Day 9: 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? Psalm 27:1
The Confederate General Thomas Jackson earned his nickname, “Stonewall,” because of his fearlessness in the midst of battle. Once, when asked about his ability to remain so calm when bullets were flying about him, he answered, “Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me. Captain, that is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave.”
As someone prone to panic attacks, Jackson’s unflappability in the face of death astounds me. My panic attacks are usually brought on when I simply imagine the things that could happen to my family — not by any real danger. Worry, always sparked by fear, can be crippling. I have found that the best cure for me when besieged by worry and fear is to read the Psalms. First of all, it allows me to focus on God’s Word, and the Holy Spirit works in me through that Word. Secondly, I find prayers to make my own, different ones for different situations. I end up reading the Psalms until the worry and fear have dissipated — at least for the moment — and I can go on with work or sleep. (I used to watch a TV show to distract me from worry, but the Word of God offers real healing, not just just distraction.)
I can’t help but wonder if Stonewall Jackson had Psalm 27 memorized and recited it to himself on the battlefield. The first three verses read as follows:
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?
When the wicked advance against me to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.
But where does that confidence come from? Verses 4 and 5:
One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
Safety is in the Lord’s dwelling. Our shelter is God himself. Jackson died because one of his own men accidentally shot him during battle. Yet he was safe. Jesus covered his sins — even the sins of racism and treason. He now rests with God, awaiting the resurrection. Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:4-7)
Most of our worries are rooted in a fear of death. However, our sins are forgiven. Anyone who trusts that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life has no need to be afraid of death or of God. However, we do have worries that are rooted in other fears, like the fear of shame or the fear of the unknown. Our life is full of battles waged against Satan, the world, and our flesh. Later in Psalm 27, we find the prayer:
Teach me your way, Lord;
lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.
Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations.
Sometimes we face enemies that have human faces. Other times the malicious accusations come from our own consciences. Old sins haunt us. Our weaknesses hold us back from doing the right thing. Even then we must find our shelter in God. His forgiveness is complete. He gives us His strength. His power works everything together for our good.
So we read our Bibles and we pray and we echo David as he closes the Psalm with this reminder to himself. Perhaps we even make it our battle cry:
I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Bible Reading: Psalm 27
Immanuel Lutheran Church 