NUMBER THREE:  FEAR IS NOT A GIVEN

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High 
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and 
my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 
Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare 
and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you 
with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; 
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 
You will not fear the terror of night, 
nor the arrow that flies by day,”
~~Psalm 91:1-5~~

The Hebrew word for dwells (yashab) means to sit down and remain.  The person who sits down and remains in the shelter of God will rest.  (Notice it doesn’t say “might” rest, but “will” rest). Never wanting to assume I know what a word means, I looked up the word “rest” in the dictionary, and just wow.  Rest is freedom from activity and labor; peace of mind or spirit. 

FREEDOM!!  PEACE!!   Yes, please!!   

We learn from this verse that both are available to us, when we choose to sit down in the presence of God.  In His presence we find that “his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart”.  The Hebrew word for faithfulness (’emeth) means stability; trustworthiness; firmness; perpetuity (eternal).  God’s eternal stability and trustworthiness will be our shield and rampart.  This was interesting to me.  The Hebrew word for shield (tsinnah) comes from the root (tsen) which means to be prickly; a thorn; hence, a cactus hedge.  So God is my large shield, guarding me as if by prickliness.  The Hebrew word for rampart (cocherah) comes from the root (cachar) which means something surrounding the person.  (Cocherah) means a bulwark, which is a solid wall-like structure raised for defense.  So God’s stability and eternal trustworthiness is a large, prickly shield that surrounds His children to guard and defend us.  

Fear is not a given.  We have a choice.
Fear…or pull up a seat and rest in God’s faithfulness.