David: Freedom From Fear

Rabbi Jason

Have you ever found yourself just going along, doing life the best you can? Things are clicking, you’re making progress, and then boom! It seems everything begins to backfire. David surely experienced it. There he was—a faithful shepherd boy, picked by God and anointed to be the future king of Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him. He was clearly God’s man, which meant smooth sailing ahead, right? Not even close. David found himself a fugitive. David was low. Fear can do that to us. There was a moment in 1 Samuel 21:11–16 when David had allowed fear to dominate him, depleting his faith.

Too many of us see God’s promises as far off. We want to enter all that God has for us, but our fear reveals our lack of faith and stops us cold. Our doubt leads to disbelief, and we’re caught in a trap. Our disbelief leads to disobedience, and disobedience leads to dismissal from God’s blessing and presence. Faith, however, leads to trust. Trust leads to obedience, and obedience leads to blessing. When David was alone, his mind wandered, and fear crept in, causing his faith to waver. We must be careful what we allow into our minds. Fear is the currency of the world. Faith is the currency of God’s Kingdom. Faith is an agreement with truth and what God says.

When David was at his lowest, he realized that God saw him in his distress. The God Who Sees brought the power of His presence. David wrote Psalm 34 to describe his recovery from his fears and anxiety. We can choose to project either fear or faith. When we maximize fear, we minimize God. When we maximize God, we minimize fear. David set his fear aside and chose to praise God, seek the Lord, place his faith and trust in God, and move forward with confidence in God’s deliverance.

Kathie

Like so many in the Bible, David was forced to wait for many years for God’s promise to him to be fulfilled. During that time, he spent much of his energy running for his life and hiding from King Saul, who was jealous of him and wanted to kill him. David was forced to flee and hide in the wilderness and the caves of Judea. No longer celebrated. Now a hunted animal. Many of the psalms he wrote came about as he despaired in the desert. Where is God? he must have wondered. Where are You, Lord? We know he cried out in abject terror.

David was like so many of us today who are hiding in fear, terrified of our enemies. But just as David’s story wasn’t over yet, neither is ours. Fear is our most common adversary. But God wants to fight our battles for us. He wants to release us from our covers of darkness into His glorious light. If only we would follow God’s commandment to “fear not.” (See Genesis 15:1; Joshua 10:8; Psalm 46:2–3; Isaiah 41:10.)

Respond

When has fear compromised your faith?

What does God want to accomplish in your life that is hindered by fear?

How can David’s choice to praise God, seek the Lord, place faith and trust in Him, and move forward with confidence in God’s ability to deliver inspire you to face your fears with faith?