There are lots of reasons for us to fear. We face many issues we can’t control and many problems we can’t fix. There are forces arrayed against us that are bigger, stronger, and smarter than we are. It does little good to be told by religious instructors to stop being afraid. Fear lurks behind too many troubles that come cascading our way.

David speaks in this artistic piece of writing about an experience he had when God handled fear in his life. He was being hounded by Saul who was jealous of him. By the time of this episode, Saul was insane with fear of being toppled by the young David. So, David was not only being sought by the most powerful man in the nation. That man was insane. Then when David went to another king to seek refuge, that king was threatened by the reports of David’s exploits in war. By acting deranged himself he escaped certain death from that king. Through betrayal of Doeg the Edomite and the rage of Saul, young David saw the forces of evil aligned against him that seemed inescapable. But God who had chosen him and anointed him to be the next king was committed to him and was responsible for his safety.

David could confidently write about the security of living in God’s faithfulness. All of heaven is committed to carrying out God’s purpose on earth. Even angels are available to carry out God’s plans if needed. Nothing on earth can muster enough power or authority to threaten God’s anointed.

“But I am not David,” we might say. That is true, but that is not the end of the story. David was a type of the coming anointed king. He too would be betrayed, misunderstood, rejected by the earthly kings, and sought as a criminal. In his death, he defeated the primary power of the enemy by being resurrected. He had angels ministering to him during his time of struggle. All of heaven’s resources were available to him. God’s purpose was fulfilled in exactly the right time. We might not merit that kind of protection, but Jesus does, and we have been born into his kingdom by faith and now get the benefits he deserves. We are as secure as David—even more, we are as secure as Jesus, because we are in him.

The awareness of this unspeakable privilege causes us to shake with awe. We fear one who does such marvelous things so much that we have no fear left to spend on the looming storms that the enemy tries to interpret for our downfall. We have angels encamped around us, but more than that we have the King of all watching over us. We are under his charge and no one has the authority to overrule him.

It is no wonder that David says, “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” It is difficult to fear when his praise is in our mouths.