Psalm 27, Part 1

The Lord is my light and my salvation; I will fear no one.
The Lord protects me from all danger;  I will never be afraid.
² When evil people attack me and try to kill me, they stumble and fall.
³ Even if a whole army surrounds me, I will not be afraid;
even if enemies attack me, I will still trust God.

⁷ Hear me, Lord, when I call to you!  Be merciful and answer me!
⁸ When you said, “Come worship me,” I answered, “I will come, Lord.”
⁹     Don’t hide yourself from me!

¹¹ Teach me, Lord, what you want me to do, and lead me along a safe path,
    because I have many enemies.
¹² Don’t abandon me to my enemies, who attack me with lies and threats.
¹³ I know that I will live to see the Lord’s goodness in this present life.
¹⁴ Trust in the Lord.  Have faith, do not despair.
Trust in the Lord. Psalm 27: 1-3, 7-9, 11-14 Good News Translation (GNT)

Coronavirus. Pandemic. Global market instability. Political dissention. Russian hackers. Climate change. Refugees. We hear of threats, uncertainties, and dangers daily, all terrifyingly near.

Although access to information – and disinformation – is greater now, fear is ancient; it has been with us since Eden. Here, the Psalmist gives the antidote. Instead of dwelling on dangers, focus on God. Beginning with “Hear me, Lord” (reaching for God), and “Teach me, Lord” (listening to God), he finished with “Trust in the Lord.” Twice, for emphasis.

“The Lord is my Light,” illuminating truth. “The Lord is my Salvation,” rescuing, delivering, freeing. So, “have faith, do not despair.” Good advice for us all, every day.

A Johns Hopkins doctor says that ‘we do not know why it is that the worriers die sooner than the non-worriers, but that is a fact.’ But I, who am simple of mind, think I know we are inwardly constructed, in nerve and tissue and brain cell and soul, for faith and not for fear. God made us that way. Therefore, the need of faith is not something imposed on us dogmatically, but it is written in us intrinsically. We cannot live without it. To live by worry is to live against Reality. E. Stanley Jones

Do not be afraid—I am with you!
    I am your God—let nothing terrify you!
I will make you strong and help you;
    I will protect you and save you.
Isaiah 41:9-11 Good News Translation (GNT)