A battle in the soul.
Faith and fear are in conflict. Plausible reasons are suggested why the fight should be given up, but nobler thoughts prevail.
I. FEAR CONFRONTING FAITH. (Psalms 11:1-3.) The outlook is discouraging. Our foes are many and strong; more, they are inveterate in malice; more still, they have already gained ground, and amidst the overturn of all right principles and the confusion worse confounded, it seems as if they were to prevail all along the line. In such a state of things selfish fear suggests—Why fight longer? Our best efforts are fruitless; we are spending our strength and labouring in vain. Better bow to the inevitable; better look to ourselves ere it be too late. The temptation is subtle and dangerous; even the best of us have felt its force. It was Jeremiah who said, "I will not speak any more in his Name" (Jeremiah 20:9); it was the great Elijah who cried out, as if in despair, "I only am left, and they seek my life" (1 Kings 19:10). Then there are not wanting false and mistaken friends, who say, as St. Peter to our Lord, "This shall not be unto thee" (Matthew 16:22), or as the disciples said to St. Paul, "Go not up to Jerusalem" (Acts 21:11-13; Nehemiah 6:10, Nehemiah 6:11). So it has been in all great enterprises. There are lions in the way; difficulties arise that seem to the fearful impossibilities. So it is specially in the Christian life. "The fear of man bringeth a snare," but so also does the fear that rises in our own hearts.
II. FAITH CONQUERING FEAR. (Verses 4-7.) God's truth is like Constantine's banner: "By this we conquer."
1. Realizing God's presence. God is not afar off, but near; he is not an indifferent spectator, but pledged to defend the right. The end is in his hands. He will save his people. The presence of an earthly chief gives courage to his soldiers: how much more should we take heart when we know that God is with us!
2. Confiding in God's protection. It is not chance, nor caprice, nor arbitrary rule, that settles things, but the will of God. He "trieth the righteous." There is a holy, loving discipline. The furnace may be hot, but it is for the purifying of the gold (Job 23:10). Let us have patience (James 5:10, James 5:11; 1 Peter 1:3-7).
3. Anticipating God's deliverance. Faith looks beyond the seen. When the vision of God's power is revealed, our fears give place to confidence, our tremblings to tranquillity (2 Kings 6:17). What God loves must live. What God has promised he will certainly perform (2 Peter 2:9).
"Put we our quarrel to the will of Heaven,
Who, when he sees the hour is ripe on earth,
Will rain hot vengeance on th' offenders' heads."
(Shakespeare.)
W.F.