I Will Fear No Evil
Psalm 23:4, “I will fear no evil”.
Whenever I read these particular words of the psalmist, my heart is compelled to say, “Oh the boldness of such a declaration!” By boldness, I do not in any wise mean to suggest that the psalmist was being arrogant, for the context of this psalm clearly reveals that David was indeed aware of his total dependence upon the Great Shepherd. By boldness, I do not mean that the psalmist was being reckless, for it is clear that every step along the way of his journey was being guided by the sovereign supply of God’s presence and provision. By boldness, I am simply alluding to the fact that David possessed a confidence beyond the scope of the norm! This fact is borne out when we look at the situation which brought about this declaration.
Think, for a moment, about the circumstances in which the psalmist uttered these words. He is not standing upon the heights of the mountain peaks when he declares, “I will fear no evil”! He is not lying down in the lush grasses of the meadow nor sipping waters from the peaceful brook when he proclaims “I will not fear”! Neither is he resting safely in the sheepfold in the abode of the Shepherd when he makes this bold assertion. Instead, he is in the midst of the rugged place, he is passing through the dark vale, he is journeying along the narrow gorge while he proclaims, “I will fear no evil”! He stands in the very place where “evil” is closest, and yet, he is able to sound forth this confident cry! He enters knowingly into the valley, he stands confidently in the coldness of the shadowy gloom, and he looks boldly into the face of the dangers that lurk in the darkness to declare “I will fear no evil”!
How can this be? Where does one find such strength and courage? What is the source from which such fearless faith flows? In order to understand the measure of confidence that is on display in this statement, we need to establish an understanding of exactly what David means when he uses the term “evil”. The word “evil” comes from the Hebrew (ra’- masculine) or (ra’ah – feminine). Depending upon the particular contextual usage of the word, it can have several different connotations. For instance, when the word is used as an adjective, it typically refers to those actions, thoughts, or deeds which are ethically and morally wicked or bad.
As an example of this usage, the book of Proverbs makes reference to an immoral woman called, “the adulteress” (Proverbs 6:26). Solomon refers to her vile and wicked ways several times, and as he does, he calls her by several names. He calls her a “strange woman” (Proverbs 5:3; 5:20; 6:24; 20:16; 23:27; 27:13). He calls her a “whorish woman” (Proverbs 6:26). However, he also calls her an “evil woman” (Proverbs 6:24). In that particular context, you see the word “evil” being used to describe the morally corrupt and wicked ways which define the sinful lifestyle of this “adulteress”.
If this were the particular way in which the psalmist was using this word in our text, one might misunderstand the text altogether. If he were referencing “evil” in the since of practical wickedness and sin, it might seem that he is saying that he “will fear no evil” because he would never walk down an “evil” path, or he would never do any “evil” thing. But this is most certainly not the psalmist’s point! You see, all of us possess the capability, in our flesh, of falling prey to the lures of temptation. Every believer is susceptible to the potential of doing that which is “evil” in a practical sense. And, just in case you have convinced yourself that such things are not in the realm of possibility for your life, I would remind you of the warning Paul gave to the Church at Corinth: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) You see, in the case of practical “evil” and man’s capacity to indulge in such things, in that case, it would not be wise to say, “I will fear no evil”.
In issues of practical “evil”, we would do well to heed the admonition given by Paul to the Gentile believers at Rome in Romans 11:20-22. In that passage, Paul recounts to the church how the Jews had been cut off (but only for a season) because of their unbelief and sin. Yet, he also takes the occasion to warn the Roman people that they were also susceptible to wandering down such a path. Consider these words: “Well; because of unbelief they were cut off, and thou standest by faith. BE NOT HIGHMINDED, BUT FEAR: For if God spared not the natural branches, TAKE HEED lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but on thee, goodness, IF THOU CONTINUE IN HIS GOODNESS: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” Do you see it friend? In the case of practical “evil”, in the case of their potential to fall, Paul clearly warns the believers at Rome to “fear” such a possibility. Thus, it becomes clear that the psalmist is not referring to practical wickedness or sin when he says, “I will fear no evil”.
So then, if our text does not refer to practical “evil”, what is David speaking of when he says, “I will fear no evil”? In the case of the 23rd Psalm, you will notice that the word “evil” is not used as an adjective. Instead, the word is used here in the noun form. While this word can refer to ethical or moral types of “evil” even when used in a noun form, in some cases, it can also refer to an injury, misery, adversity, or calamity that comes upon one’s life through various circumstances. In these instances, the word “evil” does not pertain to the issue of what is wicked as compared to what is righteous; instead, it pertains to what is painful versus what is pleasurable, or it deals with adversity, misery, and calamity, as opposed to comfort, delight, and calm.
This, for example, is the usage of the word “evil” in the plight of Job. After Job had lost all his earthly gain, after each of his children had perished, after his health began to fail him, Job’s wife looked upon his misery and said, “Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God and die” (Job 2:9)! Yet, from the midst of his sufferings and in the face of his adversity, Job looked at his wife and said, “Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive EVIL?” (Job 2:10) When Job said that they were receiving “evil” from God’s own hand, was he accusing God of doing wrong? Was Job indicting God with the charge of wickedness? Absolutely not! Job was simply revealing what adversity looks like from the perspective of those who are in the midst of its miseries!
This, I believe, is the meaning of the word “evil” in Psalm 23:4. When David declares, “I will fear no evil”, he is simply stating that he, by God’s grace, would not be afraid to face whatever hardship, whatever difficulty, whatever adversity awaited him in “the valley of the shadow of death”. Again, this was not arrogance on the part of the psalmist, but it was reliance! This was not a case of David being cocky, but instead, it was a case of him being confident in the ever present God! This is why he proclaims, “I will fear no evil: FOR Thou art with me”! Oh the power of that word “for”! Oh the clarity and revelation that it brings! The interjection of that one little word into the text reveals that David’s ability to say “I will fear no evil” was not based upon a misguided self-reliance. Such confidence was merely the result of having faith in God and having a fear of God!
I mentioned that the confidence which we see on display in the psalmist here is “beyond the scope of the norm”, but why is it so? How can David look into the gloom and darkness of adversity and calamity and say, “I am not afraid”? I am fully persuaded that the reason the psalmist had a faith that was beyond the normal is because his fear was set upon things which are beyond the temporal! In other words, David had set his fear upon the Sovereign instead of placing it upon the seasons and situations of life!
Think of what the Bible has to say about misplaced fear. 1 John 4:18 says, “…fear hath torment”. When we fear man rather than God or the creature instead of the Creator, or when we have greater reverence and awe for adversity than we do for the Almighty, it causes our hearts to be overwhelmed, and in turn, it causes our life and labors for God to be hindered. In fact, it is interesting to note that the word “torment” in 1 John 4:18 comes from the Greek word (kolasis). The word means to correct, to punish, or to penalize. The root of this word is (kolazo), which means to lop or prune, to put in check, to restrain or to curb. Think of what this means dear friend. Misplaced fear punishes us, but not in a positive sense!
When we fear things other than God, we have opened the door to the enemy! This misguided or misplaced fear can cause our work for God to be restrained or curbed! This is exactly the point of Paul’s admonition to the Church at Rome in Romans 8:15. Paul declares, “For ye have not received the spirit of BONDAGE again TO FEAR”. You see friend, fear that is set upon anything other than God brings the human heart into “bondage”; it holds us captive and restrains us from pressing on in our labors for the cause of Christ! Such fear becomes a dreadful taskmaster; cracking its whip upon our souls and forbidding us to give ourselves wholly to God’s will and work in our lives!
This, I believe, is what Paul was referring to when he admonished Timothy saying, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) Note the term “sound mind”. It comes from the Greek word (sophronismos), which is derived from the Greek word (sophronizo). The word (sophronizo) carries the idea of restoring a man to his senses or of holding him to his duty. Thus, if misplaced fear is the opposite of having a “sound mind”, then those who are bound by such fear cannot think sensibly, nor can they act rationally concerning spiritual and eternal things. You see, while having a fear of God will keep a man ON the right road, having a fear of adversity or misery can keep a man FROM the right road!
Do you now see the source of David’s strength? Can you now recognize the cause of his confidence? When he proclaimed, “I will fear no evil”, it was not because of pride; it was because of perspective! David clearly acknowledges that “the valley of the shadow of death” is a place where “evil” is waiting to overtake and overwhelm. Yet, David refuses to succumb to such misery. He in very essence is saying, “I will not dread the dreadful place; I will not fear the fearful circumstance!” And why was it so? Such boldness was only realized because David had placed his awe, reverence, and fear upon God, and therefore he proclaims, “I will fear no evil: FOR THOU ART WITH ME”!
Oh that we might remember the clear admonition of Solomon to “FEAR GOD, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)! Oh that we might learn to set our awe and dread upon our Maker and Master! If we were to direct our fear upon Him, no fear of adversity could hold us, no dread of misery could hinder us, and no trepidation of trouble could stop us from pressing on and running well for Christ! When we fear the Eternal God rather than the “evil” that lurks in the shadows of “the valley”, when we stand in awe of Him above all else, then we will fully understand the peaceful promise of Proverbs 14:26, “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge”! Then, and only then, will we be able to cry with the psalmist, “I will fear no evil”!
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