Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Chapter 4: Psalms 60–80

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Psalm 64 with Saint Basil – Helpful Fear that Guards Us fromWickedness “I will teach you the fear of the LORD” (Ps 34:11). When he ordered us to fear the Lord, he also showed the benefit that comes from fear, saying: “Those who fear him lack nothing” (Ps 34:10). The Psalms teach us divine fear. Not every fear is good, but there is also a hostile fear, which the prophet prays may not spring up in his soul, when he says: Preserve my life from dread of the enemy (v. 2, ESV). Fear of the enemy is that which him. On the whole, such a fear seems to be a passion born of unbelief. For no one who believes that he has at hand a strong helper is frightened by any of those who attempt to throw him into confusion. However, fear that is helpful and produces holiness, fear that springs up in the soul through devotion and not through passion, what kind is it? Whenever you are about to rush headlong into sin, consider that fearful courtroom of Christ, in which the Judge is seated upon a certain high and lofty throne, and every creature stands trembling beside His glorious presence (Matt 25:31–32), and we are about to be led forth, one by one, for the examination of the actions of our life. And beside one who has done many wicked deeds throughout his life certain horrible and dark angels stand, flashing fire from their eyes and breathing fire because of their bitterness, with faces as dark as night because of their dejection and their hatred of man. For the wicked, then, there is the deep pit and the Saint Basil on Psalm 64 “The Psalms teach us divine fear.” produces in us a cowardliness with regard to death and misleads us to tremble before distinguished persons. Someone who is easily scared by demons has the fear of the enemy in