Courage

 Courage defined is the ability to do something that frightens you. Fear can be crippling. To keep a person frozen in their tracks. Fear can also enslave people to past failures and reluctance to risk in the future. 

God commanded Joshua to be courageous multiple times in the first chapter of the book of Joshua. The Bible is littered with stories of people courageously obeying God in exploits of faith. I read one of the most familiar of all time this morning from [I Samuel 17]. If you are a serious Bible student, you recognize that chapter as the one about David and Goliath. 

I don't know how many times I have read that story. I have preached on it, taught it, and used it multiple times in pregame devotions for football teams. Today I read it with fresh eyes. It came alive sentence after sentence in a new way. Multiple things seemed to jump off the page at me. It almost seemed like I was reading it for the first time except I knew the ending. 

David's three oldest brothers were in the army squared off against the Philistines. They heard the taunts of the giant Goliath day after day. They shrunk back in cowardice just like the rest of the Israelite army. Goliath mocked and taunted the enemy soldiers willing to take on anyone who had the courage to face him. Nobody wanted to square off against this mountain of a man. Not Saul. Interestingly, the Bible describes Saul as standing head and shoulders above the rest of the men of his nation. He was a big man himself. He was also a coward. Sowas David's oldest brothers and every other Hebrew on that battlefield. 

Enter David. He was curious. He also brought some provisions to his brothers. Goliath fully captivated David's attention when he began parading before and profaning the God of Israel. Everyone quaked in their boots except David. He was provoked. Livid this pagan defied God. He could not hold his tongue. David's courage offended his cowardly brothers. 

David was brought to Saul. Saul only saw the youthfulness of this would be warrior. David quickly spouted off his resume of killing both lions and bears who attacked his sheep. He even killed them in hand to hand combat by seizing their fur and ending their lives. David knew God helped him against those beasts, and he confidently believed God would help him against the giant. 

With five smooth stones and his sling he approached Goliath. Did David have any fear? None is recorded. You know his pulse quickened as he stood across the battlefield from the largest man he had ever seen. The head of Goliath's spear weighed 15 pounds. Go ahead. Pick up a sledge hammer and hoist it behind your ear and then try to throw it like javelin. I think you get the point. 

Both sides did a little trash talking leading up to the clash. Goliath boasted in his size and strength. David boasted in Yahweh. 

My favorite part of the story may be overlooked by a lot of people. It is found in verse 48 at the end. It reads, "... David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine." It is that phrase he ran quickly toward the battle line that gets me. David did not succumb to fear. He didn't retreat to save his own hide. He not only ran toward Goliath, but he ran quickly toward him. 

Many people spend their whole lives running from battles as quickly as they can. David ran toward his opponent. David exercised faith and exuded confidence in the one true God. David refused to be a slave to fear. He lived out his courage for all to see. The reason we love this story so much is because of the courage. It is the ultimate underdog story. David and Goliath has become synonymous with impossible odds. David did not set out to make history that day. He just courageously lived out his convictions. 

I wonder what God could do through us if we chose to live out our convictions in a courageous manner. How many impossible things would God do through us. How many would be inspired by our example of courageous exploits. People are not inspired by fear. Cowards are often forgotten in history. People of courage are history makers. Which defines you? Courage or coward? Remember God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind. [II Tim 1:7] Choose the path of courage. Run quickly to your battle line and trust God with all that is within you.