Today, the world around us is in doubt and confusion. We do not know where the economy is heading. Enterprises that were leaders of economy have folded in one by one, are asking governments to supply them with funds in order to continue their operations. Starting from New York, the financial center of the world, the word "Economic Depression" is sending shock waves around the world
Companies are handing out pink slips to thousands of employees who never thought of finding themselves one day without jobs, with families to support, school going children, mortgages unpaid, loans repayments to be met.....
Uncertainty looms over the horizon with more and more bad news of stocks crashing, banks floundering, insurance companies winding up and savings meant for a relaxed retirement life evaporating into thin air overnight.
When the world around us makes us tremble and fear, when everything that we held in high esteem crashes around us in ruins, only FAITH IN GOD can help us move forward with confidence and strength.
Psalms 27: 1 says " The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life - of whom shall I be afraid. "
David [ exact date of birth is not known, but it is believed that he lived approximately between 1050 BC to 970 BC ] wrote this psalm, while he was running for his life from his own father-in-law, Saul, who was also King of Israel at that time.
Every hand was against him, the officials of the kingdom, the common people, the priesthood, the military..... all his friends and family were either mute witnesses or supporters of the regime. [ His brothers were officers in the Israel army].
But David says, "whom shall I fear ? ....of whom shall I be afraid ?" The reason he had no fear was because the Lord was his light, his salvation and the strength of his life, not the fact that he had politically powerful friends, he had high connections, lot of money in the bank, a beautiful wife, chariots to drive around in, palaces to occupy.... all those things things that we would value in these modern days were NOT the source of strength or confidence for David.
This shows an unwavering confidence in God in face of terrible personal calamity. Such a strong faith would be the only antidote for fear and loneliness.
David continues in Psalm 27: 2 & 3 "When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war breaks out against me, even then will I be confident"
An equivalent situation in our present generation would be the creditors , the moneylenders and their thugs, the recovery agents of financial enterprises and banks, the court orders that come with eviction notices ..... are we in any way better off in this 21st century?
Fear is a dark shadow that envelops us and ultimately imprisons us. Each of us has been a prisoner of fear at one time or another - fear of rejection, fear of misunderstanding, fear of uncertainty, fear of sickness or even death.
But we can conquer fear by trusting the bright liberating light of the Lord who brings salvation, hope, strength and confidence. God offers believers help for today and hope for tomorrow.
The psalmist ends with these beautiful lines: [ verse 13] "I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living " . This was the basis of David's faith - that his God would not let him be destroyed by his enemies or by the circumstances.
THIS SHOULD BE OUR FAITH.
A PERSON WITH SUCH A GREAT FAITH CAN FACE THE UNCERTAINTY OF 3rd FEBRUARY 2009, AND SING PRAISES TO GOD ALMIGHTY WITH JOY AND GLADNESS.
God bless you
