Bible League: Living His Word The LORD is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid? In this life we live before the second coming of Jesus Christ we go through all sorts of trials, troubles, and tribulations that tempt us to give way to fear. In our verse for today, however, David basically makes the claim that we have nothing to fear. We have nothing to fear because we have the Lord on our side. We have nothing to fear because the Lord is our light. This reminds us of Psalm 43:3, "Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me." Although darkness may surround us, the Lord shows us the way. Although darkness hides many difficulties, perplexities, and enemies, the Lord is there to lead us and guide us through them and around them. David's followers referred to him as the "lamp of Israel" (II Samuel 21:17), but this was only true of him because the Lord was the light showing him the way. We have nothing to fear because the Lord is also our salvation. This reminds us of Psalm 62:2, "Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken." The Lord not only shows us the way through the darkness with all its difficulties, perplexities, and enemies, but He saves us from it all. He is our deliverer and savior. Although the enemies hidden in the darkness try to knock us down from the solid rock we stand upon, we shall not be shaken from our sure foundation. "He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand" (Psalm 40:2). And we have nothing to fear because the Lord is also the stronghold of our lives. This reminds us of Psalm 144:2, "He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge." Although we are vulnerable to the attacks from the trouble and the enemies hidden in the darkness, the Lord protects us, supports us, and upholds us. Given what the Lord is for us, whom shall we fear, of whom shall we be afraid? As the Apostle Paul put it, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31). Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingLamentations 3, 4, 5 Lamentations 3 -- Jeremiah Shares Israel's Affliction and Prays for Deliverance NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Lamentations 4 -- The Distress of the Siege NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Lamentations 5 -- Zion's Prayer for Mercy NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Hebrews 8 Hebrews 8 -- Jesus the High Priest of a New Covenant NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.Insight Doing everything “as a representative of the Lord Jesus” means bringing honor to Christ in every aspect and activity of daily living. As a Christian, you represent Christ at all times—wherever you go and whatever you say. Challenge What impression do people have of Christ when they see or talk with you? What changes would you make in your life in order to honor Christ? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Deuteronomy 33:27 Underneath are the everlasting arms.God--the eternal God--is himself our support at all times, and especially when we are sinking in deep trouble. There are seasons when the Christian sinks very low in humiliation. Under a deep sense of his great sinfulness, he is humbled before God till he scarcely knows how to pray, because he appears, in his own sight, so worthless. Well, child of God, remember that when thou art at thy worst and lowest, yet "underneath" thee "are everlasting arms." Sin may drag thee ever so low, but Christ's great atonement is still under all. You may have descended into the deeps, but you cannot have fallen so low as "the uttermost;" and to the uttermost he saves. Again, the Christian sometimes sinks very deeply in sore trial from without. Every earthly prop is cut away. What then? Still underneath him are "the everlasting arms." He cannot fall so deep in distress and affliction but what the covenant grace of an ever-faithful God will still encircle him. The Christian may be sinking under trouble from within through fierce conflict, but even then he cannot be brought so low as to be beyond the reach of the "everlasting arms"--they are underneath him; and, while thus sustained, all Satan's efforts to harm him avail nothing. This assurance of support is a comfort to any weary but earnest worker in the service of God. It implies a promise of strength for each day, grace for each need, and power for each duty. And, further, when death comes, the promise shall still hold good. When we stand in the midst of Jordan, we shall be able to say with David, "I will fear no evil, for thou art with me." We shall descend into the grave, but we shall go no lower, for the eternal arms prevent our further fall. All through life, and at its close, we shall be upheld by the "everlasting arms"--arms that neither flag nor lose their strength, for "the everlasting God fainteth not, neither is weary." Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 78:53 He led them safely, so that they did not fear; But the sea engulfed their enemies.Proverbs 8:20 "I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice, Exodus 23:20 "Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Isaiah 63:9 In all their affliction He was afflicted, And the angel of His presence saved them; In His love and in His mercy He redeemed them, And He lifted them and carried them all the days of old. Psalm 44:3 For by their own sword they did not possess the land, And their own arm did not save them, But Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence, For You favored them. Isaiah 63:14 As the cattle which go down into the valley, The Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. So You led Your people, To make for Yourself a glorious name. Psalm 5:8 O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes; Make Your way straight before me. Psalm 43:3,4 O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your dwelling places. • Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And upon the lyre I shall praise You, O God, my God. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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