“You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day;“
Psalm 91:5
TERROR / pachad / fear, dread, an alarm
Bible Hub: “The Hebrew word ‘pachad’ primarily denotes a sense of fear or dread. It is often used to describe a profound, sometimes paralyzing fear that can be both a natural human response to danger and a reverential awe towards God.”
NIGHT / layil or lel or layelah / a twist, night, adversity
Bible Hub: “The Hebrew word ‘layil’ primarily refers to the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise, commonly known as ‘night.’ It is used in the Bible to denote both the literal time of night and metaphorically to represent times of trouble, ignorance, or spiritual darkness.
ARROW / chets / a piercer, an arrow, a wound
Bible Hub: “In ancient Israel, arrows were a common part of military equipment. They were typically made of wood with a metal or stone tip and were used with a bow. Arrows symbolized speed, precision, and the ability to reach a target from a distance.”
Have you ever been filled with terror? I’ve really only experienced it in the form of a dream. I dreamt one night that I was cruising a beautiful coastline in a red convertible with a friend of mine. As we rounded a corner, we failed the adjust our speed and were sent careening off the cliff. As the car dipped toward the ocean below us, I awoke with a terrible start.
I laid there, entirely frozen with terror. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t catch my breath. The feeling of dread and terror passed after a few agonizing minutes, but I’ve always remembered that terrible dream.
Anxiety and fear often walk in tandem, and are close companions. Where one is, the other seems to follow. I would daresay that many Christians struggle with anxiety, fear, and feelings of dread and terror.
We are reminded today that we have nothing to fear. The above scripture doesn’t say that we may not fear, or that we will sometimes be afraid. It says “You will not be afraid..”
Charles Spurgeon writes this concerning the 5th verse of this chapter,
“Not to be afraid is in itself an unspeakable blessing, since for every suffering which we endure from real injury we are tormented by a thousand griefs which arise from fear only. The shadow of the Almighty removes all gloom from the shadow of night: once covered by the divine wing, we care not what winged terrors may fly abroad in the earth.”
You are sheltered today, covered by God’s immeasurable grace and protected by His faithfulness. Find rest today, have courage, and safely abide under the shadow of His wings.
