David and Fear - Psalm 27

After yesterday's events in Boston, I started taking stock of how people were reacting. There was a lot of sadness and mourning -- and it will continue. But what terrorism does -- the very reason cowards engage in acts of terror -- is to inspire fear. The fear, perhaps, they themselves feel.

But Christ reminds us, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28)."

Our time in this world is limited. Pain and injustice and cruelty are temporary. In the scheme of eternity -- looking through the lens of the hope we have in Christ -- these events are tiny. Cowards may hurt and kill, but they only drive us to the arms of the Father, if we are in Christ. David -- who protected his flocks from lions, who slew a giant, who was exiled and chased and threatened -- knew perhaps better than anybody a life of constant struggle. But he also knew how futile the efforts of his enemies were, when compared to the promises of an almighty and eternal God. 

Psalm 27

Of David.

¹ 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?

² When the wicked advance against me
    to devour^[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.
³ Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.

⁴ One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
⁵ For in the day of trouble
    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.

⁶ Then my head will be exalted
    above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
    I will sing and make music to the Lord.

⁷ Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me.
⁸ My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
⁹ Do not hide your face from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger;
    you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
    God my Savior.
¹⁰ Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.
¹¹ Teach me your way, Lord;
    lead me in a straight path
    because of my oppressors.
¹² Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.

¹³ I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
¹⁴ Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.