David is living in exile and he talks about fear also. His quotes go back to 1000 BC. He’s among his enemies and any direction he might turn he finds those who would harm him. You might think that the man who slew Goliath would not be afraid of anything. The truth is, he openly admits his fear. Verse 3 says, “When I am afraid…” The assumption is that there are times when he’s afraid. But he has learned how to deal with that fear. The next line of the same verse says, “I put my trust in you (God).”
Dwight L. Moody made a big deal about Psalm 56:3 when he compared it to Isaiah 12:2, which he called his favorite verse. It says, “I will trust and not be afraid.” To quote Moody, “You can travel first-class or second-class to heaven. Second class is, Psalm 56:3, When I’m afraid, I will trust in God. First class is Isaiah 12:2, I will trust, and not be afraid. That is the better way. Why not buy a first-class ticket?” I’m not sure David isn’t saying the same thing that Isaiah said. But either way, faith enables us to fly! Fear always holds us back.
We are often too much like the Ducks in Tony Compolo’s story: Every Sunday, the ducks in a certain town waddle out of their houses down Main Street to their church. They waddle into the sanctuary and squat in their proper pews. The duck choir waddles in and takes its place, and then the duck minister comes forward and opens the duck Bible. He reads to them: “Ducks! God has given you wings! With wings you can fly! With wings you can mount up and soar like eagles. No walls can confine you! No fences can hold you! You have wings. God has given you wings, and you can fly like birds!”
All the ducks shout, “Amen!” And then they all waddle home.
Chuck
But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? (Psalm 56:3-4)