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?
When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me they will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear, though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.
Psalm 27 v.1-3
The Book of Psalms is a rich treasury of thoughts, feelings, reactions, hopes, fears, seen in the light of God’s sovereign goodness, as the singer faces the huge range of experiences that life throws at him. It is therefore a sure place to go when things get on top of us at one end, and when our hearts overflow with the sense of God’s goodness to us at the other end, and everything in between!
Here in this psalm we are encouraged to look to God and to reflect on who he is to us which is a wonderful way to begin each day. As you read the opening words of this psalm you may or may not know what the day holds. You may have plans and certain ‘fixed’ points but circumstances may throw them up in the air, but to be able to meet such challenges what greater joy is there than to know that ‘The LORD is my light and my salvation?. That as light he shows the way and that whatever befalls me I am safe.
Then to know that ‘The LORD is the stronghold of my life’. That I am secure in him. cf Proverbs 18.10. In the light of both these affirmations about God we have nothing to fear.
Fear can be a debilitating emotion, holding us back, preventing us from living life to the full and there is much in our daily experience that can cause fear to rise but the LORD is greater so turning to him we can drive out fear.
David, in writing these words clearly has in mind physical enemies and in his experience these were very real but the truth expressed surely covers all fears from whatever source.
Think of any fears that you may have this day and bring them to the LORD so that you may step out in confidence knowing that he will not fail you.