Danny Davis has served the church in a multitude of ways. Recently Danny was appointed as a Career Missionary to Uganda East Africa with the Assembly of God. For more information visit www.davisinafrica.com.
You and I live in a world filled with fear. The global pandemic named COVID-19 has heightened the fear level in many. Stock market fluctuations strike fear in many hearts about their future well-being. Media reports feed on fear keeping people on edge. Some reading this are struggling under the grip of fear right now. Fear, if not surrendered to God, causes people to act in strange ways. Listen to the story behind the poetry of Psalm 34.
Psalm 34 is a faith-filled and worshipful call to trust God over fear. David wrote these words while running in fear for his life. When arriving at Gath, David becomes fearful of Achish, the king of Gath (
1 Samuel 21:12
David heard these comments and was very afraid of what King Achish of Gath might do to him.
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). So fearful of this king that he pretends to be insane – drooling and scratching on doors (
1 Samuel 21:13
So he pretended to be insane, scratching on doors and drooling down his beard.
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). That charade gets him out of trouble but only leads to another problem. He ends up in the cave of Adullam where he becomes the commander of 400 distressed, discontented, and indebted men living in that same cave because of fear (
1 Samuel 22:1
So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there.
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But in that cave, living in fear, and trying to lead others living in fear that David lifts his voice to God. In that cry of praise to God, you and I can learn how to handle fear.
Extol the Lord (
Psalms 34:1-3
I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the LORD's greatness; let us exalt his name together.
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David begins this Psalm by praising and lifting the name of the Lord. Fear begins to flee when you and I take our eyes off it and begin to focus on God. Our perspective on the situation changes when we turn our eyes onto the omnipotent and sovereign Almighty God. In the cave of fear, surrounded by 400 fearful men, David reminds us that making God our chief focus frees our hearts to see God – the one who loves us with unending love.
Seek the Lord (
Psalms 34:4
I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.
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Focusing on the magnificence of God Almighty gives us the confidence to seek Him. In this case, David takes all his fears and surrenders them to God. The Apostle Peter reminds us of this same truth when he writes,
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (
Psalms 34:5-22
Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the LORD is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the LORD, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing. Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the LORD. Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth. The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time. For the LORD protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken! Calamity will surely overtake the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished. But the LORD will redeem those who serve him. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
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Beginning at
Psalms 34:4
I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.
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one can sense human fear leaving David and the strength of God renewing him. He begins to understand that those who “fear” the Lord — not man — will shine, lack nothing, know the deliverance of God, and have the confidence to say,
“The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers them from them all” (
Psalms 34:19
The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.
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NIV).
Prayer for Those Struggling with Fear Almighty God, we give you praise because You are good and You hear our fearful cries. We cast our cares and worries and fears on you because we know you care for us. We trust in your power and pray the Comforter’s presence would surround our hearts right now. We pray this in the Name above all names, Jesus, who conquered death, hell, and the grave.
