◄ What Does Psalm 118:8 Mean? ►

It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in man.

Psalm 118:8(NASB)

Verse of the Day

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and all who follow His instructions have good insight. Reverence for the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and detest instruction. How much better, therefore, to take refuge in the Lord rather than to place ones trust in man.

A reverential fear of God and a heart that trusts the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and gives us safety from the fear of man. An ever-increasing knowledge of our great God and Saviour gives us wisdom and understanding. A soul that has a reverential fear of the Lord and a heart that trusts in His unfailing Word gains wisdom and well-being, but humility must come before honour is bestowed.

Throughout the Word of God, we discover that the fear of the Lord trumps all other fears and failings. A trusting faith in the Lord puts to flight the terrors that stalk us by night and quench the fiery darts that fly around us by day, but the fear of people and dread of what man can do to us is a dangerous trap into which any one of us can all fall if we do not have our heart focused on the one and only means of safety. Trusting the goodness and grace of the Lord with reverence and awe, ensures safety from all that would seek to harm or destroy us.

This does not mean that we will be saved from all the difficulties and dangers of life. Indeed, the Lord Jesus Himself told us that in this world we would have trials and tribulation, but He has overcome the world and we have also been promised that His grace is sufficient and that He will be with us in every problem and pain we may face in life. God has promised that no adversary can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We can be sure that a sense of awe in our great God and a trusting reverence for the person and work of the Lord Jesus is a great protection from the fear of man and our concern over what they can do to us. Such fear becomes a trap, for fear of man paralyses our heart, whereas a reverential, trusting heart in the promises of our heavenly Father means safety.

In His power, we can stand fast in the evil day. In His strength, we can resist the devil. Under the authority of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we have the means to put on the protective armour of God that He Himself provides as a defence against all those that would seek to destroy us.

The one who venerates the Lord and takes refuge in Him with a reverential fear of God, and who treats Him with worshipful obedience and lives uprightly, is acceptable to Him and is sure of being received and welcomed by Him. Let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles us; body, soul, and spirit, and bring our consecration to completeness as we trust in His unfailing mercies. For the fear of man is a dangerous trap, but the heart that trusts the Lord is kept in safety.

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that You are my God and that there is nothing that man can do to harm or unsettle me. I pray that the eyes of my heart may remain fixed and focused on You, with reverential fear and a childlike trust. Keep my heart from the fear of man, for You have promised that those that trust in You are kept safe from all adversaries. Thank You, in Jesus' name, AMEN.