Freed from Fear

 This is a sermon based on Psalm 112. Verse 7 of this Psalm speaks about a person is not afraid when he hears evil tidings or bad news. When looking at the Psalm in light of this verse, we notice four qualities about the person who is able to hear or receive bad news yet not be overcome with fear. A video recording of the worship service in which this sermon was preached can be viewed here.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

Analysts tell us there has always been people in every generation that feel as though the conditions in their era is worse than it has ever been before. I know I’ve often made references to the conditions in the world as a reminder that we need to be alert and committed more than ever to serving the Lord and obeying His Word.

Several weeks ago, as we were still conducting our worship services in the parking lot, I preached a sermon on 2 Chron. 7:14 regarding the promise for God’s renewing, healing presence if we humbly seek him, repent of our sins and pray. In my introduction for that sermon I briefly made reference to the drastic changes in our society that had occurred so rapidly. Today, just 17 weeks after preaching that message, there have been even more changes. In addition to the government-sponsored restrictions of our freedoms, we have witnessed the explosion of rioting and violence across our nation.

I hope I am not mistaken in assuming that all of us here today are absolutely appalled at the looting, burning and violence that is taking place around the country. In my opinion, the unrest, division, and turmoil, are strategically planned by instigators behind the scenes in an attempt to disrupt and destroy our current economic/political system and replace it with something different.

Why does this matter? Does it matter only because it threatens our own comfort and selfish interests? NO! It matters because it is based in atheistic philosophies that have no concept of the value of human lives. Therefore, destruction of businesses, livelihoods, property and even the personal lives of individuals is perfectly legitimate if it advances the ultimate goal of overturning the current system. There is much more that could be said about the current affairs of our nation, but I’ve already said enough to point out how our minds and our hearts might become overwhelmed with fear and discouragement.

While thinking about all the turmoil that I’ve just described, I came upon this verse in Ps. 112 and I read, Psalm 112:7 ^(NKJV) He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

Listen to these other translations:

Psalm 112:7 (NIV2011)  They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

Psalm 112:7 (NLT2)  They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them.

Psalm 112:7 (HCSB)  He will not fear bad news; his heart is confident, trusting in the LORD.

Psalm 112:7 (AMP)  He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firmly fixed, trusting (leaning on and being confident) in the Lord.

I want to take a look at this Psalm for a while today in order to help us receive fresh inspiration and encouragement in the face of “evil tidings.” Who is this person that will not be afraid of evil tidings? What qualities are given about him in this Psalm?

I.             He fears the Lord, not his circumstances. (v. 1a)

The title of the sermon says, “Freed from fear.” Verse 7 talks about this person having “no fear of bad news.” He does have some fear but it is a different kind of fear.

Psalm 112:1a ^(NKJV)  Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord...

The word for “fear” in the Hebrew is the same word in verse 1 as it is in verse 7. We have said in the past that the word for fear has a variety of meanings that are distinguished by the context.

(Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament) “In this discussion, biblical usages of yārēʾ are divided into five general categories: 1) the emotion of fear, 2) the intellectual anticipation of evil without emphasis upon the emotional reaction, 3) reverence or awe, 4) righteous behaviour or piety, and 5) formal religious worship. Major OT synonyms include pāḥad, ḥātat, and ḥārad as well as several words referring to shaking or quaking as a result of fear.”

In our series on 1 John we recently spoke about the difference between a paralyzing dread vs. a wholesome reverence and deep respect.

Today's Best Illustrations - Today's Best Illustrations – Volume 5. (Joseph M. Stowell in Moody (Nov./Dec. 1997). Christianity Today, Vol. 42, no. 2.) — “Our evangelical culture tends to take the awesome reality of a transcendent God who is worthy to be feared and downsize Him so He could fit into our "buddy system." The way we talk about Him, the way we pray, and, more strikingly, the way we live shows that we have somehow lost our sense of being appropriately awestruck in the presence of a holy and all-powerful God... “If God were to show up visibly, many of us think we'd run up to Him and high-five Him for the good things He has done.”

God’s Word gives us many examples of how people reacted when confronted by God. Moses; Isaiah; Apostle John (in Rev.) to name a few. All of them responded in awesome, reverential fear.

So we make a choice whom or what we fear – God or man; God or the world; God or the wicked.

II.           He follows God’s will. (v.1b)

Psalm 112:1b ^(NKJV) …Who delights greatly in His commandments.

The next quality we notice about this person who does not fear evil tidings or bad news is the quality of delighting in God’s commandments. The implication is that because he delights in them, he obeys them.

So often we have studied passages in the Scriptures that reveal the necessity to demonstrate our love for God by obeying His commands. Our problem too often is we emphasize some commands while ignoring others. May God help us to be balanced in our obedience. For example, the same God who issued the 10 Commandments issued the Great Commission.

Neglect and disobedience to God’s Word always results in fears, doubts, and shaken faith.

III.          His heart is steadfast. (vv. 7b, 8a)

Psalm 112:7-8 (NKJV) ⁷ … His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. ⁸ His heart is established; He will not be afraid…

v. 7b (KJV) “fixed”; (NKJV) “steadfast”– transl. 85 times as “prepare(d)” and 58 times as “establish(ed)”

(TWOT) The context of a passage will clarify whether the meaning is “prepared” for a purpose, or “fixed” / “established” as a result of being prepared.

There are also references where there is a sense of well-being as a result of being under God’s hand.

v. 8a “established” – a different word than in v. 7; this is the only time it is translated “establish;” other meanings include “lay” or “lean on;” “uphold” or “support;” et. al.

(BDB) sustained, firm.

Looking at the two words together would indicate that this person who is freed from the fear of bad news is one whose heart has been prepared, fixed and supported by the Lord to the end that it is standing firm and fixed.

cf. Isaiah 26:3 ^(NKJV)  You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

IV.          He leads a generous life. (vv. 4, 5, 9)

Before we talk about this last point, let me comment briefly on vv. 2-3.

Psalm 112:2-3 (NKJV) ²  His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed. ³  Wealth and riches will be in his house, And his righteousness endures forever.

I referred to these verses a couple of years ago when I addressed the issue of believing/expecting personal faith in God to result in material prosperity. OT promises for Nation/People of Israel if they would faithfully love, serve and obey the Lord. God would make them into a great nation and provide all they needed. National blessings vs. spiritual blessings.

Whether one experiences abundant prosperity or not, he can be generous. The Bible gives multiple references to the fact that generosity is an attitude and a lifestyle that is not reliant upon the amount of wealth a person has.

Psalm 112:4-5, 9 (NKJV) ⁴  Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. ⁵  A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion. ⁹  He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever; His horn will be exalted with honor.

Don’t really need to say much here except to point out an observation. By including these verses as part of the description of the person who fears the Lord, but doesn’t fear bad news, it seems to be making this point: rather than being paralyzed and immobilized by the fears of coming evil, this person has been able to keep his focus on the importance of being a source of blessing to others rather than going into hiding.

Conclusion:

What about you? What about me? Are we living in dread and fear of bad news or evil tidings? Are we struggling to remain confident and steadfast in these days of turmoil? If so, it might be an indication that we really have not kept our minds “stayed on Him” as we quoted earlier from Isaiah.

God is the only One who can prepare us and establish our hearts so that we stand up strong in the face of bad reports and evil conditions and continue to do His work until He calls us home.

(Thomas Lane Butts, Tigers in the Dark, quoted in Illustrations Unlimited) Several years ago there was a well-known television circus show that developed a Bengal tiger act. Like the rest of the show, it was done "live" before a large audience. One evening, the tiger trainer went into the cage with several tigers to do a routine performance. The door was locked behind him. The spotlights highlighted the cage, the television cameras moved in close, and the audience watched in suspense as the trainer skillfully put the tigers through their paces. In the middle of the performance, the worst possible fate befell the act: the lights went out! For twenty or thirty long, dark seconds the trainer was locked in with the tigers. In the darkness they could see him, but he could not see them. A whip and a small kitchen chair seemed meager protection under the circumstances, but he survived, and when the lights came on, he calmly finished the performance. In an interview afterward, he was asked how he felt knowing that the tigers could see him but that he could not see them. He first admitted the chilling fear of the situation, but pointed out that the tigers did not know that he could not see them. He said, "I just kept cracking my whip and talking to them until the lights came on. And they never knew I could not see them as well as they could see me."

There are times these days when it seems like we are facing tigers in the dark. We may not be able to see in the dark, neither can we see into the future, but our God can.

Closing Hymn: Be Still My Soul