Nisan 24
No Evil
“…I fear no evil …” (Ps 23:4 ISR)
One of the words
given as the opposite of “fear” is the word “peace”, which in Hebrew is the
word shalom.[1] I have
had shalom defined to me as "the
absence of the forces that cause and create chaos," which, while true in one
sense, in another sense, it is not. What
I am referring to is walking through
the “valley of the shadow of death”.
We can recognize
and acknowledge the fact that there is
evil and chaos in this world; however, we must not allow it to interfere with
our focus on our Master. Developing “tunnel
vision” – where our eyes are focused on one
thing (person, element, or substance) only – requires discipline, something
many of us have as yet not perfected. It
is when we expand our trust and belief – our emunah – in the One we
recognize as our Deliverer, our Shepherd that our “tunnel vision” will
strengthen.
And that is not to
say that we do not ever find ourselves in situations where we are fearful. Do you suppose Daniel was a little afraid
when he found himself in a pit with hungry lions (see Dan chapter 6)? What of Joseph, facing years in prison (see
Gen 39:20)? We have listed for us in
Hebrews 11 the exploits of many, those that trusted in the One who created them
to deliver them from all "the forces
that create and cause chaos and evil”. Should
we not do the same?
“Because you have made
יהוה
–
My refuge, the Most High – your dwelling place, no evil befalls you, And a plague does not come near your tent …” (Ps 91:9-10 ISR)
“YAHWEH knows the days
of the upright; yea, their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be
ashamed in an evil time; and they shall be full in days of famine.” (Ps 37:18-19 HRB)
“And lead (bring) us
not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom
and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” (Mat 6:13 AMP)
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