Program 286: Fear No Evil

Scripture is full of promises that can be claimed under any and all circumstances, especially when in danger.

Welcome to WLC Radio, a subsidiary of WLC Radio Ministry, an online ministry dedicated to learning how to live in constant readiness for the Savior's return.

For two thousand years, believers of every generation have longed to be the last generation. Contrary to popular belief, though, Christ did not give believers “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, he repeatedly warned that his coming would take even the faithful by surprise. Yahushua urgently warned believers to be ready because, he said, “The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” [Matthew 24:44]

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

* * *Part 1: (Miles & Dave)

Miles Robey: What’s your response when you’re in a frightening or dangerous situation? Do you go into instant fight mode? Do you flee? Maybe you freeze or fawn. All of these are common responses to overwhelming fear or danger. People who have fought and still been hurt might choose the next survival response which is to flee the situation. People who have found that both fighting and fleeing still end up with them getting hurt might respond with a freeze response. If you don’t know what to do or say, do and say nothing.

Fawning is a response that sometimes people dismiss as cowardice. But it’s not. Fawning is a valuable survival skill for people whose lived experiences have shown them that neither fight, nor flight, nor freezing in place can save them from being hurt.

Hi, I’m Miles Robey and you’re listening to World’s Last Chance Radio where we cover a variety of topics related to Scripture, prophecy, practical piety, Biblical beliefs, and living in constant readiness for the Savior’s unexpected return.

During his first inaugural address in 1933, American president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, famously observed, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” It’s more than just a catchy, repeatable phrase. There’s profound truth there for Christians because fear immobilizes us. When we’re afraid, it’s difficult to think clearly and know what to do. And let’s face it: the world today can be a very scary place. Whether you look at international relations between countries, national politics, unprecedent extremes of weather that cause loss of life, economic difficulties with the rising cost of gas, or relationships on a personal level, life isn’t easy.

Today, Dave Wright is going to be leading us through a study of various passages of Scripture that contain promises of protection. We can have confidence that Yahuwah will take care of us regardless of the situation in which we find ourselves. Later, Jane Lamb has another special promise from Yah’s word.

Dave? Do you ever get the feeling that life is like a pressure cooker? The older you get, the more pressure you’re under?

Dave Wright: Absolutely. And the older I get, the more precious Yah’s promises become. I’ve always appreciated the promises of Scripture, but when I was a teenager, I hadn’t had much life experience yet. The more life experience I get, the more opportunities I have to claim the promises, and so the more precious they become.

Now, one interest you and I share is a love of history. How did you first develop your love of history? Was it in school?

Miles laughs: Hardly! I think it was Spanish philosopher George Santayana that said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Those lessons are found in the stories of history. But that’s not what schools teach in history class. All they do is teach the big, sweeping movements of history combined with boring dates. That doesn’t teach you anything.

Dave: I agree. So, how’d you develop a love of history?

Miles: Well, in my school library, there was a series of books based on the lives of famous men and women. It covered their childhoods as well as their adult accomplishments that made them famous. I really enjoyed reading those.

Dave: Like you said, it’s the stories of history that teach us the lessons we need to know so we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past.

Scripture is perfect for this. It’s full of stories and one of the themes that are woven throughout these stories is that you can rely on Yahuwah. Like you say at the close of every program, “He is safe to trust.”

So, today, with evil increasing on every side, I want to look specifically at the promises Yahuwah has made to deliver us from evil.

Let’s start with one we all know: Psalm 23 verse 4. Would you turn there and read that for us, please?

Miles:

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Dave: We’re never alone. It doesn’t matter how dire the circumstances in which we find ourselves, or how dangerous the way, we never walk alone because Yahuwah is with us. This is what gives us confidence.

David often had to flee before King Saul. He also had to flee before the Philistines and at least one time, they actually captured him. That was the situation under which he wrote the 56^th psalm. But he didn’t lose his confidence in Yahuwah. What did he say in Psalm 56 verses 3 and 4?

Miles:

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
In [Yah], whose word I praise—
in [Yahuwah] I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?

Dave: We’re human. Humans who have power over us can be very scary. But when that happens, we’re to look to the greater power of Yahuwah. This is what David did, and we can learn from his example. He didn’t die at the hands of King Saul. He didn’t die by the point of a Philistine spear. He trusted in Yahuwah and Yah always came through for him.

Read Psalm 118 verse 6 next.

Miles: “Yahuwah is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

Dave: When we make it a habit to go to Yahuwah for help, we will begin to see answers to prayer. This will strengthen our faith and give us even more victories. What did John the Beloved say in 1 John 4:18?

Miles: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”

Dave: One of the themes the stories of Scripture develops is that we don’t need to fear because Yahuwah is a refuge we can flee to. He is our strength. This means that His strength sustains us no matter what we have to go through.

Read Psalm 62, verses 5 to 8.

Miles:

My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my hope is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved.
In God is my salvation and my glory;
The rock of my strength,
And my refuge, is in God.

Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.

Dave: It’s only when we rely on Yahuwah that we can say with full assurance, “I shall not be moved.”

One psalm that expresses this particularly well is Psalm 27. Would you please read the first five verses?

Miles:

Yahuwah is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
Yahuwah is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked advance against me
to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.

One thing I ask from Yahuwah,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of Yahuwah
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of Yahuwah
and to seek Him in His temple.
For in the day of trouble
He will keep me safe in His dwelling;
He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.

Dave: What incredible confidence David is expressing here! We know the many stories of when he almost lost his life to Saul and other enemies, and yet throughout it all, he maintained his confidence in Yah. This shows us that we can have firm confidence in Yahuwah, too.

Miles: One of my favorites is Psalm 41:10. Do you mind if I share that? I memorized it when I was going through a tough time in my 20s.

Dave: Sure! Go ahead!

Miles: It says:

Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Dave: That’s beautiful.

Miles: It’s helped me a lot over the years.

Dave: There are a lot of powerful promises in the books of the prophets, too. We tend to look for promises in the psalms, but the prophecies have them, as well. Naturally! Yahuwah always provides a way of escape even as He reveals danger that’s coming.

Would you please turn to Jeremiah 16 verse 19?

Miles:

Yahuwah, my strength and my fortress,
my refuge in time of distress,
to you the nations will come
from the ends of the earth and say,
Our ancestors possessed nothing but false gods,
worthless idols that did them no good.

Dave: Another thing Scripture repeatedly urges us is to be strong, to be steadfast and to “fear not.” Now, that can be kind of hard when you find yourself in a dangerous situation. But when our confidence isn’t in ourselves—it’s not in our own goodness or worthiness or our own strength—when our confidence is in our heavenly Father, then we can be strong and steadfast.

Isaiah 54:14 promises:

In righteousness you will be established:
Tyranny will be far from you;
you will have nothing to fear.
Terror will be far removed;
it will not come near you.

Turn now to Isaiah 44 and read the first two verses.

Miles: All right. It says:

But now listen, Jacob, my servant,
Israel, whom I have chosen.
This is what Yahuwah says—
he who made you, who formed you in the womb,
and who will help you:
Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant,
Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.

Dave: This is powerful! The one who made you, the one who chose you is saying, “Don’t be afraid!”

What does He say in verse 8?

Miles: Uhhh …

Do not tremble, do not be afraid.
Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago?
You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me?
No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.

Dave: He’s got it all under control; we don’t know to be afraid.

The problem is, we’re sinners. We’ve been afraid of our Creator since Adam and Eve heard His voice in the garden and feeling guilty, ran and hid. So, Yahushua also made a point of reassuring us of the Father’s love. What did he say in Matthew 10 verses 29 to 31?

Miles: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Dave: Turn over to Luke 12. Here, Yahushua went into quite some detail about the problems that commonly trouble us, telling us that even here, the Father is in control. We don’t need to be afraid.

Miles: Which verses?

Dave: Uhhh … 22 to 32.

Miles:

Then Yahushua said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

I like how he says, “your Father.” Yahuwah is not just Yahushua’s Father; He’s ours, too.

Dave: And as a Father, He fulfills the fatherly role of providing for His children. It’s very confidence inspiring.

Miles: It really is.

Dave: Another category of promise that can be claimed are promises that reveal Yahuwah is our defense. Job 22:25 declares, “Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defense.” What a powerful promise is that! “The Almighty” will stand in your defense.

This way of describing Yahuwah appears a lot in the psalms. Turn to Psalm 59. This song of faith was written after Saul had sent soldiers to surround David’s home. The psalm opens with the plea, “Deliver me from my enemies, O God; be my fortress against those who are attacking me.”

David’s faith in Yahuwah’s ability to deliver can be seen in verses 9 and 10[a]. Why don’t you read those for us?

Miles:

You are my strength, I watch for you;
you, God, are my fortress,
my God on whom I can rely.

Dave: That’s confidence! The psalm closes with another statement of confidence in Yahuwah’s ability to defend. Read verses 16 and 17.

Miles:

But I will sing of Your strength,
in the morning I will sing of Your love;
for You are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.

You are my strength, I sing praise to You;
You, God, are my fortress,
my God on whom I can rely.

Dave: Yahuwah can do more in answer to prayer than He otherwise could. He’ll never force our will, so if we need something, we need to ask. He wants us to claim these promises so He can fulfill them!

Turn over a few chapters to Psalm 62 and read the first two verses.

Miles:

Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from Him.
Truly He is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

Dave: I find this passage particularly fascinating because David is here expressing patience. Patience is something I find impossible to exercise when I’m afraid. But David’s confidence in Yahuwah to keep His promises was so strong, that he could say “my soul finds rest in God.” Another version translates that as “For God alone I patiently wait.” But it’s because of Yahuwah’s omnipotent strength that he knew he could patiently wait for Him to act on his behalf.

Read verses 5 to 8 now.

Miles:

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God^[c];
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.

Dave: Having confidence that Yahuwah is our defense is what lets us trust, even when facing danger or calamity. The Cambridge dictionary defines “defense” as: “the ability to protect against attack or harm.” So, every time Scripture refers to Yahuwah as our “defense,” it is stating that Yahuwah has the ability to protect us against attack or harm. Psalm 89:18 rejoices, “For Yahuwah is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.”

What does Psalm 94 verse 22 say?

Miles: “But Yahuwah is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.”

Dave: Years before Franklin Delano Roosevelt said that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself, a religious writer wrote, quote: “We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way [Yahuwah] has led us, and His teaching in our past history.” Why? Because it is in our past, in our history, that we see how Yahuwah has acted in defense of ourselves and others. This gives us confidence to trust Him in the now.

Another reason Scripture gives us to inspire confidence in Yahuwah’s ability to protect us is to remind us that He is our Creator. Read the first four verses of Psalm 121. What does that say?

Miles:

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from Yahuwah,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

Dave: When the Maker of … everything … is your helper, when you’ve got Him in your corner, can you think of anything at all to fear?

Miles: No!

Dave: Turn next to Psalm 124. It’s short so I’d like you to read the whole thing. And as you do, notice that David readily acknowledges that, if it weren’t for Yahuwah, all would have been lost. It’s only because of His help that they were saved.

Go ahead.

Miles:

If Yahuwah had not been on our side—
let Israel say—
if Yahuwah had not been on our side
when people attacked us,
they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;
the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,
the raging waters
would have swept us away.

Praise be to Yahuwah,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
We have escaped like a bird
from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped.
Our help is in the name of Yahuwah,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

Dave: Notice the last verse: “Our help is in the name of Yahuwah.” Most of our modern Bibles translate that as “Our help is in the name of the Lord.” But “Lord” isn’t a name! The original Hebrew uses the divine name of Yahuwah. We are to call upon the name of Yahuwah. There is tremendous power in doing that.

Miles: Yes. I just want to insert here really quick: this is something we’ve covered in other programs. But in brief, the divine name comes from the verb of being, Hayah. So, you combine the divine name with your need, and it becomes a promise of fulfillment.

You need protection? BE safe!

You need a job, a way to pay your bills? BE provided for.

It’s really beautiful. Can you take a moment to share some of those verses with us?

Dave: Sure! Uh, Joel 2:32 assures us, quote: “It shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of Yahuwah shall be saved.” Yahuwah wants us to ask Him for help for anything that troubles us! Isaiah 59 verse 1 says, “Surely the arm of Yahuwah is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear.”

But, again, He’ll always respect our boundaries. He’s very polite. We have to ask if we need help.

Jeremiah 33 verse 3 is one of my favorite promises. Would you read that for us, please? Actually, read the first three verses. Let’s get this in context. You’ll see that Jeremiah was really suffering when this message came from Yahuwah. I want you to notice, too, the elements we’ve already seen: Jeremiah is urged to call upon Yahuwah, and the reason given to inspire his confidence in Yah’s power to save, is that He’s the Creator.

Go ahead. Jeremiah 33, verses 1 to 3.

Miles:

While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of Yahuwah came to him a second time: “This is what Yahuwah says, He who made the earth, Yahuwah who formed it and established it—Yahuwah is His name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’”

Dave: We can have every confidence when we trust in Yahuwah. Appearances don’t matter. What matters is reality, and that reality is Yahuwah. Turn to 1 Chronicles 28. Here, King David is encouraging his son, Solomon, to trust in Yahuwah. What does he say in verse 20?

Miles:

David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for Yahuwah God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of Yahuwah is finished.”

Dave: In so many ways, Yahuwah encourages us to trust Him. I want you to read what he told Joshua. This is one of the most beautiful and comforting passages in Scripture and it contains promises we can still claim today. Joshua 1 verses 5 to 9. It contains both promises and instructions on how to be successful in life.

Miles:

No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous …

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for Yahuwah your God will be with you wherever you go.”

I love how He keeps repeating over and over, “Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid.”

Dave: This reminds me of a quote I read recently from a 19^th-century writer. Let me see if I can find it …

Here we go. Can you see that? Could you read that for us?

Miles:

You need guidance from above. Trust in [Yahuwah] with all your heart, and He will never betray your trust. If you will ask help of [Yah] you need not ask in vain. In order to encourage us to have confidence and trust, He comes near us by His holy Word and Spirit, and seeks in a thousand ways to win our confidence. But in nothing does He take more delight than in receiving the weak who come to Him for strength. If we will find heart and voice to pray, He will be sure to find an ear to hear and an arm to save.

There is not a single instance in which [Yahuwah] has hidden His face from the supplication of His people. When every other resource failed, He was a present help in every emergency.

* * *

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Are Yahushua’s miracles proof that he is divine? That’s the question Miles and Dave look at in Program 281 called “Yahushua’s Miracles: Proof of Divinity?”

The answer isn’t as obvious as it sounds. If Christ’s miracles are indeed proof that he is divine, what does this mean with regards to others who have performed miracles? Moses drew water from a rock. Elijah multiplied food, making sure the widow’s barrel of meal never emptied throughout the length of the famine. Elijah not only multiplied food, but he also healed the sick and split the waters of the Jordan river to cross on dry land. Both Paul and Peter raised the dead. So if miracles can be taken as proof of divinity, what does this mean? Or are we misunderstanding the purpose of miracles? These are some of the questions addressed in Program 281. Look for “Yahushua’s Miracles: Proof of Divinity?” on WorldsLastChance.com.

* * *Part 2: (Miles & Dave)

Dave: One of the most powerful passages in Scripture that urges us to fear no evil is found in Psalm 91.

Miles: Oh, I love that psalm! We even taught it to our kids as a Scripture song.

Dave: It’s powerful and it covers lots of different circumstances that endanger Yah’s people but through which He will preserve and protect us. Let’s just take the time to read through that psalm. It’s so incredibly encouraging.

Miles: I love the poetic descriptions of Yahuwah’s protection, too.

All right. Here it is:

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of Yahuwah, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

Surely He will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His feathers,
and under His wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you say, “Yahuwah is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
For He will command His angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

“Because he loves me,” says Yahuwah, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name.
He will call on Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him My salvation.”

Dave: This is a passage it would benefit every believer to memorize. Yahuwah shields His children from evil. And this is repeated in other passages. What does Psalm 84 verse 11 say?

Miles:

For Yahuwah Elohim is a sun and shield;
Yahuwah bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does He withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.

Dave: That’s a promise you can claim for any number of difficult circumstances!

What about Proverbs 30 verse 5?

Miles: “Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”

Dave: This is the same promise Yahuwah made to Abram. But there’s an interesting detail in that passage I want to look at. Would you please read Genesis 15 verse 1?

Miles:

After this, the word of Yahuwah came to Abram in a vision:

“Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield,
your very great reward.

Dave: So, again, Yahuwah is our shield. He protects His children. But what’s the marginal reading for “shield” there?

Miles: Uhhh … sovereign!

Dave: That’s right. It’s an interesting marginal reference for the word shield. What this tells us is that Yahuwah, as our sovereign, has also pledged to shield us, to protect us. It’s the promise of a sovereign to a subject, as well as that of a Father to His child, and a Creator to the being He has made.

This is important because, historically, there has been something of a symbiotic relationship between sovereigns and their subjects. In exchange for tax dollars and pledges of fealty, sovereigns have pledged in return to protect their subjects, to uphold the law, and provide justice.

This was seen clearly when Queen Elizabeth II was crowned queen. She made pledges to govern the many territories under her rule justly and in accordance with their laws. In return, the Archbishop of Canterbury and his bishops pledged their loyalty. And then, in a continuance of ancient tradition that King Charles decided to set aside, the peers of the realm, one by one, paid homage and promised their allegiance to the young queen.

Miles: It’s why her coronation ceremony was so long!

Dave: And Charles’s was so much shorter.

Anyway, this idea that a sovereign has reciprocal responsibilities to their citizens is an old one. And one of Yahuwah’s pledged responsibilities as our sovereign is to protect us.

David understood the reciprocal responsibilities a sovereign has to his subjects. Would you please turn to 2 Samuel chapter 22 and read verses 2 and 3?

Miles:

Yahuwah is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation.
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—
from violent people you save me.

Dave: Again, “shield” here has a marginal reading of “sovereign.” “Horn” is an ancient symbol of power.

Turn now to Psalm 144 and read the first two verses.

Miles:

Praise be to Yahuwah my Rock,
who trains my hands for war,
my fingers for battle.
He is my loving God and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield, in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoples under me.

Dave: What this means for you and for me and for everyone listening, is that we are safe. It doesn’t matter what problem we’re struggling with, what danger we’re in, what situation is confusing to us. No one can pluck us out of our Father’s hands. Yahuwah is there for us, and He will protect us as we put our trust in Him.

Yahushua knew this. He likened his followers to sheep that trusted their shepherd. Would you please read verses 27 to 30 of John 10?

Miles:

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.

Dave: Just as sovereigns are shields to their subjects, good shepherds also protect their sheep. Yahuwah and Yahushua are united in their work of protecting and caring for believers.

Let’s take a look now at Psalm 37. This is one of my favorites. It’s so full of promises. Read the first five verses.

Miles:

Do not fret because of evildoers,
Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
And wither as the green herb.

Trust in Yahuwah, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in Yahuwah,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to Yahuwah,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.

Dave: So, again, we’re being told that Yahuwah is trustworthy. We can safely rely on Him regardless of the circumstances in which we find ourselves. Verse 7 develops the theme we’ve seen in other psalms, which is to be patient.

Read verse 7.

Miles:

Rest in Yahuwah, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

Dave: We can be patient when we know that Yahuwah is in control and He will get us justice. Verses 9 to 11?

Miles:

For evildoers shall be cut off;
But those who wait on Yahuwah,
They shall inherit the earth.
For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;
Indeed, you will look carefully for his place,
But it shall be no more.
But the meek shall inherit the earth,
And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Dave: This is why we can patiently trust in Yahuwah regardless of what happens in our lives. He’s in control and, even if it appears evil conquers for a while, ultimately, Yahuwah triumphs and believers will be forever safe in the earth made new.

This is a long psalm so we won’t read all of it, but drop down to verses 32 to 34. What do those say?

Miles:

The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
intent on putting them to death;
but Yahuwah will not leave them in the power of the wicked
or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

Hope in Yahuwah
and keep His way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.

Dave: And verses 39 and 40?

Miles:

The salvation of the righteous comes from Yahuwah;
He is their stronghold in time of trouble.
Yahuwah helps them and delivers them;
He delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in Him.

This whole chapter reminds me of Romans 12:19: “Vengeance is mine, saith Yahuwah. I will repay.”

Dave: Yes! Because often when we find ourselves in difficult, traumatizing, or dangerous circumstances, other people are to blame. It gets back to what we said earlier: when you have full confidence in Yahuwah, you can wait patiently for Him to work. You can trust Him to do what is best.

Miles: I remember reading somewhere once that Yahuwah always leads us as we would choose for ourselves if we could see the end from the beginning like He can.

Dave: That’s beautiful! That’s confidence: confidence in the love, the watch-care, and the justice of our sovereign Creator. And when we learn, on a soul-deep level, that Yahuwah is safe to trust, then we will go to Him first every time. Psalm 60 verse 11 says, “Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless.”

Miles: Why wouldn’t you go for help to the one who is All-mighty? Why settle for human help?

Dave: That’s a great question. Let’s look now at Isaiah 41. Would you please read verses 10 through 14. This is beautiful.

Miles:

“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

All who rage against you
will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you
will be as nothing and perish.
Though you search for your enemies,
you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you
will be as nothing at all.
For I am Yahuwah your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.
Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob,
little Israel, do not fear,
for I myself will help you,” declares Yahuwah,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Dave: One more: Isaiah 54:17. Would you read that, please?

Miles:

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of Yahuwah,
And their righteousness is from Me,”
Says Yahuwah.

Dave: I love this promise because there are many different kinds of weapons. There are, of course, the conventional weapons we think of when we hear that word: guns, bombs, knives. There are also poisons.

Miles: Words can be a weapon.

Dave: Absolutely. Words can be used to harm every bit as much as a gun or a dagger. Words can spread lies, destroy reputations, cause hurt. Threatening or aggressive behavior intended to intimidate or force a person to do something. All of these are forms of weapons. But the promise is that no weapon formed against you shall prosper.

Life in a sinful world is full of danger. And there are many different kinds of danger that confront us throughout our lives. Sometimes it’s danger from temptations and our own fallen natures. Sometimes it’s more external dangers. Yahuwah’s people have frequently been swept up in political upheavals. But through it all, we can trust in Yahuwah to protect us and take care of us. He’s got all power. We can patiently rest in His care knowing He’s still in control.

* * *Daily Promise:

Hello! This is Jane Lamb with your daily promise from Yah’s Word.

In some parts of the world, Westerners seem to be especially targeted by pick pockets, street sellers, and even shop keepers who will greatly inflate their prices when they see foreigners enter their shops. This tends to create in Westerners a feeling of distrust and suspicion when it seems everyone is out to take advantage of them.

This was the case with Evan Purcell. Evan lived very simply on his small income but, as a Westerner, he really stood out in Nepal. One day, while wandering the streets of Kathmandu, he saw a teenager selling paintings on the street. The paintings were beautiful. Mountains and traditional houses were rendered in bright, bold colors. The teenager explained that he’d made the paintings himself to save money for school.

In almost any other place, Evan would have bought one of the skillfully done paintings but, after some of the experiences he’d had, he was afraid the young man might be some sort of scam artist. Being leery and tired of being constantly targeted, he thanked the young man and continued walking. As he left, the teen asked if Evan perhaps had any change to spare. He did but said no and kept walking.

A few hours later, after exploring the city, Evan found himself back on the same street, only this time the street was filled with demonstrators. They were shouting and looked angry as they waved large black flags. Evan immediately tried to leave down a side street, but the side street was filled with people shoving each other. A half a dozen policemen were hurrying over, obviously intent on breaking up the demonstration. Evan felt afraid. He obviously had no business being there. All of a sudden, he heard a voice calling to him from a half-opened door, “Hey, American!”

He didn’t know who it was, but it was obviously someone trying to help him. He hurried over to the door. When he was safely inside, he saw the person that had called him was the same teenager who had tried to sell him paintings earlier that day. Inside were other teens and hanging on the walls were other pieces of art the young people had created. The young man introduced himself, saying he recognized Evan from earlier. After having rebuffed the teen’s efforts to sell him a painting, Evan couldn’t help but wonder why he’d bothered to help him, but when he asked, the youth just shrugged his shoulders like it was the dumbest question ever.

While they waited for the demonstration to die down, the teenager showed Evan around. The skill of the young painters was quite extraordinary. In telling the story, Evan recalls, quote: “I will forever be thankful for the kindness this young man had shown me. He didn’t try to sell me anything or demand any sort of payment for his help. He just gave me a tour and kept me occupied before it was safe to go back outside.

“When he finally told me it was a good time to leave, I asked if I could buy one of his multicolored landscapes. It was a small way to pay back his kindness, but it was also a way to have something to remember him by. I still have that landscape up on my wall. When I look at it, I think about my time in Kathmandu and that young artist’s kindness toward me.”

Luke 6:35 tells us: “Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful.”

We have been given great and precious promises. Go and start claiming!

* * *Part 3: (Miles & Dave)

Dave: There’s one last category of promise I want to make sure we have enough time to cover, and that is the divine promise that Yahuwah, as our Creator, our Father, and our God, will fight for us. This is an especially powerful category of promise because let’s face it: sometimes the problems confronting us are simply too big for us to handle. There’s no amount of cooperating with Yahuwah that can surmount the obstacle. It’s got to be all Yahuwah.

We see this repeatedly in the story of the Children of Israel:

• They were trapped at the Red Sea with no way out. Moses prayed to Yahuwah, and He opened a way of escape for them.
• They were running low on water and the only water they could find was undrinkable. Yahuwah purified the water.
• They were completely out of water. Yahuwah provided water from the rock.
• They were out of food. Yahuwah sent manna.

Over and over again, the Children of Israel were brought into dire circumstances from which there was no humanly possible way to escape. This was done on purpose: so that as they saw Yahuwah act in their behalf, they would feel gratitude. Gratitude awakens love which, in turn, increases faith.

Miles: So, all of those experiences which, in the moment, were so hard to endure, was to increase their faith.

Dave: Exactly. And that’s what these difficult experiences are to do for us, too.

I want to turn now to Deuteronomy 31.

Moses was about to die, and Israel would cross into Canaan without him. Now, in the past, when Israel faced hardships, they’d get mad at Moses and threaten him. He’d pray, and Yah would rescue them, and all would be well until the next trial.

But now Moses was leaving them. Just before their biggest challenges ever, Moses was going to be taken from them. He knew they would face difficulties that were impossible, in human strength and wisdom, to overcome. He wanted to inspire their faith so that they would trust Yahuwah to fight for them in those circumstances. Let’s read it: Deuteronomy 31 verses 1 through 8.

Miles:

Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel: “I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. Yahuwah has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’ Yahuwah your God Himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as Yahuwah said. And Yahuwah will do to them what He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, whom He destroyed along with their land. Yahuwah will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for Yahuwah your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that Yahuwah swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. Yahuwah Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Dave: This is history. No, we don’t have a boring date to memorize. It’s much more powerful than that: it’s a true story that teaches a lesson for us today, and that is that when we are doing Yah’s will and we’re confronted with humanly insurmountable obstacles, Yahuwah can and will fight for us. He’s promised.

This passage refers back to a time from the wilderness wandering when they had fought Og, King of Bashan. Moses did this for a reason: at that time, Yahuwah had given a very similar promise. What did Yahuwah tell Moses before the Children of Israel fought King Og? Deuteronomy 3 verse 2.

Miles: Uhhh … “Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.”

Dave: Yahuwah is both willing and able to help us in the hour of our greatest need. This was the lesson Moses wanted to leave with the Israelites. Basically, the book of Deuteronomy is Moses recounting their past history and the lessons he wanted the Children of Israel to learn from it.

What did he say in Deuteronomy 20 verses 1 to 4?

Miles:

When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because Yahuwah your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. He shall say: “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. For Yahuwah your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

Dave: The beautiful thing is, we can see from Israel’s history that when they claimed this promise, Yahuwah indeed fought for them. Turn to 2 Chronicles chapter 32. This is when Sennacherib, king of Assyria, invaded Judah.

Verses 1 to 5 recount everything King Hezekiah did to prepare for battle. Now, what most of us don’t know is that King Sennacherib was the Alexander the Great of his day.

Miles: What do you mean?

Dave: He’d never lost a battle! He even conquered Babylon!

Miles: Wow.

Dave: It was a foregone conclusion that little Jerusalem wouldn’t be able to stand against a king that had conquered cities larger and stronger than they were! But Israel had the promises of Yah to claim.

I want you to read what Hezekiah said to the people to encourage them to have faith in Yah’s promises. Read verses 7 and 8 of 2 Chronicles 32.

Miles:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is Yahuwah our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.

Dave: We can feel that same confidence. We serve the same true and living God the ancient Israelites did, and His promises are for us, too.

I want to close with one of my favorite passages of Scripture. Would you please read Romans 8, verses 31 to 35, and 37 to 39?

Miles:

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will He not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Yahushua who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Yahushua our Lord.

Amen. We have nothing to fear but fear itself when we trust in the mighty promises of Yah.

If today’s program has been a blessing and you’d like to share it with a friend, you can find it on our website. It’s Program 286 called “Fear No Evil.” Again, that’s Program 286, “Fear No Evil,” on WorldsLastChance.com

We hope you can join us again tomorrow, and until then, remember: Yahuwah loves you . . . and He is safe to trust!

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This program and past episodes of WLC Radio are available for downloading on our website. They're great for sharing with friends and for use in Bible studies! They're also an excellent resource for those worshipping Yahuwah alone at home. To listen to previously aired programs, visit our website at WorldsLastChance.com. Click on the WLC Radio icon displayed on our homepage.

In his teachings and parables, the Savior gave no “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, the thrust of his message was constant … vigilance. Join us again tomorrow for another truth-filled message as we explore various topics focused on the Savior's return and how to live in constant readiness to welcome him warmly when he comes.

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.