Be Strong in the Lord Part 2

The LORD is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear!

This was the chorus line of a song that we used to sing. And it was the first line of a song found in the prayer book of Israel before Christ, Psalms 27:1. The Psalm goes on to declare with great faith and confidence -

“When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh,

my adversaries and foes,

it is they who stumble and fall.

Though an army encamp against me,

my heart shall not fear;

though war arise against me,

yet I will be confident.”

Even before the coming of Jesus and the Holy Spirit being poured out upon all flesh, the believing congregation of Israel already had the faith to believe that we have no need to be afraid in the day of evil.

They believed because their hearts were close to God. They believed because they knew His Love for them. How do we know this? The fourth line of this song and prayer is proof - 

“One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4 ESV)

Is the ONE THING we pray and seek after, to be found in His House?

Is the ONE THING our eyes long to see, His Beauty and Glory?

Is the ONE THING our soul longs for, to be with His People in His Temple?

The believing congregation of Israel found strength in God, not just because they knew God was powerful, but because they knew His Love for them; and they were learning to love Him in return. It was because their relationship with God was marked by His Love, that they had confidence that “nothing would separate them” from the life and love of God.

Not all Israel responded to God in this way. In fact, an entire generation of Israel who saw the judgements of God upon Egypt; and saw the Red Sea part; and witnessed the destruction of the Egyptian army in the Sea, knew His Power, but didn’t know His Love. They saw water come out of the rock. They saw God give them manna and quail from out of the skies. They saw the power of God. They were beneficiaries of the provision of God. They experienced the love of God, but did not respond to His love. They were constantly questioning His love and never entering into His Love.

This is why John the apostle will later speak of this truth - ”perfect love casts out all fear” (1 John 4:18); and why Paul the apostle prays - ”“Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith —that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17–19 ESV)

May we not only seek His Power, but grow in the knowledge that we have a Father who loves us, and seeks our good always. We have nothing to fear!