December 8, 2007
Ps 23:4-5 - Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
(The next week we will be looking at the Psalms. Though the verses do not say, “Do not be Afraid!” they do share about David and others how they dealt with fear. The words of God are inspired and are meant to guide and command us on how we should live, so I included them in the “do not fear” section.
This Psalm by David was written as a shepherd about the great Shepherd who cares for his sheep. The reason that David does not fear evil is directly related to the fact that God is with Him. God uses a rod and a staff to protect and comfort and guide. And in the midst of the threat of evil, God prepares a place of rest and eating and abundance. The comfort of God is comfort enough against all threats of evil and fears.
2 Ch 26:5 - He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.
This is the testimony and description of Uzziah the king. If we set ourselves in the direction of fearing God only, of pursuing and embracing all that God is we can confident like David in the shadow of death. God will prosper us in difficult time and terrifying times. He will be our comfort. But, we like Uzziah must set ourselves to be instructed in the fear of God.
