1. Acknowledge that fear and dread is a matter of the mind.

“Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy.” (Psalm 64:1).

Like many of David’s Psalms, the situation in Psalm 64 yet again has David facing his enemies. David’s enemies plot and conspire against him and seek to do him harm by sewing discord and dissension. In the face of those who would gladly take his life, David’s first request of God is not directed at his opposition but at his own mind. He does not ask God first to preserve his life from his enemies, but from the dread of his enemies. David has a real complaint to bring to God, and his thoughts are no doubt filled with the possibilities of what might happen to him, but David acknowledges that his dread will not help him. He asks God to preserve his life from his own fear. His enemy is the dread in his mind before it is the threat in his world.

2. Acknowledge the reality of the threat as you seek God’s help.

Even though David starts with his own fear and dread, he also defines his problem as he cries out to God. By reading the words of David’s prayer we know that men were against him and that their main weapon in this instance was their words. They were secretly plotting against David and seeking injustice (Ps. 64:2-6).

While it is important to first acknowledge that our thoughts are inclined to promote fearful thinking, it does not mean we cannot take the reality of the threat before us to God. David is able to describe in his prayer both the nature of the threat and the fallen nature from which it comes. We should be informed of the nature of the threat before us, but if we are managing our fear and dread, we will act responsibly as we trust God rather than engaging in social media fearmongering or spiraling in hopeless anxiety.

3. Meditate on the reality of God’s power, authority and victory.

Psalm 64:7-9 But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly. They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will wag their heads. Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done.

How does David manage the priority of fear and dread in his own mind? He reminds himself (through his own prayer) that God has the last say. In David’s situation, the evil words of the men will be used against them in God’s ultimate judgment. Evil will not prevail and ultimately God’s righteousness must see justice reign. It will not be as if it is something difficult for God, but in his limitless power and sovereignty he will overturn their evil “suddenly.” David prays about his dread but follows that up with a meditation on God’s sovereignty.

Unlike David, we have the ability of looking back to the completion of that sovereign victory in the cross of Christ. That gives us certainty to look ahead to a final consummation that will be the realization of the comprehensive victory of the cross for all eternity.

4. Convert dread to praise as you realize the truth

Psalm 64:10 Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!

David first asks God to preserve his life from his fearful thoughts before he brings the actual threat to God. He meditates on the justice and power of God and reminds himself that the threat is not a threat to God. He is then able to put his mind to rest from fear and exult in the Lord who is his refuge.

Conclusion:

We may not have a group of people spreading rumors and consorting to bring us to ruin, but in Coronavirus we do have a real physical threat around us that has potential to bring harm to us and those we love. David’s approach here tells us that before we think about the global pandemic and its possible effects, we should bring our own disposition before the Lord. We should acknowledge that sinful fear and dread is not something a virus brings to us, but something we nurture in our own thoughts.