Tens of Thousands
“I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side” (Ps. 3:6).
Do you resonate with that declaration? Actually, before considering whether you can relate to the declaration, what about the idea of being assailed by tens of thousands on every side? Can you can relate?
I will be honest and say that, for the longest time, this verse and others like it felt foreign to me. Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve never been physically assailed by tens of thousands on every side. Because I’ve never faced that physical threat, I’ve sort of glossed over this declaration of being free from fear even in the face of danger. I’ve glossed over it because I am not in physical danger, so I assume this declaration is for someone else. It is for David as he flees for his life. It is for the soldier heading out to face a foe on the battlefield. It is a wonderful declaration, but it is for them and not for me, because I do not have tens of thousands assailing me. That’s what I have told myself, and maybe it’s what you tell yourself.
So why do I still fear? If I do not have tens of thousands set against me, why does anxiety and trepidation rise in me?
Do you resonate with that part? Do you struggle with fear or anxiety or worry? I suspect you do to at least some extent, because these are common tactics of the enemy. This is the usual bag of tricks used by the one who seeks to destroy you. Through fear and fear-adjacent tactics (anxiety, worry, etc.), the enemy sends tens of thousands against you, and they aim to assail you on every side.
All of this to say nothing of the tens of thousands who quite literally stand against you when you stand for the Truth of Jesus Christ. Our technological age affords us many benefits, but one of the significant challenges of our day is that standing for anything will generate tens of thousands against you. Standing for Jesus will most certainly do it!
So perhaps you, like me, now recognize that tens of thousands are in fact assailing you on every side. The onslaught comes in the form of a constant mental battle against the father of lies who seeks to besiege you with fear (Jn. 8:44). It is joined by those who stand against Truth.
But what about the declaration that you will not fear? If it is true that tens of thousands are set against you, how would you (or should you) reject a state of fear?
The answer is found simply in whether you actually believe what you read about God in this same chapter.
Do you actually believe He is your shield (Ps. 3:3a)?
Do you actually believe He holds you up (Ps. 3:3b)?
Do you actually believe He hears your cries and responds to them (Ps. 3:4)?
Do you actually believe He sustains you (Ps. 3:5)?
My friend, here is the Truth today. You either believe these things about God from Psalm 3 or you don’t. Because if you believe, then what does it matter if the odds are long or if tens of thousands assail you on every side?
If God is for you, who can be against you (Rom. 8:31)? If you now resonate with the idea that tens of thousands—both literally and figuratively—assail you on every side, but you also believe in the God who hears, defends, and sustains you, then cast aside fear, because in the shadow of the Almighty, the attacks of the enemy have no power!