Whom shall I fear?

David does not say there is nothing to fear. His life at the time was full of legitimately frightening things — armies, betrayals, a king hunting him through the hills. Instead of denying the dangers, he asks two rhetorical questions that put them in their place: given who the LORD is to me, whom shall I fear?

Look at the three titles he stacks up first. Light — so the darkness ahead is not as unreadable as it feels. Salvation — so the outcome is not actually in the hands of the things that threaten. Strength of my life — so today’s supply of courage does not depend on today’s supply of sleep.

Fear shrinks when it is asked to name itself in front of God. Try David’s method this morning: put the fear in the question. The LORD is my light and my salvation — whom, exactly, shall I fear? Hold the question open until the honest answer arrives.