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The Daily Blade: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson

Episode #286 – Kyle Thompson // 31-Day Resilience Reset: Psalm 27, Proverbs 8

Release Date: February 4, 2026
Hosts: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson

Episode Overview

In this episode of The Daily Blade, Kyle Thompson leads listeners through Day 8 of the 31-Day Resilience Reset, focusing on Psalm 27 and Proverbs 8. The conversation centers on cultivating biblical confidence and resilience by anchoring one’s life in the “fear of the Lord” and developing a Christ-like hatred of evil. The episode offers practical spiritual direction, encouraging men to examine their fears and align their affections with God’s values.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power and Protection of God (Psalm 27)

Reading and Reflection: Kyle reads Psalm 27:1-6, highlighting the unwavering confidence of David:
- "The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom should I dread?" (01:08)
Insight:
- David’s confidence springs from knowing that God is his ultimate protector and provider.
- Kyle draws out the relevance for modern believers:
  - “The God of the universe is in my corner and at my defense. Why would I fear some earthly power or person?” (02:05)

2. Courage Rooted in the Fear of the Lord

Key Point:
- David’s fearlessness comes from a proper, reverent fear of God ("the fear of the Lord"), not from bravado or ignorance of danger.
Scriptural Connection:
- Reference to Proverbs 9:10—“the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
- Transition to Proverbs 8, emphasizing how the fear of the Lord leads to wisdom and hatred of evil.

3. The Nature of the Fear of the Lord (Proverbs 8)

Verse Highlighted: Proverbs 8:12-13
- "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate." (03:04)
Insight:
- “The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.” (03:26)
- Kyle connects this theme to Psalm 97:10:
  - “Oh, you who love the Lord, hate evil. He preserves the lives of his saints. He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” (03:38)
Application:
- Authentic reverence for God means hating what God hates (such as sin, injustice, and abuse).
- This stands in contrast with cultural discomfort around the idea of ‘hating’ anything.

4. Contemporary Application and Heart Check

Reflection Prompt:
- Kyle challenges listeners:
  - “If you love and fear God, there are other things that will be true about you as well, namely, that you will hate evil.” (03:56)
  - If you’re not grieved or angered by evil done to God’s image-bearers, “you really need to do a heart check.” (04:21)
- Clarifies common misunderstandings:
  - “Most people, especially if you don't spend any time in the Bible for yourself, just can't wrap their minds around the fact that yes, Christians are called to hate things. For sure, we are called to hate the things that God hates.” (03:50)
Direct Questions for Self-Examination:
- “Am I fearful of the world and those in it? Do I dread what someone could do to me? Do I fear God? Do I hate evil?” (04:24)
- If the answer to the first two is yes, then you probably need to work on your answers to the last two.” (04:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Kyle Thompson (on Psalm 27):
- “The entire psalm smacks of this confidence that David has in God to protect and provide.” (01:49)
Kyle Thompson (on the Fear of the Lord):
- “David is not fearful of anyone outside of God because he has a correct fear of God.” (01:57)
Kyle Thompson (on hating evil):
- “Christians are called to hate things. For sure, we are called to hate the things that God hates. We should hate sin. We should hate murder. We should hate child abuse. We should hate abortion. We should hate theft.” (03:54)
Kyle Thompson (practical challenge):
- “If you find yourself looking around at the world with all the sin and darkness and you don't hate when image bearers of God are harmed, then you really need to do a heart check.” (04:21)

Timestamps for Key Segments

00:20 – Introduction to the 31-Day Resilience Reset (Kyle)
00:54 – Reading and breakdown of Psalm 27
02:30 – Explanation of ‘the fear of the Lord’ as source of confidence
03:04 – Transition to Proverbs 8: the fear of the Lord equals hatred of evil
03:38 – Reference to Psalm 97:10 and the imperative to hate evil
03:56 – Clarifying the biblical call to hate evil—not individuals, but actions and injustice
04:21 – Reflective questions and self-examination prompt

Episode Tone & Language

Direct, no-nonsense, and deeply scriptural. Kyle’s language is unapologetically biblical, challenging men to confront personal and cultural comfort zones.
Encouraging yet confrontational, urging listeners toward personal growth rooted in authentic faith.

Summary Statement

This episode unpacks how true resilience is forged by fearing God, not the world, and loving what He loves while hating what He hates. Kyle Thompson challenges Christian men to examine the roots of their fears and affections, reminding them that biblical masculinity is courageous, wise, and actively opposed to evil.

Listeners are inspired to:

Anchor their confidence in God, not in circumstances
Cultivate a healthy fear of the Lord
Develop a Christ-honoring, courageous hatred for evil in all its forms

For more devotionals in the series, tune in to The Daily Blade’s ongoing 31-Day Resilience Reset.

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Transcript3 lines

[00:01]
A
Welcome to the Daily Blade. The word of God is described as the sword of the spirit, the primary spiritual weapon in the Christian's armor against the forces of evil. Your hosts are Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson, and they stand ready to equip men for the fight. Let's sharpen up.
[00:20]
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All right. Good to have you back. Today we're tracking through the 31 day Resilience Reset all week. It's a free guide I developed for guys who feel like they're just spinning their wheels. You know, growth isn't a fluke, it's a discipline. And you don't drift into a life purpose, you build it. So if you're done making excuses, you can get the blueprint at undaunted life 31 days. So let's go ahead and get into the reading for day eight of the 31 day resilience reset, which is Psalm 27 and Proverbs 8. And let's actually start out by reading the first part of Psalm 27. And I'll be reading from the NASB. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life. Whom I. Whom should I dread? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. If an army encamps against me, my heart will not fear if war arises against me. In spite of this, I am confident. One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek that I may dwell in the house of the Lord for all my days to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in his temple. For on the day of trouble he will count. He will conceal me in his tabernacle. He will hide me in a secret place of his tent, and he will lift me up on a rock. And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies, around me, and I will offer sacrifices. In his tent with shouts of joy, I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. Now, going back to verse one. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom should I fear? So David, who wrote the psalm, is essentially saying, who am I supposed to be afraid of? Exactly. The God of the universe is in my corner and at my defense. Why would I fear some earthly power or person? And the entire psalm smacks of this confidence that David has in God to protect and provide. And we too can be confident that David is not fearful of anyone outside of God because he has a correct fear of God. Now, we're not in Proverbs 9 today, but most of us know Proverbs 9:10 the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. But let's look at Proverbs 8 to get an idea of what the fear of the Lord can lead to. Proverbs 8 starting in verse 12 and I'll be reading from the ESV I wisdom dwell with prudence and I find knowledge and discretion. The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech. I hate the fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. This reminds me of one of my favorite single scriptures from the entire biblical canon, which is Psalm 97:10 oh, you who love the Lord hate evil. He preserves the lives of his saints. He delivers them from the hand of the wicked. So again, David in Psalm 27 has confidence in his standing in life because he knows God is for him. He also thinks rightly about God because he loves God and he has a healthy fear of God. And if you love and fear God, there are other things that will be true about you as well. Namely, that you will hate evil. Now, every time I've talked about this or taught about this about the hatred of of evil, people seemingly purposefully misunderstand what I'm saying. And it, you know, kind of gives them a little tummy ache that I'm talking about this. But most people, especially if you don't spend any time in the Bible for yourself, just can't wrap their minds around the fact that yes, Christians are called to hate things. For sure, we are called to hate the things that God hates. We should hate sin. We should hate murder. We should hate child abuse. We should hate abortion. We should hate theft. Again, we should hate the things that God hates if we have a right view of God, if we love him and if we fear Him. So if you find yourself looking around at the world with all the sin and darkness and you don't hate when image bearers of God are harmed, then you really need to do a heart check. And you should ask yourself, am I fearful of the world and those in it? Do I dread what someone could do to me? Do I fear God? Do I hate evil? Now, if you answered either of the first two questions with a yes, then it's pretty clear that your answers to the last two questions are no and you need to fix that. See you back here tomorrow.
[04:37]
A
Thank you for listening to today's episode. Before you go, if you want to help, equip other men for the fight, Share this podcast around and leave us a five star rating and review. Stay sharp.