THE CONFIDENCE OF FAITH

Psalms 27:3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

This statement follows the declaration in preceding verse. David had faith in his calling and unction. This faith created in him the assurance that no one could arise against him without incurring God’s wrath; that no one could really touch him without touching the apple of God’s eyes (Deuteronomy 32:10) In his trouble, David found took faith and courage in reviewing the history of the children of Israel, in knowing that no one ever touched them without receiving due retribution from God.

Would today the ungodly crowd attack the virtuous? Would the armies of the wicked strengthen themselves against God’s people? Does the sounds of approaching drums of war pound the horizon? Does fear settle at the thought of the coming days when wicked evil forces will seem to have won and conquered the world, even the godly?

This we should do. Look in the Holy Book and read the stories of old. See how God always protects His children. Reaffirm to our soul that the wicked always gets full retribution. When we have done these things, we should follow the advice given to us by Peter. Peter was a man who suffered much internal persecution battling his own doubts, fear and confusion, and in the end, he also suffered much external persecution, which ended in crucified upside down. He said, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” (2 Peter 1:10).

The man who has the assurance of the calling of God cannot fail. How can one with the confidence that he has been chosen and elected to sit with Christ at the right hand of the Father, fear the armies of the ungodly (John 14:3)?

Psalms 37:35-40 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. (36) Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. (37) Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. (38) But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. (39) But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. (40) And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.