Who Is Our Antidote for Fear and Loneliness?

Living with Fear

In the final part of this hymn, David begs God for the very redemption he appears to be guaranteed of in the first part, demonstrating that knowing not to be apprehensive does not make an individual free from the feeling of fear.

In this Psalm, David, while he submits his confidence to God, is not invulnerable from dread. In the earlier part of this hymn, David expressed that his motivations were certain in the Lord. However, David is arguing for those definite assurances.

Like any other individual, David experienced nervousness. Rather than capitulating to fear, David decided to trust God, remember God's assurance, and come to the Lord in petition. This is finished with one more articulation of confidence in God.

David said that the Lord is his light, salvation, and fortification. Every one of these terms has importance in Hebrew understanding.

Light is a typical analogy in the Bible for information, truth, and goodness. This was a definitive ideal of the Israelites, much as the Greeks of old esteemed obtaining knowledge, or the Romans who found glory valuable, and the people of present-day discuss freedom.

The Lord, as David’s light, was the wellspring of life, comprehension, and joy.

As David’s salvation, the Lord was the deliverer from his adversaries. To be delivered from something is a meaning of the word “saved.” David was a fighter, even in his own triumphs he always remembered that it was eventually God who gave him the triumph.

The NIV uses the word “stronghold,” but in the KJV, the word used is “strength.” Either way, it suggests a position of safety and security. 

Maoz is the Hebrew translation, which can likewise be interpreted as a refuge or even as a harbor. So, with that definition, the Lord resembled a fort that protected David.

As David contemplates the Lord as filling these positions, he remembers that he has no obvious explanation to fear anybody. Like David, there is no explanation for us to fear since the Lord guards us.

Paul insisted that “for the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). It has been seen that there are an adequate number of urgings in the Bible to not fear.

Fear is a shadow that wraps us and eventually detains us inside ourselves. Every one of us has been a captive of fear at some point in time; fear of rejection, fear of being misunderstood, fear of uncertainty, fear of sickness, or even fear of dying.

Yet, we can overcome fear by utilizing the splendid freeing light of the Lord who brings salvation. If we want to dissipate the gloom of fear, let us recall with what the psalmist said:

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold (Psalm 18:2).

Living with Loneliness

When David said, “to inquire in his temple,” he could have been alluding to the Tabernacle in Gibeon, the place that he had put up to house the Ark of the Covenant, or to the Temple that his child Solomon was to fabricate.

David presumably had the Temple at the top of the priority list since he made a considerable number of designs for it (1 Chronicles 22). Nevertheless, David may likewise have utilized the word temple to mean “the presence of the Lord.”

His most prominent craving was to live in God's presence every day of his life. Unfortunately, this is not the longing many people have.

Yet, the individuals who presently live day-by-day in God's presence will actually partake in that relationship for eternity.

We frequently rush to God when we experience challenges. Regardless, David pursued God's presence consistently. Whenever inconveniences came in his direction, he was at that point in God's presence and ready to deal with any test.

Christians can call to God for help whenever they feel the need, yet we can often forget and only approach God when the inconveniences of life come along.

A large number of our concerns could be stayed away from or taken care of undeniably more effectively by constantly seeking God’s wisdom and guidance.

If God appears to be far away, we should persevere as we continue looking for him. God remunerates the individuals who truly seek him (Hebrews 11:6). As promised, Jesus said, “Seek, and you will find” (Matthew 7:7).

David recommended a significant method for looking for God, which is getting accustomed to the way that he had previously helped the people.

The history of God’s people is all throughout the Bible. In looking through its pages, we will find a caring God who is patiently waiting for us to reach out to him.

Many people may have had the dismal experience of being spurned by a mother or father. The lingering pain might still be there when we reach adulthood. God can have that spot in our lives, he can fill in that empty space, and mend that hurt.

He can guide us to people who might take on the position of father or mother for us. His affection is adequate for every one of our needs.

When David mentions the “land of the living,” he was referring to this life. David was clearly going through a situation, yet he was certain that in this current life God would be with him as he went through it.

David knew in fact the meaning of waiting for the Lord. He was anointed king at the age of 16, however, he did not become king until he was 30 years of age. During this interval, he was pursued through the wilderness by King Saul who was jealous of him.

David needed to wait on God for the promise to rule to be fulfilled. Afterward, subsequent to becoming king, he was pursued by his defiant child, Absalom.

The Lord Is There

Waiting for God is difficult. Regularly it appears to be that he is not noting our petitions or that he does not comprehend the criticalness of our circumstance. This perspective infers that God is not in charge or that he is just.

However, God merits our waiting for him. Isaiah 40:27-31 calls us to wait on the grounds that God frequently utilizes waiting to invigorate, restore, and instruct us. We should utilize our waiting times by finding what God might be attempting to try to show us during those times.

For further reading:

What Does Faith Over Fear Really Mean?

How Does the Bible Help with My Loneliness?

What Does the Bible Say about Loneliness?

How Is God Not the Author of Fear?

Why Does the Christian Life Lead to Suffering?

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Inside Creative House

Chris Swanson answered the call into the ministry over 20 years ago. He has served as a Sunday School teacher, a youth director along with his wife, a music director, an associate pastor, and an interim pastor. He is a retired Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman with over 30 years of combined active and reserve service. You can contact Chris here, and check out his work here.

This article originally appeared on Christianity.com. For more faith-building resources, visit Christianity.com.