FEAR NOT: Psalm 91

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night;
nor for the arrow that flieth by day

Psalm 91:5

BACKGROUND/COMMENTARY:  According to Matthew Henry's commentary, "A great truth [is] laid down in general [in this chapter], That all those who live a life of communion with God are constantly safe under his protection, and may therefore preserve a holy serenity and security of mind at all times (v. 1)..."

"he will not only keep them from evil, but from the fear of evil" v. 5

"When we are retired into our chambers, our beds, and have made all as safe as we can about us, yet there is terror by night, from thieves and robbers, winds and storms, besides those things that are the creatures of fancy and imagination, which are often most frightful of all. We read of fear in the night, Cant. 3:8. There is also a pestilence that walketh in darkness, as that was which slew the first-born of the Egyptians, and the army of the Assyrians. No locks nor bars can shut out diseases, while we carry about with us in our bodies the seeds of them." "Here is great security promised to believers in the midst of this danger: "Thou shalt not be afraid. God by his grace will keep thee from disquieting distrustful fear (that fear which hath torment) in the midst of the greatest dangers. Wisdom shall keep thee from being causelessly afraid, and faith shall keep thee from being inordinately afraid. Thou shalt not be afraid of the arrow, as knowing that though it may hit thee it cannot hurt thee; if it take away the natural life, yet it shall be so far from doing any prejudice to the spiritual life that it shall be its perfection.' A believer needs not fear, and therefore should not fear, any arrow, because the point is off, the poison is out. O death! where is thy sting? It is also under divine direction, and will hit where God appoints and not otherwise. Every bullet has its commission. Whatever is done our heavenly Father's will is done; and we have no reason to be afraid of that."

PERSONAL APPLICATION: It's true… it's during the night when our fears are magnified. Many times, those fears keep us awake and deprive us of that all-important peace of mind. But, if we are trusting in God as we should, we will find great reassurance and comfort that God has everything under control and we can trust Him to take away those fears and keep us safe in His loving hands.