Doing David will teach us how to deal with the fears in our lives, the fears that plague our lives. What are the fears that plague your life? What are the events in your life? The adversity that you would say, well, that's a fear. That's something I fear in this life. If I were to ask you to write a list for me of the fears in your life, what events, what sort of things would you include in your list of fears? For some of you, it may have something to do with finance. It could be now. It could be something in the past. You look back. It could be something daunting in the future, some uncontrollable financial problems. It may be that you know what it is to sit at the breakfast table with your spouse and try to explain to her how that business deal went sour. It may be that you know what it is to sit down with your spouse and breathe over, couldn't pencil the paper and try to figure out how you're going to pay tuition or how you're going to pay the next house payment. You wonder if life's ever going to be the same. It may be relational. It may be that God has taken away. Maybe something you remember it may have been years ago. If you feel like it was yesterday, because God took away from you a very good friend. Somebody that he transferred, he moved to even the other side of the country, could be a sister or a brother. And you know the fear of now having that support system in your life typing away from you. And maybe something closer to home is a life you may wonder if you'll ever have meritful fulfillment. You wonder if your husband's ever going to lie down his life for you. Or as a husband, it may be that you wonder if things are ever going to get better. You wake up every morning and you are just griffed with fear. The first thoughts you have after a night of sleep is, oh yeah, we're having problems. You wonder if your marriage is going to make it. It may be that you live with somebody who is always discouraged. Always discouraged about problems in life. I think with your spouse, it's like always having to handle with kiddie globs. In fact, in 20 or 30 years of this, and I'm always the encourager and you think to yourself, I need encouragement. And it's all hard. And that's a fear in your life. It could be a sickness or some sort of illness. Again, it could be a spouse, someone that you love dearly. One more. Maybe you're children. You know, maybe if you wonder, are your children, it just grits you with fear because you wonder, if your children are really going to be able to make it out there in the world, it's cruel world. Or how is it with saying persecution 25 years from now? Well, man and Abby, ever going to date before they're 21. That's a fear. We all have fears. Every one of us have fears. Some are more formidable. than others. But we all have fears. And we respond to those fears in different ways. On March the 4th, 1933, it was this first inaugural address right in the middle of the Great Depression. An FDR responding to the fears of the American people made that famous statement. He said the only thing to fear is fear itself. Very courageous saying. Courageous words. They just weren't true. And we know what he was trying to do. We know that he was trying to convince Americans that they had the resources. They didn't need to be paralyzed by fear. But it wasn't true. Because the fact is there's a lot more to fear than fear itself. And you know that. You know that in your own life. You could tell me stories. I could tell you stories. And it's all of you. Ten short months. And I can tell you the person that's sitting on your cue right now has got fears. Just like you do. And we know, we true enough, fear can be the beginning of the state. We don't want that. And you can be paralyzed by fear. And stand here like FDR. Say don't do it. Don't allow that to happen in your life. We don't want to be fear's slaves. But at the same time, there is a lot more to say to people about how to handle fear. Then simply wipe those tears out of your eyes and pull yourself together. Because the truth is we all have fears. Things that we fear is real. And David gives us some tangible ways to find comfort in the midst of those fears in this song. And I want to provide you with three of those. On the first being that Christians need fear nothing. Not because there's nothing to fear. Not because there's nothing to fear but fear itself. But because your sovereign God is near.
This is the rhyme there. I mean you have no fear because he is near. Because of his presence. That's what he said in the first verse. The Lord is the light is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid. And then he goes on in the following verses to make this lift in answer to his question. The question is what is it in my life that is worthy of the energy of me actually having fear in my life? What deserves the energy of my fear? Is it wicked men against me? Is it the enemy? Is it even war? Is it those who desire to get thrown in me? In all cases the rhetorical answer is the same. No. Every answer to each question. No. No. No. That's why he says the Lord is my light and my salvation. He says the Lord is the strength of my life and in verse three in this I will be confident. I remember a friend of mine in college that had a bumper sticker or something. He was just on his death because the guy wasn't a Christian. But it was a little saying that said God is bigger than any problem I have. You may have that. You may have seen it. He got a lot of comfort from it. I remember having a discussion with him about it. That's what David is saying in this song that my God dwarfs the world. How much more does he dwarf? My problem. How much more does he dwarf these things that array themselves that gives me the circumstances trying to bring me down, trying to destroy my life? God is so much bigger than any problem I have. And really in essence what David is saying in this song is it's not so much the size of my adversary that God doesn't need a fear. Because the truth is those enemies, those people that want to destroy me, they're very loyal. They're very big. But God is so much bigger. John Whiterson agreed. The only clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence, a Presbyterian minister of Scott, he said only the fear of God can deliver us from the fear of man. The one who does not fear God must fear everything else. But the one who fears God needs not fear anything else. David knew that. That's why David was able to pin what he was here. David had learned that it was only because I fear God. And because I do fear God, that I have no need to fear anything else in all the world. Again, verse 1, the Lord is my light and my salvation. The Lord is the strength of my life. He's saying he's my defense, he's my stronghold. Light and the Bible is associated with truth. The Lord is, he's saying the Lord is the provider of truth. This is what's really true. God tells them that. So, so Shade was goodness. He's saying the Lord is good to me. So Shade was joy. He's saying the Lord is my life. My salvation, he's saying it's my savior, he's my redeemer. Let me say it again at the risk of insulting your intelligence. David is not saying that there's nothing to fear. There is much to fear, he would say. There's much, there are these circumstances that seem daunting. They may cause fear in your life. So, what he's recognizing is as much as there is to fear, there's nothing to fear as far as God is concerned, as far as God in my life. And further, his hope, and we've seen this in a number of the songs, his hope is not even in being delivered from the circumstances. Let him take my crown. As long as I have the Lord in my life, as long as the Lord is my life, nobody can take that away from me. That's what he's saying. So, I have nothing to fear. I don't know if you remember the exchange between the children and the Mr. Mrs. Beaver in the Chronicles of Narnia, the discussion around Aslan, the great lion, the lion who represents Christ in the stories. Mrs. The Way It Begins, he says, oh, yes, tell us about Aslan said several voices at once. Who is Aslan, Aslan? Aslan said Mr. Beaver, why you don't know he's the king. He's the Lord of the whole world. Is he a man, Aslan? Aslan, a man, Mr. Beaver said sternly, certainly not. I tell you he is the king of the wood and the son of the great emperor beyond the sea. Does he know who is the king of the beast? Aslan is a lion. The lion, the great lion. Oh, that's those that he's quite safe. I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion. That you will, Gary, and no mistake, said Mrs. Beaver. If there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly. Then he isn't safe, said Lucy. Safe, said Mr. Beaver. Does you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? Of course he isn't safe, but he's good. He's the king, I tell you, as you get to know God and you really get to know God, you will find. He's not safe at all. I mean, he is the God of the universe. His voice shakes the earth. He is the divine warrior. His army dwarfs the grandest armies that the earth can boast, but he's good. It's only when you realize how terrible God is in his might and how good God is in his love that you'll finally realize how pitiful those circumstances are in your life that have arraigned themselves against you to destroy you. In light of who God is, in light of how awesome he is, in light of how much he loves you. I say this to you as your pastor to say that those things in your life just aren't as daunting as they seem, because he is your light, he is your salvation, he's your defense, he is your life, and nobody can take that away from you. Not one circumstance could ever rob you of that fact. So there's no need to fear. And secondly, Christians only find peace and confidence in the midst of fear when they are single-hearted. What you find in verses four to six really is a backstage pass into the center of this man's life. You really get into the who this man really is, but just of who he is and you find he's a single-hearted man. Verse four, one thing I desire to the Lord, that will I see, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. Here's David surrounded by his enemies. They want to take him off the throne. Ultimately, they just as soon take his life, anything to read their home land of this man. He knows that he's surrounded by them. What is he afraid? What is a man like David asks when he's surrounded by his enemies? What's the one thing he wants? What you're really saying is what is his life? You know what he says to God? All I want to do is worship you. That's all I want. The very reason I want you to deliver me, the reason I so desperately want you to spare my life, is not so that I could just go back and live the life I want to live according to my own agenda. According to my own selfish ways, the bottoms about to fall out financially, we say, God, save me from this financial problem so that I can go back to living that simple life of not having. You know, if not being a steward overspending, your marriage is on the rocks. It's like, God, save me from the embarrassment of my marriage falling apart so I can go back to being the same selfish thing I always was, ignoring my wife. That's not what David is saying. He's saying, save me from this fear so that I can be spared to worship you, so I can pursue you. That's what verse 4 looks specifically so that he can dwell with the Lord. He's saying, let me be like the Levites and live in your house all day long every day. Is that sure? I'm going to ask you stuff. Is that my single heartedness that I just as soon live? You know, we say a lot, Quorum Day of, in the presence of God, before the face of God, would you live your life Quorum Day of? He says specifically so I can behold the Lord so I can look at you. That's what he was saving me so I can look at you so I can gaze upon your beauty so I can inquire or meditate. It's just like marriage, the feet of the Lord. She just wanted to sit there. She longed for expression. She hung on every word. She wanted to get as close to Jesus as she could and nobody was going to stop her. Is that the way you feel? I'm going to get close to Jesus. Nobody's going to get in my way. Nobody's going to stop me because I'm single heart. Look at the different wars David uses for temple. Just in verses 4 to 6. In verse 4 he calls it the temple in verse 5. Tabernacle, tent, rock, and in verse 6 to 10 a tent of sacrifices. All these images reminding David to get shelter. It's found in the presence of God only when God draws near to him. Does he feel the shelter of the Lord? There would come a daddy when literally one of the kings of Israel would find their shelter in the house of the Lord. Literally the young boy Josiah and God saved him from those who wanted to take his life in the house of the Lord. If you know what the application is you're the house of the Lord. You're the dwelling place of God. Not this building. We saw all that I said this before. I know it's hard to break old habits. We talk about this as the house of the Lord. It's a building in which the house of the Lord needs. The bricks that make us the building are you. You're the tabernacle. You're the rock. You're the tent of sacrifices. And it's only when you are near to him that you will find shelter. It's only then that you'll find your protection from God. Can you say that tonight? Can you say that? That's the one thing I speak of the Lord is that I want to live, that I love the Lord and my God with all my heart, soul, strength and mind. Can you say that he's my only refuge? Nothing materially on this earth. Nothing even relationally on this earth is a greater refuge than God. It's only in God. If you find it, it's a material. If you find it, it's a person. You're only setting yourself up because you'll not find refuge in that person or that thing. Only in God. It's very interesting how our perspective and life changes when we speak first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. When we really live to say that my life is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. We really live that way. Our perspective on all of life dramatically, drastically changes. It can't help but do that. One last thing from this song is that Christians only find such peace and confidence in the mystifier when they seek God's place and God's way. The emphasis is on and and my under one, the word and. It's both David combines the two. Seeking God's place according to God's way. Look at verse seven. Here, O Lord, when I cry with my voice, have mercy also upon me and answer me. When you said, seek my faith, my heart said to you, your faith, Lord, I will seek. Verse nine, do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger. You've been my help. Don't leave me. See what he says. I want your faith. I want your fellowship. I want your presence. It can look at verse 11. Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path. David knows the only way he's going to have communion with God is according to God's way. According to God's purposes, his ordinances, own his terms, you might say. For so many today, who want to have fellowship with God, but they want it only according to their terms. They want his fellowship with God, but they want it without his word. Without his commands, without his standard of obedience, without his holiness. And David says, no, you can't have that. That's not the way it is. And because that's not the way it is, so many people walk around bitter. And they're angry, they're mad, God. They're almost mean about it. They want him, that's the interesting, they may want him. They have him designed for that, but they're always in the valley. The void of the spirit. Unhappy. And the reason is because they won't hope, they just don't want holiness. They don't want it, so God says no. And it's like God says, if you're one of the children I love you so much, I'll even make you miserable. Until you finally, until I finally brace you and you realize your only peace and your only hope will come when you can form your life according to my word, according to my ways. And you may say, that's very hard. I've never been able to do that. I may have to wait years for peace. I'll always have fear. I may spend the rest of my life. If I do what you're saying, I won't have any friends in school, or I won't have any friends in Montgomery. They'll think I'm religious, fanatic, or freak. They might. David can identify with you in verse 13. He says, I would have lost heart unless I believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord and the land of the living. That's what gives David peace. He has absolutely no earthly comfort except knowing that he would see the goodness of the Lord. And you may have to be that way in high school and in your school or in your business. That may be all you can say, as long as I have God, as long as I know I'll see the goodness of the Lord. And as long as that's my shape desire and my friend, that's enough. And then all you can say is verse 14, wait on the Lord. Just take it for what it is. Take it for what he said. This is the way we'll end. I mean, this is David. This is God himself through his words to you. Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage. And he shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord. And I'm going to close some prayers. As I close in prayer, I'm going to ask that Mike would come to the lectern for the solo. And I'm going to encourage you as my things that you have the words before you, that you keep your head bowed. Kinds in place is psalm. So I won't have to say anything after that as well. You'll just notice, as always, the response will stand for the benediction after the solo. And we have crowning with many crowns. And then I'd ask Tom and Jan, if after the service he'd come forward, another by one of great shows as well. Thank you again for being here. So let's pray. Our Father, you are so very clear in this psalm when you say, seek my faith. And we are so clear to you. So often we'll say, but you don't understand. Or you don't realize how much I'm hurting or my pain is so deep. And it's like, Father, you come to us over and over again saying, just seek my faith, just seek my faith. And we just pray, God, as you would break us if you have to. So that we might repeat to you like the psalm is to say, your faith, the Lord, I will seek. We just pray, God, as you would be merciful to us. We pray that you would be gentle, that you would lead us nearer to your faith than we have ever been before. Without fear, only to fear you, we pray for Christ's sake.