131. You Don’t Have to Fear Their Slander

Psalm 31:13 NKJV  For I hear the slander of many; Fear is on every side; While they take counsel together against me, They scheme to take away my life.

 Psalm 31:19  Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, Which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men!

“I hear the slander of many…”  Slander isn’t a word you hear outside of a legal context too much.  So let’s say it like this, “I’ve heard the gossip.” Or “I hear what the word on the street is.” Maybe “I’ve heard the mouths running, and all the smack being said.”  None of us like to have people talk bad about us, but none of us make it through life without having it done either.  Eventually we find out and hear about what others have said.  We live in a world that loves listening to and spreading gossip.  The magazine rack in any grocer check out proves it.  Sometimes what people say is laughable.  Sometimes it may cause tears.  Sometimes it makes people want to lash out in anger.  Others are paralyzed with fear.

Regardless of what that initial thought or reaction may be the next step should be the same.  Look to Him.  Verse 19 tells us that there is GREAT goodness prepared, set aside and stored up for those who trust in the Lord and respect Him.  It says he has stored up great goodness for you and He is prepared to lavishly show it, displaying it for everyone to see.  That includes those talking bad about you.

You don’t have to fear the lies and gossip of others.  Neither do you need to defend yourself.  In fact, if you want His GREAT goodness in that situation just relax and keep your trust in Him to defend you.  He stuck up for Moses when Aaron and Miriam (Numbers 12) talked against him behind his back.  He did it again when Korah (Numbers 16) did the same.  Jesus, Himself, was whispered about in the synagogues and the streets.  David, Paul and many more through the Scripture endured the same thing.  Does it hurt?  YES!  But you don’t have to fear what others will do or what they will think about you, if your trust is in Him.  Instead you can stand cool as a cucumber no matter what anyone says.  Because the Father has prepared GREAT goodness for such a time as this and He is ready to pour that goodness on you right now.

Even in the midst of your enemies (Psalm 23:5) and sometimes “friends” or even fellow Believers who are spreading lies, your cup of blessing will be overflowing the brim.  His GREAT goodness will bring everything done in darkness to light (1 Cor 4:5).  He’ll lavishly shower His goodness on you for them to see.  Fear Not!