Applying David's Faith in Uncertainty and Fear Biblically
David's life provides numerous examples of faith in the face of uncertainty and fear, demonstrating a reliance on God even amidst significant distress. One notable instance occurred when David and his men returned to Ziklag to find it burned and their families taken captive. The people were so grieved that they spoke of stoning David, yet "David strengthened himself in Yahweh his God" [3]. This act of strengthening himself in God highlights a key aspect of his faith: turning to divine power and comfort when human resources and hope were depleted.
Another example of David's fear, coupled with his faith, is seen when he was bringing the Ark of God to Jerusalem. After Uzzah died for touching the Ark, David became afraid, asking, "How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?" [1]. This fear, however, was not a paralyzing dread but a "godly fear" or reverence, which is distinct from the "unholy fear" characteristic of the wicked [5, 6]. This godly fear, described as "filial reverence," is conjoined with love and hope, leading to strong confidence and a place of refuge in God [4, 5].
The concept of "fear of the Lord" in the Old Testament is often used to denote true piety [5]. It is a fear that motivates righteous action, much like Noah, who, "moved with godly fear," built an ark to save his household [2]. This type of fear is not merely an emotion but a principle that guides one's actions and trust. David's experiences illustrate that even those with deep faith can feel fear, but their faith directs them to God as their ultimate source of confidence and strength [8]. This is a "working reality of faith," not a passive assent, but an active trust that manifests in continuous reliance on God [7].
Sources
- 1 Chronicles “David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?” -- 1 Chronicles 13:12”
- Hebrews “By faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. -- Hebrews 11:7”
- 1 Samuel “David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David strengthened himself in Yahweh his God. -- 1 Samuel 30:6”
- Proverbs “Proverbs 14:26 (Darby) — In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Fear of the Lord the — Is in the Old Testament used as a designation of true piety (Prov. 1:7; Job 28:28; Ps. 19:9). It is a fear conjoined with love and hope, and is therefore not a slavish dread, but rather filial reverence. (Comp. Deut. 32:6; Hos. 11:1; Isa. 1:2; 63:16; 64:8.) God is called "the Fear of Isaac" (Gen. 31:42, 53), i.e., the God whom Isaac feared. A holy fear is enjoined also in the New Testament as a preventive of carelessness in religion, and as an incentive to penitence (Matt. 10:28; 2 Cor. 5:11; 7:1; Phil. 2:12; Eph. 5:21; Heb. 12:28, 29).”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fear, Unholy — A characteristic of the wicked -- Re 21:8. Is described as A fear of idols. -- 2Ki 17:38. A fear of man. -- 1Sa 15:24; Joh 9:22. A fear of judgments. -- Isa 2:19; Lu 21:26; Re 6:16,17. A fear of future punishment. -- Heb 10:27. Overwhelming. -- Ex 15:16; Job 15:21,24. Consuming. -- Ps 73:19. A guilty conscience leads to -- Ge 3:8,10; Ps 53:5; Pr 28:1. Seizes the wicked -- Job 15:24; 18:11. Surprises the hypocrite -- Isa 33:14,18. The wicked judicially filled with -- Le 26:16,17; De 28:65-67; Jer 49:5. Shall be realised -- Pr 1:27; 10:24. God mocks -- P”
- 1 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Thessalonians 1:3: work of faith--the working reality of your faith; its alacrity in receiving the truth, and in evincing itself by its fruits. Not an otiose assent; but a realizing, working faith; not "in word only," but in one continuous chain of "work" (singular, not plural, works), Th1 1:5-10; Jam 2:22. So "the work of faith" in Th2 1:11 implies its perfect development (compare Jam 1:4). The other governing substantives similarly mark respectively the characteristic manifestation of the grace which follows each in the genitive. Faith, love, and hope, are the ”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 11:1: Here is, I. David's fixed resolution to make God his confidence: In the Lord put I my trust, Psa 11:1. Those that truly fear God and serve him are welcome to put their trust in him, and shall not be made ashamed of their doing so. And it is the character of the saints, who have taken God for their God, that they make him their hope. Even when they have other things to stay themselves upon, yet they do not, they dare not, stay upon them, but on God only. Gold is not their hope, nor are horses and chariots their confidence, but God only; and therefore, when second c”