David was a man who often found
himself in places of real fear. I think of the numerous times
when Saul had sworn to kill him and even mobilized his army to
hunt him down. David did not look to his inner
man for strength, like the prophets of our day who prophesy lies,
counsel their followers to do. Rather, David's antidote for
his fear is found in Psalm 56.3, What time I am afraid, I will
trust in thee. Fear is the result of sin. If
we had no sin, there would be no fear. When Adam ate the fruit
supplied by Eve, the first result of his eyes being opened to discern
good and evil was that he became afraid, because he knew himself
to be a sinner. The man who recognizes the great
divide that is made between him and the God of heaven and earth
by his own innate wickedness must of necessity fear and tremble
in his presence. Job, in seeking the wickedness
of his own heart and its contrast to the holiness of God, said,
Then will I speak and not fear him, but it is not so with me.
Dread and terror shall grip all men when they are brought face
to face with the judge of all the earth. When David sought
to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem, and the Lord
struck Uzzah dead in the process, we read that David was at first
displeased with what the Lord had done. But then his displeasure
quickly turned to fear when he realized that he was the one
who rightly should have been struck down. And David was afraid
of the Lord that day and said, How shall the Ark of the Lord
come to me? Who is there among the sons of God that is not being
in the very same place, fearing his judgment but unable to flee
from it, and shut up to doing anything but casting themselves
upon his mercy? Even as Job said, Though he slay
me, yet will I trust in him. Fear is not a delightful experience,
yet its presence in the lives of the children of God is a demonstration
of the mercy of God towards them, as he uses the opportunity of
it to cause them to cry out to him for deliverance. The wicked
are seldom troubled over their sin, believing it to be a mere
inconvenience, and see not the sword of doom hanging precariously
over their heads. Yet how often are the children
of God reduced to fear, because they have been given a tender
heart to know that their just reward is destruction. We do
not read of an instance when the disciples became fearful
while they enjoyed the Lord's presence, yet they were frightened
when he hid himself from them or was asleep in the boat as
a storm arose which threatened their lives. This situation occurred
according to the design of him who would teach his disciples
to call upon him in times of trouble and to know that he is
near in the greatest of perils. He taught them very plainly that
it was necessary in the fulfilling of his purpose for him to go
away from them. Yet he made provision for them,
as he said, for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto
you, but if I depart, I will send him unto you. We yet see
through a glass darkly, yet he who has not left us comfortless
does lift us up and allay our fears by the application of his
word by his Spirit. He caused His disciples to be
in the darkness. The Lord is the creator of both
darkness and light. I form the light and create darkness.
I make peace and create evil. I, the Lord, do all these things.
All things are caused to work together for the benefit of those
whom the Lord is pleased to call by His grace. Darkness serves
as purpose in causing His people to recognize their own limitations
and the lack of understanding and knowledge that they have
of spiritual things. Here in the darkness on this
stormy night, His disciples were in much fear, even though His
approach to the boat was the very deliverance which they stood
in need of, yet they were affrighted by Him. He caused a great storm
to arise. The Lord designs the trials of
His people, even as surely as He designs their deliverance
from those trials. There is no temptation or trial
taken you but such as is common to man. But God is faithful,
who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able,
but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that
ye may be able to bear it. It is in the great troubles that
beset the sons of God in this life that they are taught to
trust the Lord. Paul said, For when I am weak,
then am I strong. He gave them the antidote for
their fear. When he said, it is I, be not afraid. I can think
of no greater comfort for these toiling and fearful sons of God
than to hear their Lord and master say, it is I. The Lord said,
my sheep hear my voice. It is impossible that sinful
men should comfort the sons of God. Yet three words spoken by
the shepherd of the sheep is enough to remove all of their
fear. Can you hear him today? If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.