09/20/2020 (Edited 01/27/2024)
So…Why Be Afraid?
(Click on Video Thumbnail Below, to Watch on YouTube)
Psalm 37 (A Psalm of David) (NKJV)
Several things strike me as I read through this Psalm.
First of all, the entire treatise tells us (as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ) not to fret, worry, or be afraid…of anything…of any wrong being done (to us or others).
Some people interpret this to mean that we should just sail along and let the devil steal from us, kill us, and otherwise destroy us, as if we are helpless babies. Such is not the case.
Wound throughout the treatise, is the omnipresent and ongoing answer to making it through your life (at any time…not just “this season”) filled with God’s PEACE.
Consistently, throughout the Psalm, David says that we should not fret, BUT…we should TRUST IN THE LORD.
It’s one thing to TRY not to worry, but it’s quite another thing to admit that we have been fearful, then to turn around (literally, if we need to) look the Lord in the eyes, and say, “I trust in you, Lord Jesus, to do good, and to cut down any evil things that have been sent by the devil, as if you were mowing the lawn. I trust in your faithfulness, Lord, and I let go of my doubt and unbelief. Thank you, also, Father God and Holy Spirit, for your loving care and protection through your angels, in Jesus’ name. Amen!”
Another point that David consistently made, was that we need to KNOW THE DIFFERENCE between true evil and true good. He extensively enumerated things like, “…him who prospers in his way because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.” That stands out pretty boldly, in today’s world. There are constantly people saying things like, “Follow the money,” and, “Someone’s paying the rioters,” and, “Who’s paying the arsonists?”
So…is God saying to just turn a blind eye to all of these things? NO! David then specifically says, “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret–it only causes harm–for evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait on the Lord shall inherit the earth. Yet a little while, and the wicked shall be no more; indeed, you will look carefully for his place, but it shall be no more.”
Again, David says, “…those who wait on the Lord shall inherit the earth.” He’s telling us to spend our time–instead of walking in fear, trepidation, DOUBT, anger, etc.–talking to and walking with the Lord. Spend your time DOING, “…if my people, who are called by my name…” (2 Chronicles 7:14) Look it up–in fact, while you’re at it, read the whole chapter!
David says, “The wicked have drawn their swords and have bent their bows–to cast down the poor and needy and to slay those who are of upright conduct. Their swords shall enter their own hearts, and their bows shall be broken.” We’re definitely seeing those kinds of things since 2020 (and believe me, this is not the ONLY time either I or many, many others have seen these things). David saw them happening back in HIS time…why else would the Lord have moved him to remind people about it?”
It’s a fact…David is instructing us in this Psalm, about the sorts of things that ARE wicked, so that we might recognize them when we see them, and then be able to combat them.
Then he instructs us about HOW to deal with them…”Trust in the Lord, and do good. Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”
As a human race, we have a common ground that a lot of people don’t realize. We HAVE DESIRES OF OUR HEARTS! Sometimes those desires are bent in the wrong directions. Once we accept the fact that Jesus IS Lord, we begin to learn more and more, and more and more and more, about how to bend those desires in the right directions. We need to seek the Lord, in order to recognize how to build UP God’s people…NOT to tear them down.
Notice that David’s instructions contain actions from us, toward God: trust; do; dwell; feed; delight. There are also actions from God, toward us: He will hear; He will give; He will lead; He will protect…etc.
Once again…God doesn’t expect us to just sit idly by and let everything happen that the devil has in mind for us! If God says, “Go…DO…” just do it! If God says, “Continue praying…” pray…and pray some more…until He says to move on to something else. If God says, “Vote for…” listen carefully, and do it! While you’re DOING…STOP fearing, worrying, spreading anger, or purveying doom!!!
It’s interesting to note that in this Psalm, David says something THREE TIMES, in slightly different ways:
#1 “Yet a little while, and the wicked shall be no more; indeed, you will look carefully for his place, but it shall be no more. THE MEEK, HOWEVER, SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH, AND SHALL DELIGHT THEMSELVES IN THE ABUNDANCE OF PEACE.”
NOTE: In order to inherit the earth and be able to delight ourselves in the abundance of peace, we will have needed to be able to notice that the evil has been vanquished.
#2 “THE LORD KNOWS THE DAYS OF THE UPRIGHT, AND THEIR INHERITANCE SHALL BE FOREVER. THEY SHALL NOT BE ASHAMED IN THE EVIL TIME, AND IN THE DAYS OF FAMINE THEY SHALL BE SATISFIED. However, the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord–like the splendor of the meadows–shall vanish; into smoke they shall vanish away.
NOTE: In order to have our forever inheritance, to not be ashamed (even in evil times), and to be satisfied (even throughout famines), we will have needed to be able to notice that the evil has vanished.
#3 “WAIT ON THE LORD AND KEEP HIS WAY, AND HE SHALL EXALT YOU TO INHERIT THE LAND; WHEN THE WICKED ARE CUT OFF, YOU SHALL SEE IT. I have seen the wicked in great power and spreading himself like a native green tree. Yet he passed away, and behold: he was no more. Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.”
NOTE: In order to be exalted and inherit the land, we will have needed to be able to SEE that the evil “is no more!” Indeed, we will be able to seek him (because we’ll still exist)…but he will not be found. PERIOD.
Every one of those passages, and basically the entire Psalm, tell us that David understood perfectly that we live in a world where the devil wants to kill us, to steal from us, and to destroy us. Plus, the Bible also says that he tries to “wear out” the saints. Those are his motives…pure and simple.
BUT GOD…while we are spending our time doing what He asks of us because we are looking into His eyes and delighting in Him…WILL make what the devil meant to harm us ricochet right back at him, with all of the Lord’s DUNAMIS (unending & righteous power) behind it…AND WE SHALL SEE IT HAPPEN!
That brings me to my three final points (which are all the same point)…
(1) Some people say that the time we are in is THE end of time, in the Biblical sense. They say that this is IT. Unfortunately, most people that proclaim that at ANY given point in time, tend to quite obviously not understand that at THAT time, the dead in Christ shall rise with Him in GLORY, and will have the most wonderful, beautiful, whole, free-from-sin-and-death place to live…EVER. Instead, they warn people to arm themselves against “the apocalypse,” and to do things like hoard food and goods, etc., etc., etc. Basically, they are spreading fear and trepidation, with no hope.
The thing is…if it IS that “end of time,” then those who are hoarding and trying to hide, will be found…and their end is at hand…they must reckon, then, with our great and holy God Almighty. There will be NO hiding from Him. Those who have “delighted themselves in the Lord and trusted in Him” for all things will be WITH God, proclaiming His glory and love, with every need met…no need for hoarding.
SO…WHY BE AFRAID?
…unless you are one of those who has been coming AGAINST God’s love and mercy!
(2) Others are saying that we are in END TIMES, in the Biblical sense. Personally, I think they are right. On the other hand, even many of those people are saying THAT, with a rather “doom and gloom” point of view!
The thing is…if we are truly in the End Times, then we should be REJOICING! Again…there is no need for hoarding…there is no need for fear…unless you are in the crowd who will have to reckon with our great and holy God Almighty, from whom you will NOT be able to hide. Again…those who have “delighted themselves in the Lord and trusted in Him” for all things will be WITH God, proclaiming His glory and love, with every need met…no need for hoarding.
SO…WHY BE AFRAID?
…unless you are one of those who has been coming AGAINST God’s love and mercy!
(3) Finally (as a simplistic round-up…this could go on in several directions, actually), both of the above groups, on a large scale, at least, seem to be focused on “the fact” that if someone gets into the top two offices of The United States beginning with 2024, who would then proceed to slide us fully into socialism, fascism, Marxism, or any other ‘ism, we will REALLY need to hoard food, and all the other stuff, and that our lives here on earth will be miserable, miserable, miserable. That well may be.
The thing is…has the scenario really changed, in any of those possibilities?
In any of those or any other eventualities (which means any and all of that IS coming, at some point, in some way, shape, or form, and with some type of intensity), there are three things to take away from it all:
(a) Are you delighting in the Lord and seeking His face on an ongoing basis…truly?
(b) Are you going around trying to snuff out those who are doing (a)?
(c) Are you ready to meet the Lord, firmly able to stare Him in the eyes, and confess, “Jesus Christ…and Him crucified!”?
SO…WHY BE AFRAID?
…unless you are currently choosing (b)!
Here are two more (fairly short) pieces of scripture, in this regard.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all people. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything–by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving–let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God–which surpasses all understanding–will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report–if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand, stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Also, take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
My “Songs of Hope and Joy” YouTube Playlist
(On My Channel: Grandma’s Gone Gaming)…
The (Brand New) Newest Song Just Added
to the Above Playlist on 01/25/2024…
“The Way The Truth The Life”
by Darrell Goode
(01/24/2024) Two E-mail Devotionals from Today…
Give Him 15 — from Dutch Sheets
“Walking Trails, Sailing Oceans”
Meditate Devotional — from Joseph Prince
Live in the Shadow of His Wings
* * * * * * * * * * *
Scriptures from the New King James Version (NKJV),
®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson (All Rights Reserved).
Less than 500 verses of scripture used by general permission.
Quotations do not amount to a complete Bible book,
nor are they more than 25% of the total text of this work,
which is not to be considered as a biblical commentary
or reference work in its entirety.
* * * * * * * * * * * *