Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they
comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)
We thus see how, in his prosperity, he never forgot that he
was a man, but even then seasonably meditated on the adversities which
afterwards might come upon him. And certainly, the reason why we are so
terrified, when it pleases God to exercise us with the cross, is, because every
man, that he may sleep soundly and undisturbed, wraps himself up in carnal
security.
But there is a great difference between this sleep of
stupidity and the repose which faith produces. Since God tries faith by
adversity, it follows that no one truly confides in God, but he who is armed
with invincible constancy for resisting all the fears with which he may be
assailed. Yet David did not mean to say
that he was devoid of all fear, but only that he would surmount it so as to go
without fear wherever his shepherd should lead him.
This appears more clearly from the context. He says, in the
first place, I will fear no evil; but immediately adding the reason of
this, he openly acknowledges that he seeks a remedy against his fear in
contemplating, and having his eyes fixed on, the staff of his shepherd: For
thy staff and thy crook comfort me. What need would he have had of that
consolation, if he had not been disquieted and agitated with fear?
It ought, therefore, to be kept in mind, that when David
reflected on the adversities which might befall him, he became victorious over
fear and temptations, in no other way than by casting himself on the protection
of God. (Commentaries)
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