DAVID:  AFRAID 

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible…. 

I Samuel 27:1 NKJ

David thought, “Some day the powerful hand of Saul will destroy me. So the best thing I can do is escape. I’ll go to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will stop looking for me everywhere in Israel. His hand won’t be able to reach me. 

I think it was FDR who said, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”  I know it is Paul who tells us, “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind”, II Timothy 1:7.  But David was fearful. 

This is all the more thought provoking when we consider the victories he had won and the unusual deliverances he had experienced.  Surely, if anyone should have confidence in the security of God’s promises, David should have. 

But David’s fear shows us two inevitable reasons that believers fear.

1.       Believers fear because of unbelief.  Think of the promises that David had.  He was anointed by a prophet, Samuel.  This was in direct obedience to divine inspiration.  Nothing would ever happen to David that could prevent his ascension to the throne of Israel.  This should have assured him. 

David had experienced numerous warnings of danger and deliverance from Saul.  It was Saul who was in danger from David rather than David from Saul.  Should he have chosen, he could have already killed Saul.   

2.       Believers will fear when they are separated from the appointed place of worship.  The separation of David from his place of worship was providential.  But it was no less a deep discouragement to him.  He was separated from his family and all with whom he had worshipped. 

This singular fact should convince any believer of the dire consequences of failing to be regular at their appointed place of worship.  Personal fellowship with God is an absolute necessity.  But this does not substitute for the privilege and responsibility of corporate worship. 

Think of the great believers in the Scripture who were fearful.  Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our covenant fathers, were fearful; Israel when the spies returned were fearful and caused themselves to spend 40 years wandering; and our great hero, the Apostle to the Gentiles - Paul, was fearful.  Acts 18:9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Keep on speaking. Don’t be silent.

 

There are two admonitions which should encourage every believer in times when fear is an option.

Luke 12:32   “Little flock, do not be afraid. Your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

I John 4:18  There is no fear in love. Instead, perfect love drives fear away. Fear has to do with being punished. The one who fears does not have perfect love. 

David feared, Paul feared, and it is doubtless that we will all at some time be fearful.  But we must refuse to accept it as our lot and every believer must understand with disciples who were in the boat with Christ upon Lake Galilee in that fearful storm, it is not the storm outside the boat - it is who is in the boat with you.

Mark 4:39-40 ³⁹ He got up and ordered the wind to stop. He said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down. And it was completely calm.

⁴⁰ He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Don’t you have any faith at all yet?”