FAITH IN THE FACE OF FEAR
Our current fight against COVID-19 reminds me of the infamous Biblical story we know as David and Goliath. The coronavirus has become our modern-day giant if you will. Now, we must decide if we will be the Israelite encampment who were all terrified or if we will be like the young David, who faced the giant with faith in God.
Many of us know this story well, found in 1 Samuel 17. Goliath was over 9 feet tall and was very intimidating. The scripture says, “For forty days, every morning and evening, the Philistine champion (Goliath) strutted in front of the Israelite army” (1 Sam. 17:16).
David, was unaware of these intimidating antics at the time because he was still serving and working for his father Jesse as a shepherd. Jesse eventually sends David to check up on his brothers and bring them food. When David arrives he encounters a fear-filled camp of Israelites…“Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, came out from the Philistine ranks. Then David heard him shout his usual taunt to the army of Israel. As soon as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright. ‘Have you seen the giant?’ the men asked. ‘He comes out each day to defy Israel’” (1 Sam. 17:23-25).
What’s David’s response to this giant? “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!”
David goes on to defeat Goliath which is an incredible feat in itself, but why was David able to avoid catching the fear pandemic and overcome this giant? David was full of faith, not fear.
How do we have faith in the face of fear?
FAITH DOESN’T LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF FEAR
David wasn’t phased by Goliath’s taunts maybe because David wasn't hearing intimidating and defying taunts for 40 days. David came into this confrontation fresh from the fields of serving his father and really preparation for serving God. While the camp was listening to the voice of fear every day, David wasn’t. There’s a lesson in that for us…What voice(s) are we listening to? Caution and fear are two different things. We listen to the wise caution and we listen to the promise and truth of God’s Word:
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3
FAITH RELIES ON THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD
Fighting giants wasn’t something new for David. He has seen God help him before. David had to protect his sheep and courageously rescued them from lions and bears (1 Samuel 17:37). David knows God is with Him. No wonder David could write words like those we find in Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
When you read those words in light of our context today with COVID-19 they mean more. “I lack nothing…I will fear no evil…your rod and your staff, they comfort me…Surely your goodness and love will follow me…” Beautiful and timely.
FAITH SEES GOD IN THE FIGHT
David looked foolish… no armor, a stick, a sling, and a rock-no wonder Goliath felt insulted. However, David knows that Faith focuses on what we don’t see—fear focuses on what we do see. Faith chooses to see and believe God is in every situation, no matter how scary or intimidating.
David saw this giant situation in faith when he said, "Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” (1 Samuel 17:46-47).
Faith truly believes the battle belongs to the Lord and as we stand in faith, God fights on our behalf. Now, if the battle belongs to the Lord that means…
Goliath wasn’t fighting David, He was fighting God.
When God is in the equation it’s always faith over fear. This may be a scary time for some, but God’s faithfulness has a way of drowning out the fear. Trust in God!
Written by: Pastor Ryan Coon