:: Sermon Audio (link) ::
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:: Scripture and Music ::
Singing Together: No Longer Slaves (Helser)
Singing Together: Our Confidence is in the Lord (Richards; arr. Austell)
Hymn of Sending: The Solid Rock (SOLID ROCK)
:: Sermon Manuscript (pdf) ::
This "manuscript" represents an early draft of the sermon. Some weeks the spoken version varies more than others from the early manuscript. Nevertheless, if you'd prefer to read than to listen, this is provided for that purpose.
Today in our summer “Psalm+1” series, we look at Psalm 27, which deals with God’s help when we are afraid. We will also look at John 1 and Romans 8 as New Testament passages that remind us of just what Psalm 27:1 says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” Along the way we will discover some tools God gives us for strengthening our trust and hope in Him.
What Do You Fear?
What do you fear? What makes you afraid? If phobias first jumped to mind (spiders, snakes, etc…), let me press in a little different direction. What makes you worry?
Listen to the list of dangers, evils, and trouble in Psalm 27. Some are real and already experienced; others are potential, something perhaps to worry about:
- evildoers who came to devour my flesh, my adversaries and enemies (v. 2)- a host (army) encamped against me… war raised against me (v. 3)
- a “day of trouble” (v. 5)
- enemies around me (v. 6)
- God hiding His face, turning away in anger, abandoning/forsaking me (v. 9)
- adversaries, false witnesses, violent people (v. 12)
- I would have despaired…. (v. 13)
If you listened to the whole of Psalm 27 as it was read, you know that these fears were mixed in the middle of faithful prayer, seeking, and trusting God. But they still amounted to two real fears: 1) that these many dangerous and violent adversaries would overcome me; and 2) that God would not show up, not help.
What Shall We Do With Our Fears?
What shall we do with our fears? All alone, of course, fear is not an unhealthy thing. It is the appropriate reaction – often instinctually – to danger. In some contexts it can save our lives. The real problem comes when fear turns to worry and anxiety. Our fears themselves can become the adversary and enemy, taking on a life of their own. They can become our gods, that which directs our path, our choices and behavior. Our fears can enslave us, stealing our freedom, joy, and purpose.
What shall we do with our fears? I do not have quick or easy answers, but I would point you to several themes in Psalm 27. None of these are the kind of antidote you can purchase off the shelf, but are patterns of belief and behavior, habits that can only be ingrained over time and practice. Let me describe them, then return to the question of what to do with our fears.Confidence in the Lord (vv. 1-3)
Confidence seems like a strange place to start, and it is. Confidence is the fruit of belief and behavior made habit; it’s not the starting place. But this is poetry and the Psalmist isn’t teaching a lesson, but describing life. Consider it an up-front description of the hope and courage this Psalmist has found in the face of serious challenges. I’ll come back and say more in a bit, but will simply note know that the confidence isn’t in the writer’s own strength or cleverness or resources, but in God. Too often we plug something or someone other than God into the lines: ______ is my light and salvation; _____ is the defense of my life. And if we put lesser things or people as our light, salvation, and defense, is there any wonder our confidence is shaky? But, I also understand that one does not just decide to be confident in the Lord. It is the result of something else.
Seeking God’s Presence (vv. 4-10)
In vv. 4-10, the writer describes “one thing I shall ask and seek” – in a word, it is to know God. This is a person who is choosing to cultivate faith and behaviors that LOOKS for God. You can read in these words the patterns of worship, of offering, of singing, of praying:
- v. 4 – prayer (asked), seek, dwell, behold, meditate
- v. 6 – offer sacrifices, shouts of joy, I will sing praises
We often want to focus on WHY we struggle, but it is more important (and helpful!) to focus on WHO God is. You see that in this writer’s words. You can never go wrong praying for God to show Himself to you!
Learning While We Wait (vv. 11-14)
I appreciate the reality of this Psalm: God isn’t waiting at the drive-thru window to immediately dispense whatever we have ordered up in prayer. Rather, seeing and experiencing God is relational, not unlike cultivating relationships with people. Those take time as well. Those relationships often involve some waiting and seeking. Meanwhile, the writer cultivates more habits of faith and behavior. “Teach me your way” (v. 11) recognizes the need to learn about God and God’s will. “Wait for the Lord” (v. 11) recognizes the discipline of cultivating relationship, even if it’s with a holy God.
A Picture of Confidence
I said I would come back to confidence, which I said was the fruit of belief and behavior made habit. I’d like to try to illustrate the importance of cultivating habits of faith and behavior as relates to confidence in the Lord.It’s high school marching band season. Heather and I went to parent preview night a few weeks ago and got to see our high school band going through the paces and previewing some of their show. The director shared some of the process of the rigorous “band camp” leading up to the start of school. They learn the notes, learn the marching patterns and start and stop points on the field. And then they drill them – over and over and over and over… three hours, four hours, ten hours, even twelve hours a day. Day after day, week after week. They drill to create muscle memory. And they drill to create confidence, because if there is confusion, if there is hesitation, you will get your band on the #failarmy video of the week… tubas colliding, color guard being run over… and embarrassment in front of friends and family and the competition.
Have you ever practiced anything like that – over and over to create muscle memory and confidence? That’s a picture of what the Psalmist is describing in these verses. Worship, offering, prayer, serving, learning; it creates spiritual muscle memory that leads to confidence when things are shaken.
Pictures of Help and Hope
I also want to offer two other pictures of God’s help and hope, found in the other scriptures we read today. Both are in the New Testament.
John 1 opens with a description of the Word who was in the beginning with God and who was and is God. John goes on to name Jesus as the Life and Light of humanity. And verse five offers the first picture of help and hope that I want to mention to we who might be afraid. That Light, which is Christ, shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend (or overcome) it. What fear is more foundational to humanity than darkness? We can’t see, we feel alone, and it is related to what we fear about death. But John announces the Good News as this: the Light shines in the darkness. Because of Jesus, we can see and we are not alone. Light is hope; light is help. Romans 8 offers moving pictures, framing a story in just a few verses. Beginning with “you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again,” (v. 15) it explains that in Chirst we are now FREE because we have been adopted by “Abba Father” as children of God (v. 16). So the story is that we are no longer slaves, but adopted children, so fully counted as family that we are named as ‘heirs’ – written into the metaphorical will as inheritors of God’s spiritual riches. What a journey of salvation-rescue that is, from fear-slaves to inheriting children.
Both John 1 and Romans 8 offer vivid pictures of exactly what Psalm 27 holds up in the very first verse: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” Hear that Good News; use the tools and steps God gives to develop that spiritual muscle memory so that when things become shaky, your confidence will be in the Lord. Amen.
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