Introduction
Fear is a human emotion that is triggered by a perceived threat. Fear is a basic survival mechanism signals our bodies to respond to danger with a fight or flight response. As such, it is an essential part of keeping us safe. However, when people live in constant fear, whether from physical dangers in their environment or threats they perceive, they can become incapacitated.
Fear prepares us to react to danger. Once we sense a potential danger, our body releases hormones that:
- Slow or shut down functions not needed for survival (such as our digestive system).
- Sharpen functions that might help us survive (such as eyesight). Our heart rate increases, and blood flows to muscles so we can run faster.
- Our body also increases the flow of hormones to an area of the brain known as the amygdala to help us focus on the presenting danger and store it in our memory.
Living under constant fear has serious health consequences.
- Fear weakens our immune system and can cause cardiovascular damage, gastrointestinal problems such as ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome, and decreased fertility. It can lead to accelerated ageing and even premature death.
- Fear can impair formation of long-term memories and cause damage to certain parts of the brain. This can make it even more difficult to regulate fear and can leave a person anxious most of the time. To someone in chronic fear, the world looks scary and their memories confirm that.
- Fear can interrupt processes in our brains that allow us to regulate emotions, read non-verbal cues and other information presented to us, reflect before acting, and act ethically. This impacts our thinking and decision-making in negative ways, leaving us susceptible to intense emotions and impulsive reactions. All of these effects can leave us unable to act appropriately.
Other consequences of long-term fear include fatigue, clinical depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
In the beginning of his inaugural address, President Roosevelt said, "So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is...fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”
He said this in a time of fear and stress during the Great Depression.
Text
1 Samuel 21:12
“David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath.”
Psalm 34:4, 9
Vs 4 – “I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”
Vs 9 – “Fear the LORD, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.”
I. David
A. Samuel the prophet anoints David King – “From that day on The Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David” (1 Sam 16:13)
B. Defeats Goliath the Philistine – 1 Samuel 17
- The Israelite army on one hill and the Philistine army on the other hill with a valley between
- Goliath the Philistine “champion” from Gath was 9’9’’ tall – a Philistine warrior (Vs. 4-7)
- Goliath mocked & threatened God’s people and they were “dismayed and terrified” (Vs. 11)
- This went on for 40 days
- Jesse sent David with provisions for his three oldest brothers in Saul’s army (Vs 17)
- A shepherd boy (Vs. 20) but has the anointing of God
- Speaks up against this enemy, recognizing him as an enemy of God’s army (Vs. 26)
- Saul was looking for a volunteer to fight this uncircumcised Philistine (Vs. 32)
- God had prepared David for this moment – defeated the lion and bear with his hands
- Gave credit to the Lord for his success
- Trusted God to help him defeat the Philistine
- Was not yet a trained warrior – was not familiar with Saul’s armor and weapons
- He grabbed what he knew--his shepherd staff, a sling, and 5 stones
- Goliath continued to mock the Israelites and “cursed David by his own gods.”
- Did not back down…He said, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin,
but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel,
whom you have defiled” and defeated the giant with a single stone to the forehead
C. David became a mighty warrior (1 Sam 18-19)
- Successful in all he did—continuously defeated the Philistine army
- The people loved David—“Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands”
- David became, Saul’s son’s, Jonathan’s, best friend—made a covenant with David
- He married Saul’s daughter, Michal
- King Saul became jealous and paranoid of David as he became powerful and loved
- Saul tried to have David killed but God protected him
D. David fled for his life to Nob out of fear (1 Sam 21:1-9)
- Ahimelek the priest sensed something was wrong – David alone, unarmed, and afraid
- David lied to Ahimelek the priest about a “secret mission”
- Ahimelek gave David Goliath’s sword and consecrated bread
E. David fled to Gath—the home town of Goliath (1 Sam 21:10-15)
- David “was very much afraid” of Achish ‘kish’ the king (1 Sam 21:12)
- Pretended to be insane in the king’s presence “He pretended to be insane in their presence;
and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the
gate and letting saliva run down his beard.” (1 Sam 21:13)
G. David fled to Moab—God warned David through the prophet Gad “Do not stay…Go into the
land of Judah” (1 Sam 22:5)
F. David’s lie resulted in Saul’s killing of the priests in Nob (1 Sam 22:6-23)
- Abiathar escaped—went to David and told him
- David took responsibility “I am responsible for the death of your father’s whole family.”
(1 Sam 22:22)
G. David had opportunity to kill Saul but did not (1 Sam 24)
- David and his men were hiding out in a cave
- Saul came into the cave to “relieve himself”
- David’s men encouraged him to kill Saul
- David snuck up and cut off a portion of Saul’s robe
H. David let fear overtake him
- Fled from Saul out of fear – Fear of men is the absence of faith
- Lied to the priest, Ahimelek, out of desperation – Saul had 85 priests killed and their women,
children, and animals killed in Nob
- Fear caused David to run directly into the enemy’s camp – Gad the home town of Goliath
- David was very much afraid of Achish – He pretended to be insane
I. God convicted David of his sin and David responded
- “David was conscience-stricken for having cut off the corner of his robe. He said to
his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed
one, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” (1 Sam 24:5, 6)
- David’s courage returned – He called out to Saul, bowed before him, and confronted Saul
- Saul recognized David could have easily killed him but did not
- Saul recognized David as the next king of Israel, saying “I know you will surely be king and
that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.”
“FEAR IS THE TEMPORARY LAPSE OF FAITH IN GOD”
II. Psalm 34 written to praise God for delivering David from the king of Gath
A. He will do the same for you!
Are you afflicted? – Hear, praise and rejoice—The Lord comforts the afflicted
(Vs 1, 2) “I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice” (1,2)
- “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have
been called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28)
- He will see you through afflictions
- Jesus suffered in every way—He knows your pain and suffering
- Through the stripes on Jesus’ back we can be healed
Are you afraid? – Glorify and seek God and he will deliver you from fear
(Vs 3, 4) “Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears”
- Paralyzing fear is not of God—the is the enemy at work on your mind
- “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)
Are you feeling shame? – Look toward God and he will bring your radiance
(Vs 5) “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”
- “When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his
hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD”
(Ex 34:29)
Are you poor and troubled? – Call on the Lord and he will hear you
(Vs 6) "This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.”
- Jesus is our savior – come to Him as you are – He will deliver you from your troubled life
Are you feeling vulnerable and weak? – Fear the Lord and take refuge in Him
(Vs 7-9) “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the LORD, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.
- “Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,
who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s
command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god
except their own God.” (Daniel 3:28)
Are you growing weak and hungry? Seek the Lord – He will give you good things
(Vs 10) “The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.”
- “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor 12:9)
- “My Lord is my Shephard, I lack nothing” (Ps 23:1)
Are you brokenhearted? God is close to you—draw closer to Him
(Vs 18) “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted”
- “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” (James 4:8)
Are you crushed in spirit? God will save you
(Vs 18) “[The LORD] saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
- “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mat 11:28)
- “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for all – how will he not also, along
with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)
B. Want God’s protection and provision? Psalm 34 records what David learned about God
- (Vs 11) “Come, my children, listen to me”
- (Vs 11) “I will teach you the fear of the LORD”
- (Vs 12, 13) “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.”
- (Vs 14) “Turn from evil and do good”—Repent!
- (Vs 14) “Seek peace and pursue it.”
C. Go against God and…
- (Vs 16) “But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.”
- (Vs 21) “Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.”
D. Go with God and…
- (Vs 15, 17a) “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their
cry”
- (Vs 17a)“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them…”
- (Vs 17b) “…He delivers them from all their
troubles”
- (Vs 19) “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from
them all”
- (Vs 22) “The LORD will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be
condemned.”
Conclusion
Charles Spurgeon told this story….There was once a tyrant who ordered one of his subjects into his presence, and ordered him to make a chain. The poor blacksmith—that was his occupation—had to go to work and forge the chain. When it was done he brought it into the presence of the tyrant, and he was ordered to take it away and make it twice the length. He brought it again to the tyrant, and again he was ordered to double it. Back he came when he had obeyed the order, and the tyrant looked at it, and then commanded the servants to bind the man hand and foot with the chain he had made and cast him into prison. Spurgeon said, "And, that is what the devil does with man." He makes them forge their own chain, and then binds them hand and foot with it, and casts them into outer darkness." My friends, that is just what these drunkards, these gamblers, these blasphemers—that is just what every sinner is doing. But, thank God, I can tell you of a deliverer. The Son of God has power to break every one of these fetters if you will only come to Him.
Are you afflicted? Let God comfort you.
Are you afraid? Let God deliver you from fear.
Are you ashamed? Let God give you radiance.
Are you poor and troubled? Call on God and he will hear your cry.
Are you growing weak? Call on God for he is strong in our weakness.
Are you brokenhearted? Draw close to God and he will draw close to you.
Are you crushed in spirit? Call on God and he will save you
Are you in need? Let God take care of all your needs.
Are you bound by the sins of this world? Let God break the bonds.
