Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

“Then David came to Mahanaim. Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. Absalom set Amasa over the army instead of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Ithra the Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead. When David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, brought beds, basins, earthen vessels, wheat, barley, meal, parched grain, beans, lentils, roasted grain, honey, butter, sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David and for the people who were with him to eat; for they said, “The people are hungry, weary, and thirsty in the wilderness.””
(2 Samuel 17:24-29)

“I will praise you, Lord my God, with my whole heart.
    I will glorify your name forever more.
For your loving kindness is great toward me.
    You have delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol.^[a]
God, the proud have risen up against me.
    A company of violent men have sought after my soul,
    and they don’t hold regard for you before them.
But you, Lord, are a merciful and gracious God,
    slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth.
Turn to me, and have mercy on me!
    Give your strength to your servant.
    Save the son of your servant.
Show me a sign of your goodness,
    that those who hate me may see it, and be shamed,
    because you, Yahweh, have helped me, and comforted me.”
(Psalm 86:12-17)

“I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father. Now I beg you, dear lady, not as though I wrote to you a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. This is love, that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.”
(2 John 1:4-6)

Even though part of the nation had turned against David by following Absalom, he was still showered with love and honour. He had advisors to Absalom dedicated to giving David a fighting chance. Messengers willing to risk their lives to get information to David – and others willing to hide and help the messengers. He was given provisions for himself and his men. He was protected by soldiers and towns. Everywhere David turned there were people risking themselves because of their love for him.

David could have been bitter. He could have wailed and moaned. He didn’t. Yes, he acknowledged he was being hunted. He did not deny the feelings of persecution that came on him. But he wasn’t ruled by his feelings. What he was experiencing were the consequences of what he had sown. Both because of the sin he committed and how he had dealt with Absalom. But he had repented of his sin and seems to have regretted what happened (and was happening) with Absalom. David still chose to love. His son, his people, and his God. He did not change the way he had mostly lived. He put his life in God’s hands and sought `deliverance not on the basis of who David thought he was, but on the position that God had placed him in (God’s anointed king over Israel). In that seeking, David continued to show lenience, mercy, and an attitude of gratitude.

God is not a God of wrath, although He is capable of it. God is a God of love. God’s wrath is reserved for Sin: the utter rejection of all God is and the attempt to ruin everything God says is good (John 10:10). God doesn’t want us to be children of wrath. God wants us to be children of love (John 13:35). It is so different than how the world operates. It is so different than how the devil operates. It is unique. It is a direct reflection of God and His goodness. Love involves many things – feelings, passion, kindness, respect, etc – but at its core, love is a DECISION. A decision to treat those around us the same way that God treats them for the same reason He treats them that way. It is the opportunity to show them what God is really like.

Summary

In all circumstances and all situations, with all people, and with no exceptions, we are called to love. To show love, to operate in love, to speak in love, and to think the way God thinks (with love). It is an ongoing process and we cannot accomplish it outside of Him (Romans 12:2; John 15:5). This is the Light we are to shine. This is the example we are to be. We talk to God about the negative and leave it with Him. Knowing He will take care of it, we are free to operate in love toward everyone else. If we let God be God and we focus on how He wants us to be toward one another, we will be a TREMENDOUS witness to the world around us. They won’t like us any better, but they will have real trouble denying we serve a God who loves them very much.