but we’re scared…

Here’s the scene from today’s LifeJournal Bible reading (1 Samuel 23):  David and his men are hiding from King Saul, who is hot on their trail.  If he finds them, they’re dead meat.  David learns that the Philistines have advanced on some Israelites in the city of Keilah.  David took this news to God:

D:  Should I go attack them?
God:  Yep.

David’s men bust into his quiet time with a status update:  Dude, we’re scared enough here in the safety of Judah.  We don’t even want to think about facing the whole Philistine army in Keilah.  We know that you think you heard from God, but we’re scared.

So David went back to the Lord.

D:  Are you sure?
God:  Yep.  Get up, and go.  I’m going to help you conquer the Philistines.

Done, and done.  When the men of the neighboring town learned that David was camped out nearby, they sent word to Saul, ratting out David.  Saul was back on the hunt.

Then Jonathan (Saul’s son) shows up.  It’s the last conversation that we have between Jon and Dave.  Jonathan went to find David, to encourage him to stay strong in his faith in God.

Here’s my takeaway for the day:

1.  If you’re going to be scared, you might as well be scared doing the things that God tells you to do.  God doesn’t always take away the bad guy, or even the fear that the bad guy provokes.  But if he’s told you to do something, get busy doing.  Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear. (Ambrose Redmoon)

2.  Being obedient to God is probably not going to be easy.  There is risk and danger, cost and sacrifice.  There may be bloodshed.  There will likely be pain.  But (again) if God’s told you to do something, it’s because that something is more important that other somethings.

3.  God provides.  He is faithful.  He promises to be with David, and Jonathan shows up to encourage and strengthen his friend, reminding him of their covenant and God’s promise to have David serve as the next king of Israel.

4.  There will always be those who are looking to capitalize on your situation, those who do not support or help your cause.  Get over it.  Life is tough.  Wear a helmet if you need one.

I needed this today.  It was one of those “one step forward, right off the curb into on-coming traffic” kind of days.  But I think I dodged the bus, and tomorrow is another day.