Sunday Morning Podcast August 13, 2017. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT: PSALMS 142:1-7
1 Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave. I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.
2 I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.
3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.
4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.
5 I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.
6 Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.
7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.
Fear manifest itself in many ways in life, ..even somewhat for God’s children, although it should not affect them more than necessary. It helps to note that fear is nothing more than incomplete information. Here in this Psalm, David is expressing and pouring out his fear to God. Man could not help him, but he knew God could!
Fear comes from our human concerns, which most of us have at sometime, been overwhelmed by. It can bring anxiety, doubts, frustrations, upsets, anger, negativity, and etc. These negative feelings and expressions do not necessarily mean one is carnal, although it could. In Mark 4:37-40, tells about the disciples with a great fear, in the midst of a ferocious storm. After Jesus awoke to deliver them from it, He asked (in verse 40),“ Why are you so fearful? How is it you have no faith?” It was because the disciples had made assumptions, so that they were extremely upset and fearful. Without real faith, they were incomplete. Jesus wanted them (as He also does us), to move away from the incompleteness of fear. Fear leads to sin. Love is the opposite of fear, and guides us into the completeness of faith ..and holiness. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18
Perfect love is faith and holiness, the absence of fear, ..and a completeness. To be in bondage to fear, is to succumb to unbelief and sin. A incompleteness. Of course there is also a healthy fear that protects us from knowingly walking into danger. God gives us that for a protective defense. Fear from being faithless though, is a hopeless fear. God wants us to be complete in His love and faith, and not to dwell in the incompleteness of fear and doubt, …which ends in sin.
The Nature of Fear….