#DailyDevotion Jesus Is Your Light & Salvation. Why Are You Afraid?
Psalm 27 The LORD gives me light and saves me of whom should I be afraid? The LORD is a fortress where my life is safe–whom should I fear?
This is where dynamic equivalence translations sometimes fail. Our given translation here falls short. In trying to explain what the Hebrew text here means, the actual meaning gets lost. The LORD more than gives me light and saves me. He is my light. He is my salvation. David as a prophet looks into the future and sees his descendant who is the LORD. With the vision of faith, he sees what John the Gospel writer saw with his eyes and touched with his hands. In John 8:12 Jesus says, “I am the Light of the world. Follow Me, and you will never wander in the dark but will have the Light of Life.” In his first chapter John writes of Jesus, 4“In Him was life, and the Life was the Light of men. 5The Light is shining in the dark, and the darkness has not put it out…9The true Light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” Jesus says in John 12, 46“I have come as a light into the world so that anyone who believes in Me will not have to stay in the dark.”
As Jesus was David’s light and salvation, he did not have to fear anyone or anything. What can man or anyone do to him if this is the case? What can man or anything do to us? Whatever tries to cause us harm, it can only be temporary. We have light, life, and salvation in Jesus. His light and salvation last eternally and no one can can it from us. Our enemies and all their actions are nothing more than a big bluff. I’m not saying they cannot cause us physical harm. They can and they do. But that cannot reach our soul and spirit. That is kept safe by our LORD Jesus Christ.
So David also sees the LORD is his fortress where his life is kept safe. Jesus tells us in John 10, 27“My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me, 28and I give them everlasting life. They will never be lost, and no one will tear them out of My hand. 29My Father, Who gave them to Me, is greater than all others, and no one can tear them out of My Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.” Jesus’ and the Father’s hand are our fortress, our stronghold where we are kept safe. What is there to fear? Who is there to fear?
Jesus in Matthew 10 tells us, 26“So, don’t be afraid of them.” Again He says, 28“Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body and can’t kill the soul, but fear Him who can destroy soul and body in hell. 29Aren’t two sparrows sold for a cent? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s permission. 30As for you, even the hairs on your head are all counted. 31So don’t be afraid. You’re worth more than many sparrows. 32Whoever will confess Me before other people, him will I confess before My Father in heaven.”
Look at the world boldly and hold it in contempt. Face the enemies, those powers, authorities, principalities of the air with no fear. Jesus is your Light and Salvation. Jesus is your fortress on the day of trouble. Fear the LORD Jesus Christ alone. He will not let the enemy come near and harm your soul. Our life and light is tied up with Him. Many may be the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD Jesus Christ delivers us from them all. You can trust in Him.
Heavenly Father, grant us faith and fear in Your Only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, that He may be our Life, our Fortress, our Salvation in the days when we have peace and in the days we are much afflicted by all who hate You, that we may stand firm in our faith in You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.