Read Psalm 56
1. Fact of Fear – It Exists In All. v. 1-2
All pretensions aside, we all know that everybody fears somebody or something at some time. Fear is a fact, it exists. For instance, if we all fear snakes, snake charmer perhaps fears lion or a speeding truck. Someone boasts his/her fearlessness, standing boldly on the edge of the highest cliff but fears seeing a barking stray dog. On a positive note, fear is a good thing. It is a gift of God. Because fear causes us to act and act quickly to escape impending danger. For an instance, if we won’t fear accidents we will never ride our 150cc bike slow and steady. Because speed thrills but also kills. Similarly, while tending and protecting sheep in the past David, as a shepherd, had fearlessly killed fierce animals. At one point David killed a giant that the whole army of Israel dreaded. But interestingly enough, now he seems afraid of his enemy. In this narrative, we find that David, while running away from his one enemy King Saul got trapped in the hands of another enemy, the Philistines. By the way, 1 Samuel 21:1-15 is the background story of this psalm. Hilariously, David tries to fool his enemy by acting like a crazy man. He was compelled to act like an insane because of fear. If David could fear at times it is fairly possible for us to be fearful of certain things at certain times. Fear is a fact of human life.
2. Force of Fear – Either Faith or Doubt v. 3
When fear comes, it will either force us to exercise our faith or submerge in doubt. When we are afraid we are free to doubt God’s protection and care towards us or we can trust God for a breakthrough. Similarly, David had all the liberty to either trust God or doubt God in the context of overwhelming fear. But verse 3 tells us that David trusts God amidst fear. David did not allow fear to force him to doubt God’s power. David allowed himself to be filled with faith and he gave no room to the spirit of doubt. David was a man like us. He was greatly afraid to a point where he began acting like a lunatic yet he relied on the power of God. David exercised his faith in God. Therefore, I assume that fear is good in the way that it gives an opportunity to recognize/show ourselves who we are. Are we people of faith or people of doubt? In our context of various kinds of fears, we may perhaps tend to doubt God’s power but God expects us to get closer to Him, trust Him even more and seek His face, highlighting faith over fear.
3. Fun of Fear – Fear Exists Beside Faith v. 3-4
Fear is not just scary but funny too. Fear and faith seem to be two opposing forces. Interestingly, David says, “when I will be afraid I will trust in you” this means that fear exists beside or around faith. Our life will be controlled either by fear or by faith. It is we who rely on God through faith and move forward with confidence in God. In the process, fear remains in us. There is nothing like the ‘absence of fear, it’s only the control of faith or fear. When disciples were afraid of seeing waves, Jesus told them ‘oh you men of little faith. They had faith but they allowed fear to control their steps. David’s fear made him act like a lunatic before his enemy. However, David later depended on God in faith to witness miracles. Today we have the choice to allow fear to control our lives or allow faith to direct our steps towards miracles.
4. Friends of Fear – Anxiety, Envy, Anger v. 5-7
Fear never comes alone. It brings all its friends along; anxiety, envy, and anger. Today we need to understand the whole package of fear. When we are afraid of something or someone we tend to turn anxious about several things. Gradually that anxiety gets intense and we become insecure. Anxiety simply means overthinking. David, in verses 5-6 overthinks about what the enemy could do. Such thinking makes us sick. Fear also brings envy; being jealous of others’ success. In verse 7, David seems envious of his enemies. He says can they escape? David is envious of his enemy’s escape after such evils. Lastly, fear causes us to get angry so much so that we want others to be dead. Remember what David says in these verses, “in thy anger cast down these people”. Fear makes us anxious, envious, and angry.
5. Fruit of Fear – Prayer, Praise, Promise, Proclamation, and Positivity. v. 8-13
In a way, it was good that all these things happened in the life of David, because, they brought David closer to God. Fear made David increase his faith in God. David increases his prayer life. Prayer with tears. David began praising God. David commits to fulfilling his promises unto God. He proclaims his trust in God in front of people. ‘What can man do to me?’ He is filled with positivity, as though nothing can beset him from his convictions.
Faith and fear simultaneously reside in us all the time. We are to allow either of these to direct our steps. David allowed his faith to direct his steps. Despite overwhelming fear, David did put his unwavering faith in God and was never ashamed
CHRISTOS EXPRESS 