Psalm 78:(1-)15-28, Security vs. anxiety (3)

5)    Bible Study.  How do we avail ourselves of the safety or security of God?

a)    The “peace of God” must begin by being at “peace with God.”  Security is bound up in a relationship with God. 

i)      In yesterday’s reading (Phil. 4:1-9) Paul not only called two women to peace (4:2-5), he also called believers to pray about their anxieties and experience the unexplainable peace of God (4:6-7).  He called believers to focus on eternal things, on good and virtuous things, so this peace of God would be with them moment by moment (4:8-9).  If you had read on (4:10-20) you would have seen Paul in his contented state.  Paul’s contentment (sense of safety) came from his relationship with God.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (4:13).  And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (4:19).

ii)   Besides prayer, our relationship with God through His word, the Bible, is foundational to security.  Jesus, of course, promised peace to His disciples (Jn. 14:27).  It was also God’s plan and promise in the Old Testament, especially in Proverbs.  Wisdom says, whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure without fear of evil (1:33).  The fear of the LORD leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited with evil (19:23).  Jesus taught the same things in the powerful illustration of the “wise man and foolish man” (Matt. 7:24-27).  The issue is, who hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, or does not do them.  In other words, it has to do with the Word of God. 

The previous verses require us to speak briefly about the nature of “security.”  Does this mean we will have no problems?  Does it mean we will never face death?  Of course not.  I was thinking about Samuel, when God told him to go anoint David as king (1 Sam. 16:2).  He told the LORD Saul would kill him if he did that.  So, God gave him a way to do it that would not arouse suspicion.  Sometimes we think that faith in Christ is a death sentence.  It is and it isn’t.  Our relationship with Him calls us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1).  So if death is what He has in mind, yes, it is a willingness to die.  But think about Christ.  On several occasions He escaped crowds that wanted to kill Him (e.g. Jn. 8:59; 10:31,39-40; 11:54).  But in Gethsemane He knew it was the Father’s will.  Paul was the same.  He often was in danger of death and often fled from those situations.  But in Ac. 20:22-24 he knew God wanted him to go into a situation that would involve physical suffering.  What we see in both is a relationship with God, a daily walk, where they are led by God.  They were at peace in suffering because they knew God wanted them there.  To say “we have no worries” is not the same as saying “we have no problems.”