Psalm 23 - I will fear no evil, for you are with me (10)

What, then, shall we say in response to these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us?                                    - Romans 8:31



God is with us

Blessed is the people of whom this is true;
blessed is the people whose God is the LORD.                          - Psalm 144:15

Though we may have to pass through many dark valleys we can be fearless, for God is with us. He has ransomed us by his blood on the cross, and he holds us completely safe in the palm of his hand. Our good shepherd will not let us wander too far from him, and so we can rest in him knowing that our souls are secure and that all things that happen are for our ultimate good.

God is enough

Even if a mother were to forget the child at her breast, still our God would not forget us [Isaiah 49:15]. Therefore, if a young child can rest secure in her mother's bosom in the midst of calamity, how much more we can rest in the shadow of the Almighty [Psalm 91:1].

Christ's blood shed for our sake on the cross is sufficient to credit us with righteousness through faith, which demonstrates our Father's desire to protect us. And we know that if our Father so desires he is powerful enough to protect us from all the arrows of the evil one. Therefore we will fear no evil.



God is satisfied

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.                 - Hebrews 6:19-20

How is it that God can afford us this security of soul? Through the blood of Jesus Christ.

When Jesus died on the cross the curtain separating the holy of holies (where God dwelt and where the high priest would offer sacrifices once a year) and the rest of the temple tore from top to bottom. This symbolised that Jesus had become our Great High Preist, who now eternally intercedes for us before the throne of God. God is satisfied with Christ and his righteousness is imputed onto us.



God is just

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just

and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.   - 1 John 1:9

If it were not for us being in Christ, and his spirit being in us, we would have much to fear. But because he is with us, God judges us according to Christ's perfection and not according to our own short-comings. For God to condemn us for our sins when we are in Christ would actually be unjust, as Christ has completely paid our debts for us. Truly, we fear no evil because he is with us.

O, to feel as David did the security of soul that Christ has bought us! Let us pray earnestly that we would truly believe the gospel of grace, lest we forget and drown in the strains and hardships of life. 

"I want to talk to you about heaven," said a dying parent to a member of his family.
"We may not be spared to each other long.
May we meet around the throne of glory, one family in heaven!" 

Overpowered at the thought, his beloved daughter exclaimed,
"Surely you do not think there is any danger?" 

Calmly and beautifully he replied,

"Danger, my darling! Oh, do not use that word! There can be no danger to the Christian, whatever may happen! All is right! All is well! God is love! All is well! Everlastingly well! Everlastingly well!"

[John Stevenson]