Living By Faith: Dread - Monday Morning Summer Devotion Series - Week 5
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The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good. God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Everyone has turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good not even one. Will the evildoers never learn-those who devour my people as men eat bread and who do not call on God? There they were, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to dread. God scattered the bones of those who attacked you; you put them to shame for God despised them. Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
Psalm 53
Psalms 53 and 14 are almost identical. They have the same exact words, except for verse 5. Both tell of the folly of ignoring the truth of God. Both talk about the sinful nature of people. The difference is that verse 5 in Psalm 53 is not addressed those who foolishly don’t believe, but to believers in their own foolishness.
The Hebrew word pachad is translated here as “dread,” but it can also mean “fear.” God’s people were overwhelmed with dread, or fear, when there was nothing to fear. God had destroyed His enemies and the enemies of His people in the Red Sea Crossing, and yet, they fear. We do not need to fear!
For Christians, this Psalm is even more comforting when we realize God has destroyed the enemies we could never defeat: sin, death, and the power of the devil. Salvation for God’s people has come from Zion, where Jesus cried, “It is finished!” and death lost its sting (1 Cor. 15:55). The worst that can happen to any of us is we die. But death has already been defeated. There is now nothing to dread or be afraid of.
I pray that this comfort from God’s Word fills you as you face your fears with the power of God’s promises.
Lord, I thank you for defeating the unholy trio of sin, death, and the devil. Help me to know that even if the worst should happen, I will always rest safely in your arms. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Tim Norton
Navajo, New Mexico