Keeping that same definition of fear I want to move now from the Fear of God to the Fear of Goliath.
We all have “Goliaths” in our lives. We all have those giants that seem too big for us to defeat. And we all have those in our lives who, if even for good intent, would agree that those giants are too big for us,… that we are no match for them. Israel was challenged by Goliath. But David rose to the challenge. Let us look at some of the story to see how David demonstrated biblical Fear of Goliath.
“And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou [art but] a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered [it] out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught [him] by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.” 1 Sam 17:33-35
Saul couldn’t face Goliath… and so he determined that David couldn’t either. Saul was looking at the outward appearance of David. Perhaps he was thinking to himself, “There is no way I will be outdone by this boy. Perhaps if a great man of valor were to come I could allow him, but not this boy.” Whatever the reason, Saul made an assessment of the situation and it was not in favor of David.
But David, when he compared himself to Goliath in order to determine his action, when David feared Goliath, his comparison was different. David could see Saul’s heart. So David, in order to give Saul confidence, listed what he had done to the lion and the bear. But we need to realize something here. David did this for Saul. David’s confidence did not come from this comparison. A few verse later we see the precept that we need to understand…
“Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.” 1 Sam 17:45
David knew that when we fear as we are told to; when we make that comparison in order to determine our action we are not doing it between ourselves and the other, but between God and them. And guess who always wins? You got it.
True biblical fear, the Fear of Goliath we need to live in, is one that compares everything we face to the God of the Heavens Who is able to deliver us from the mouth of the lion and from the fiery furnace! And let us not forget the grave!
Live a life of fear, for in the kingdom of God, where everything is upside down fearing is not being afraid, fearing is claming the victory in the Name of the One who has defeated all of our foes!
By all means, FEAR!
SDG
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