the Israelites, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin” (Exodus 20:20).

As people, we will always worship something — either God or ourselves. Our natural tendency is to please ourselves — always being concerned with self. Self-ish. We are called to be self-less; to die to self through the substitutionary death of Jesus, who died in our place.

As we read Psalms 24-27 to the Lord today, let us be comforted that “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). He is, and always will be, on His throne. Nothing that happens is a surprise to Him. As we come before Him in prayer, let’s ask Him to use our fears to bring all of us to the end of ourselves, to turn us away from our sin, and draw us back to Himself. Then we can all face our futures without fear.