How To Be Fearless in Fearful Times

When everyone else was afraid, David stood fearlessly.

1 Samuel 17

Giant creatures evidenced in fossil history include: (AIG)

spiders (e.g., the bird-eating spider, up to 12-inch leg span)

moths (e.g., the Atlas moth, with a wing span of 11 inches)

centipedes (up to 13 inches long)

snails (e.g., the African giant snail, up to 15½ inches long)

frogs (e.g. Beelzebufo, 16 inches high)

dragonflies (e.g., Meganeura, with a wing span of more than 2½ feet)

rats (e.g., Josephoartigasia, with a conservatively estimated body mass of 750 pounds)

beavers (e.g., Trogontherium, about 7½ feet long)

scorpions (e.g., the sea scorpion Jaekelopterus, estimated at more than 8 feet long)crabs (e.g., the giant spider crab, with a claw span more than 12 feet)

armadillos (e.g., Glyptodon, up to 13 feet long)

turtles (e.g., Archelon, up to 16 feet long)fish (e.g., Xiphactinus, 19 feet long)

sloths (e.g., Megatherium, which stood about 20 feet)

worms (e.g., the giant earthworm, up to 22 feet long)

sea cows (e.g., Hydrodamalis, 25 feet or more in length)

crocodiles (e.g., Sarcosuchus, up to 40 feet long)

snakes (e.g., Titanoboa, over 42 feet long)

crustaceans (e.g., supergiant amphipods 10 times larger than those previously discovered)

squid (e.g., Mesonychoteuthis, 50 feet or more in length)

sharks (e.g., Rhincodon, up to 65 feet long)

octopuses with 100 foot long tentacles.21

Robert Pershing Wadlow (February 22, 1918 – July 15, 1940), also known as the Alton Giant and the Giant of Illinois, was an American man who was the tallest person in recorded history for whom there is irrefutable evidence. He was born and raised in Alton, Illinois, a small city near St. Louis, Missouri.[1]

Wadlow's height was 8 ft 11 in (2.72 m)[2][3][4] while his weight reached 439 lb (199 kg) at his death at age 22. His great size and his continued growth in adulthood were due to hypertrophy of his pituitary gland, which results in an abnormally high level of human growth hormone (HGH). Even by the time of his death, there was no indication that his growth had ended. (-Wiki)

Psalm 56:3 (AV)

What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

God is Bigger Than Anything We Could FEAR.

WHY IS IT THAT DAVID IS THE ONLY ONE NOT AFRAID?

1 Samuel 17:11 (AV)

When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

1 Samuel 17:24 (AV)

And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.

1 Samuel 17:32 (AV)

And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

The soldiers are afraid.

His older brothers are afraid.

The King (Saul) is Afraid.

Even if on the inside, David is afraid, you could not tell it on the outside. He lives fearlessly when others were frozen with fear.

Goliath’s spear (end of it) weighed 15 pounds. A “Weaver’s Beam” weighed around 17 pounds.

The average american hunting rifle weighs a total of 8 pounds.

One man carried Goliath shield.

His coat of mail weighed about 155 pounds

Goliath stands nearly 10 feet tall.

Humanly speaking there are 3 basic responses when afraid:

Fight.

Flight.

Freeze.

Before Goliath, David was chosen to play the harp for Saul. David was already a strong young man who was already considered valiant.

1 Samuel 16:17–18 (AV)

And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me. Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.

1 and 2 Samuel: An Introduction and Commentary (iii. Saul Needs a Warrior to Fight Goliath (17:1–18:5))

Mention of David’s name requires an explanation of his circumstances at the time. His Ephrathite father (cf. 1 Chr. 4:4; Ephrathah was mother of Hur, who was ‘father’, maybe the civic leader, of Bethlehem), was already too old for military service, but his three eldest sons were in Saul’s army at the front line, and needing supplies of food. David, the youngest, had the responsibility of fulfilling this errand in addition to looking after his sheep.

1 and 2 Samuel: An Introduction and Commentary (iii. Saul Needs a Warrior to Fight Goliath (17:1–18:5))

The uncircumcised Philistine, who worships man-made gods, knows nothing of the living God, in whom David declares his trust. In answer to his question, David learns of the threefold prize which will go to the one who will kill Goliath, including, along with riches and a royal bride, free status for his family in Israel. This last privilege, exempting the victor’s family from service to the king at court, was tantamount to bestowing equality with the king.

1 Samuel 13:14 (AV)

But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.

WHAT WAS DIFFERENT ABOUT DAVID.

His brothers and he shared the same family life, yet he was not afraid and they were. There was a special faith in the heart of this 15 year old. Anyone ages 12-15 here? Any 16 year olds?

David could not yet drive a car, but he is talking to King Saul about trusting God to overcome the dreadful enemy, the giant, Goliath.

David’s 3 brothers were probably not professional fighting men, but they were fully grown and capable men. When Samuel came to anoint the next King from Jessie’s family, he thought one of these men would have been the next king. They were strong and sharp looking men.

Why is David the Only one Not Afraid of Goliath?

Trusting God overcomes every fear.

Notice the difference for DAVID was TRUST… CONFIDENCE IN GOD...

David Trusted God in Everything:

The Simple Things. 17-22

Watching Sheep. (Occupation)

Delivering Food (Obedience, Helping Others)

Playing Music (Offering to God) 15

Memories of the still waters and the shepherding hillsides around Bethlehem are the setting for when David was older, he wrote down Psalm 23.

The Familiar Things. 37-40

David did not have fancy or novel things.

David had never wore a helmet.

David had never worn an armour coat.

David had a leather sling and pouch.

David had round stones (found in abundance in the rivers).

Proved = time tested things.

It is considered a “Best Practice” to use time tested tools, weapons, or devices.

David is not afraid of new things, but he wanted to rely on things that he was familiar with. New things are not needed in the heat of battle.

The Fearful Things. 37

God Delivered Me in the Past. 37

God Can Deliver Me in the Future. 45-47

God Will Deliver Me in the Future.

Psalm 118:5–6 (AV)

I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

Matthew 10:28–31 (AV)

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Psalm 56:3 (AV)

What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

1.Trust God in the Simple Things.

2.Trust God in the Familiar Things.

3.Trust God in the Fearful Things.

Have you Trusted Jesus for Salvation?