Faith and fear.
"I will trust, and not be afraid," in this expression reminds us
(1) of our liability to fear, and
I. OUR LIABILITY TO FEAR.
1. As dependent creatures.
2. Because of the great mysteries of existence that are around us—mysteries of God; of self; of sin; of providence; of judgment; of the future.
3. In view of the possibility of our own failure from goodness.
II. THE POWER OF FAITH TO OVERCOME FEAR. Trust can
He who is "for us is more than all they that can be against us." "This faith—this simple believing trust in God—will keep the soul in quietness in view of all the mysteries, and of all the dark possibilities of life and death. When reason is at fault, when wisdom gropes for the way and falls into the ditch, when strength trembles and sinks into feebleness, faith keeps the heart in quietness and confidence. Whence has it this power? Because it rests on Divine declarations, deeper and wider than natural laws; on Divine promises, surer than the hills; on Divine power, stronger than gravitation and the sweep of ten thousand worlds; nay, on a Divine Person, in whom all faithfulness, power, and love forever dwell" (Dr. A. Raleigh).—R.T.