Whom shall I fear?

 Of course. This powerful rhetorical question comes from the heart of King David in Psalm 27, and it echoes into the hearts of believers for all time. It is a declaration of defiant faith in the face of any and every threat.

Here is a poem and meditation on that courageous cry.

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Whom Shall I Fear?

The threat may come by cover of night, Or in the day,in brutal light. It may be real,it may be dread, A voice of warning in my head.

It may be man, with tongue or sword, A consequence I can’t afford. It may be news that shakes my core, And makes me fear what is in store.

But in the midst of it, a sound, A truth on which my world is bound, A question asked from faith,not fright, That turns the darkness into light:

“The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?”(Psalm 27:1)

Whom shall I fear? If God is my light,then darkness must flee. If God is my salvation,then what can truly harm me? If God is my stronghold,my fortress, my tower, Then He is my safety,my unshakable power.

The list of “whoms” may long appear, But shrivels when my God is near. Forwhom can stand against the Lord? What enemy can match His sword?

Not any man, whose breath is frail, Whose best-laid plans are doomed to fail. Not any demon,foe, or curse, For Christ has overcome the worse. Not even death,that final sting, For He is life,and life does bring.

“Whom shall I fear?” The answer’s clear: There is no one and nothing here— No power of hell,no earthly scheme— That can disrupt His holy dream For me,His child. So I will stand, Held by His everlasting hand.

I will not fear the coming day, I will not fear what men may say. I will not fear the unknown end, For on my God,I can depend.

The Lord is my light. The Lord is my salvation. The Lord is my stronghold. Therefore, I shall fear no one.

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Understanding the Promise (Psalm 27:1)

This verse provides three names for God that answer every fear:

1. My Light: Fear thrives in darkness—the darkness of uncertainty, ignorance, and the unknown. God is the light that pierces through it all. He reveals the truth, shows the way forward, and exposes the emptiness of the threats we fear. What unknown are you facing? He is your light.

2. My Salvation: This is His role as rescuer and deliverer. He saves us from ultimate evil (sin and death) and from the immediate dangers we face. The word implies safety, protection, and victory. What do you need to be saved from today? He is your salvation.

3. The Stronghold of My Life: A stronghold is a fortress, an impenetrable place of refuge. God Himself is our personal fortress. When we feel weak and vulnerable, we can run to Him and be absolutely secure. What makes you feel vulnerable? He is your stronghold.

A Prayer Against Fear:

"Lord God, you are my light, my salvation, and my stronghold. Your Word asks, 'Whom shall I fear?' Right now,I bring my fear of [name your specific fear] before you. I declare that because you are with me,I do not need to be afraid. Forgive me for looking at the size of my fear instead of the size of my God. I run to you,my fortress. I trust in your deliverance. Shine your light on my path and show me the way forward. My trust is in you alone.In Jesus' mighty name, Amen."