Jump Start # 451 

1 Samuel 17:11 “When Saul and all Israel head these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.”

  Our passage is taken from the story of David and Goliath. It really happened. It’s an amazing story of courage and trust in the Lord. Many of us grew up hearing this story in Bible classes and Vacation Bible Schools. Before David fought Goliath, there is another lesson—a story about fear.

  The armies of Israel and the armies of the Philistines had gathered for war. Instead of fighting, Goliath, the champion warrior of the Philistines would taunt and challenge Israel. This went on for over a month. He wanted a one on one fight. There was no one who could met the strength of this colossal man who stood over nine feet tall. Every day, for forty days this went on. Our verse today reveals that Saul, the king of Israel and the commander in chief of the troops, was scared. The army of Israel was scared.

  That thought introduces us to several important subjects—the most important is fear.

  There are two kinds of fear—real fear and imagined fear. They both can cripple a person on the inside and keep them from doing what they should. Real fear is what Israel felt. They knew what they were afraid of—he stood in front of them. Real fear is when the doctor first tells you that you have cancer, when you have been told that your job is eliminated, when you are forced to move out of your house because you couldn’t pay the mortgage. That’s real. There is no waking up from that dream.

  The other fear is imagined—it’s what our minds do to us. Fear of the unknown, fearing what could be, but isn’t. You hear a noise in the house—is it someone breaking in? You’re scared. You find out it was the cat or some dishes settling in the sink. You don’t feel well, before you go to the doctor, before you have the tests, you fear the worst. You fear it might be the disease that will take your life. Is it? You worry, fret and can’t sleep until the tests are completed.

  Fear drains us of faith and trusts in God. It is interesting that we don’t see Israel, especially Saul, praying to God, seeking help from God or trusting God at this time. They seem to be frozen in their boots. Unable to do anything. I wonder what would have happened, had David not finally showed up. He heard the taunts one time and went into action. Saul heard them for forty days and didn’t have a plan.

  Another lesson here, when leaders become scared, it affects everyone else. When parents are scared, the kids will be scared. When the leaders in the church are scared, it affects the members. Fear will keep us from doing things. Fear stops us. No ideas. No plans. Just scared. Have you noticed the brave face politicians put on during a crisis. They do that on purpose. They want the nation to know that they are still at the helm of the ship. Films of FDR speaking to the nation after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, or George Bush after the 9-11 attack, helped the nation keep focused during difficult times. Leaders need to calm those under them. Leaders need to lead, especially during difficult times.

  This story reminds me that sometimes God helps us through our fear from very uncommon sources. In this account, a teenage shepherd boy named David. His confidence in God and his trust rallied Israel and they caught his courage. Church leaders may be reminded by teenagers or widows of how God will help them. Parents may regain their composure from the assurance that their children have in God.

  Don’t overlook God’s help. It may come from uncommon places. God’s help may not come from the leaders down, but from the teenagers up.

  Once Israel saw that Goliath could be defeated, they went about their job of driving the Philistines out of the territory. That’s what courage will do. It will drive fear out of your heart. You need to know that you can do it and that it will be ok in the end. God being with you is the greatest confidence. It assured the scared fishermen in a boat when a storm came upon them. They awoke Jesus, pleaded for help, and the Savior calmed the storm. Fear gone, they could trust again.

  Fear will make the dog seem bigger than what he is. Got some fears? Who doesn’t. Have you been stopped in your tracks because of it? Look to God. If you can’t see Him, look to someone who does see Him. You may have a David in your life who will drive out the Philistines that have caused you to fear.

  Don’t tremble in your boots, march onward! God needs you. 

Roger