I. The enemies of the psalmist were

1. Pursuing him (verse 1 & 2)

2. Attacking him (verse 1 & 2)

3. Scheming to cause him ruin (verse 5)

4. Twisting his words (verse 5)

5. Conspiring and lurking (verse 6)

6. Trying to take his life (verse 6)

7. They relentlessly pursued him: “all day long” is used three times

II. As a result, the psalmist was in a constant state of fear (verse 3)

1. Of man

2. For life

III. Consequence of fear (verse 3, cf. 1 Sam 23:12): The psalmist handles his fear with two spiritual tools

1. Prayer to God

2. Trust in God and His Word

a. Trust in God is different from faith in God

b. “Faith in God” is taking God at His word (it is not something you generate)

c. Trust is relying on His credibility

d. The psalmist trusts in God’s promises of salvation (verse 10-11)

e. That assures divine “nearness”—"fear not” (verse 10-11)

f. “Trust in God” raised the psalmist above fear of man (What can mere men do to me? Verse 4, 11)

IV. The psalmist fear turned to confidence

1. Verse 3: When I’m afraid, I put my trust in you

2. Verse 4: In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

3. Verse 9: My enemies will turn back when I cry out to you for help; I know that God is on my side

4. Verse 10-11: In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?

5. Thankfulness even before the psalmist was fully (verse 12)

6. Decision to serve God (verse 13)

V. Jesus encourages His stranded disciples not to be afraid (Mark 6:53)

1. Jesus came towards them walking on the water

2. Take courage! I AM. Don’t be afraid” (Mark 6:50)

3. Just as the LORD came to Moses when the people of Israel were suffering in Egypt, Jesus comes to them when the wind and waves were buffeting them (verse 48)

4. When Jesus entered the boat, the storm abated (verse 51)

5. When we are pushed to the edge of life Jesus is the only life forward

6. Just as God revealed Himself as “I am” in the midst of human struggles (cf. Exod 3:14), Jesus reveals Himself as I AM in the midst of human insufficiency, struggles, and fear

7. Just as YHWH revealed as “gracious and merciful” in Exod 34:6, Jesus reveals as “gracious and merciful” to the disciples who are in distress

a. We are not in control of what is happening around us

b. But we can take control of our reactions and responses

c. Fear of man, life, and future can paralyze us

d. The psalmist teaches us that we can get victory over our fear with prayer and trust in God

e. We need not control how God answers our prayer because it belongs to Him

f. God is to be glorified in and through our situation

Takeaway:

Trust in God and His promises/Word