Do You Have Fear? by Lane Jordan Burday
Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified (I Samuel 17:10-11).
In this world of chaos and wars, it’s very easy to be overcome by fear. But our level of fear can reveal our closeness to God. In general, the more you are afraid, the farther you are from God, and the less you are afraid, the closer you are to God.
“Perfect love drives out fear” (I John 4:18) is a verse to remember. God’s perfect love for us through His Son Jesus should remind us not to be fearful. But it is easier said than done!
In the verse above, David, although anointed by the prophet Samuel, was still a shepherd for his father. He had traveled to the war zone to bring food to his three brothers who were in King Saul’s army.
Goliath, the Philistine giant who was 9 feet 9 inches tall, was taunting the Israeli army. Every day for forty days, he would come between the two armies and issue a challenge for a one-on-one contest. And every day, the Israelites retreated in terror again and again. But when David heard the challenge, he stood his ground and saw that he was the only one who viewed this giant the way God did:
“Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (I Samuel 17:26)
We need to remember that God will prepare us for the future. David had already confronted huge obstacles in his life: “Your servant has killed both lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them because he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of the Philistine” (I Samuel 17: 36-37).
Yes! The whole point of any challenge or obstacle in our way is to go to the LORD for His help with our problem. David didn’t say he would kill the giant. He said, “I come against you in the name of the LORD of Armies, the God of the ranks of Israel – you have defied him” (17:45).
In other words, you have insulted the one true God, and you will go down!
Please don’t miss David’s bold declaration: “The battle is the LORD’S. He will hand you over to us“(17:47). No obstacle is too large, and no circumstance is too menacing when you realize that God is sovereign over all.
We need to remember to ask God to fight for us! David was fighting in the Lord’s name and strength.
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Lane Jordan-Burday is the Pearls of Promise Ministries Prayer Co-Coordinator; POP Talk TV and Radio Co-Host and Writer. She is also is an award-winning and best-selling author of over ten adult and children’s books. She is a speaker with Stonecroft Ministries, seminar leader, professional life coach, Bible teacher, and artist. She served as the Associate Producer for the program In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley. She prays for women to come to know the Lord is God!
Lane’s latest book, Evangeline, is a historical fiction based on the book of Esther. You can reach Lane at: lane@lanejordanministries.com. Her website is: www.LaneJordanMinistries.com.