“Proper Perspective”
False Evidence Appearing Real
Fear can paralyze us when our
perspective is faulty. While we should
be AWARE of the events that are occurring on earth, our FOCUS should not be a
slave to these events.
In 1 Samuel 17, the Israelite army
was being terrorized by Goliath from the Philistine army and they were frightened
of him. During one of his visits, David
came on the scene and inquired about the reward for disposing of this man who
had the audacity to defy the army that belonged to God. While the soldiers feared Goliath, David saw a
defeated foe.
After David assured Saul that Goliath
would die like the bear and the lion that he had previously killed, he went out
to engage the giant in combat. When
Goliath squared off with David, he may have been baffled by David’s confidence since
he was almost five feet taller than David. However, 1 Samuel 5 provides some history
which could explain David’s lack of fear. In that account, the Philistines captured the
ark of God and took it to the house of Dagon, their god. The next morning, they found Dagon on his
face bowing down to the ark of God. They
set Dagon upright in his previous position.
The following morning, they saw that Dagon had once again fallen before
the ark of God. This time his hands and
head had been broken off. Following this
incident, God afflicted the Philistines with tumors which caused them to
realize that they needed to return the ark of God to the Israelites.
God had already proven that when He
intervenes in any situation, there isn’t any force that can contend with
Him. However, as the Israelite soldiers stood
in front of Goliath, they feared him because they only saw how big he was. David was not afraid of Goliath because he
only saw how big God is. It’s all a
matter of having proper perspective.
Proverbs 3:25-26
25 Do not be afraid of sudden danger,
Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26 For the Lord will
be your confidence,
And will keep your foot from being caught.
