Read Psalm 56:1-7. 1Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; 2my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly. 3When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 4In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? 5All day long they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil. 6They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps, as they have waited for my life. 7For their crime will they escape? In wrath cast down the peoples, O God!
David is on the run from Saul taking refuge in Goliath’s home town of Gath. The old adage “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” wasn’t really working out for David though as now he is sandwiched between two enemies – his own people, and the Philistines.
The threats against him are very real, but David refuses to let fear rule his heart. His defiant declaration of trust – in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? – will be quoted for centuries to come by those who trust in their union with Christ.
Hebrews 13:5-6. 5for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Fear of man is very real. For most of us the fear of man far outweighs the fear of God. The desire for man’s approval drives our daily decisions much more often than the fear of the Lord. But to live is Christ means no mere mortal can do anything to us that threatens our eternal victory and reward. With Jesus we never have to fear those who can destroy the flesh, because no flesh can destroy our spirit.
You: To what degree does fear of man drive your life choices?
You in Christ: How does our union with Christ allow us to ask defiantly, “What can man do to me?”
Christ in you: What fear of man can Christ in you cause you to stand up to today? The quest for approval? Peer pressure? People pleasing?
Pray: Jesus, O how my life would be different if I stopped fearing those who can destroy the body and started fearing him who can destroy the soul. Help me to let the fear of God take over my heart like David did, even in desperate times.
To Live is Christ 