Fear

Introduction

A. I don’t like to be afraid. Do you? There are times that fear is an obvious response to certain situations. To hear a loud noise when one is not expected brings fear. Or to hear your house alarm go off in the dead of night would rightfully create fear. Then there are those unexplained fears. Phobias they are called. Those who suffer from a phobia may not be able to tell you why the fear exists, but they will tell you that their fear is real. But there are some phobias that are not well known. For instance:

1. Graphophobia is fear of writing in public

2. Levophobia is fear of things on the left side

3. Dextrophobia is fear of things on the right side

4. Auroraphobia is fear of the Northern Lights

5. Phobophobia is fear of being afraid.

B. For those who have real fears these are not laughable. But the truth is that fear keeps us from engaging life. Haven’t you noticed that when we are afraid we are tentative about life? We walk slower; we doubt more; we are unsettled. Fear leaves us with a sense of dread and uncertainty. We want confidence and assurance and faith.

C. But there is another kind of fear. It is a fear which results in awe and wonder. It is a fear which produces respect and a response of humility in the presence of that which is held in high esteem. This is the response we have with God. To fear God is to recognize his greatness and to respond with a sense of awe, wonder, respect, and worship. The fear of this world takes away our worship. The fear of God brings passionate worship. Worldly fear leads to doubt. Godly fear leads to faith.

D. What we see in our text today reminds us of the impact of worldly fear and that such an impact can lead us to make decisions which do not honor God. As we begin thinking about the connection of fear and faith, let’s remember that we have come to praise the faithful one. He fills us with awe and wonder. Let’s praise him now.

The Text

A. Our text allows us to understand a bit more about Israel’s insistence that a king lead them. Fear. In chapter 8, the people trust in what they see. Samuel is getting old and his sons are not worthy of filling his shoes. They are going to be without a leader. Out of fear they ask for a king. Saul is selected but there are some who do not think he is king-worthy. Chapter 11 tells the story of a great victory against the Ammonites and Saul secures his place as king through leadership. But it is in chapter 12 that we learn more about motivation.

B. Look at 12:12. “When you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No we want a king to rule over us’ even though the Lord your God was your king.” Fear. Fear makes people do all kinds of things. Instead of awe and wonder about what God was going to do for his people, the people allowed the fear of the present situation to dictate the direction they took.

C. Some would argue. But look at what happened. Israel was saved. The Ammonites were completely defeated. There was a great victory. Again, looking at the results and what we can see isn’t the full picture. As 12:12 illustrates—God was their king and their plea for another was a rejection of who he was and is. God demonstrates his displeasure in 12:18. During the wheat harvest season, which is the dry season, he sends heavy rains. This would make harvest difficult and possibly ruin the crop. What’s the point? The good outcome was still God’s will. Just as the appointment of a king at this time was against his will.

Application

A. What are we to get from this text? First, God will allow us to have what we want. God allowed Israel to have what they wanted. Good things came as a result. This doesn’t mean that God was blessing their decision. We are selfish people. We can’t take ourselves out of the equation no matter how hard we try. Being selfless is a difficult task. God gives us free will. He gives us the opportunity to choose our own direction. He will allow us to choose our own course. Just because he allows us to choose our own direction doesn’t mean that he is endorsing our choice.

1. I have heard people say “Well, God would stop this if he didn’t want me to do it.” Are you kidding me? Since when did God become a dictator? When did God become the divine decider for us?

2. The real task is to make sure that our choices are more about what God wants than what we want. Statements that include “I” are dangerous statements.

I want to feel good.

I don’t care what others want.

It doesn’t matter to me.

This is what I want.

3. What does God want? Through this entire section dealing with Israel choosing a king, only Samuel has sought God’s desire. The people have never once asked “what does God want?”

4. God will allow us to selfishly choose our own direction. Don’t blame God for your choices. Get back to thinking about what he wants rather than what you want.

B. Second, fear makes us take our eyes off the eternal and focus only on the present. When we are afraid we just want to get out of that which makes us afraid. Oftentimes, we do not realize that the fear leads us to unclear thinking and foolish action. ILL. “Fear: Nelson Price.”

C. Third, look at 12:23. Samuel says “far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you.” Never quit praying. Prayer is that which brings our worldly fear into check and allows us to concentrate on the one who is worthy of awe and wonder. Israel would have been much better off praying for faith rather than asking for a king. Someone has said, “It is strange that, while praying, we seldom ask for change of character, but always a change in circumstance.” C.S. Lewis wrote: “The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists in shoving it all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in.”

D. May we give ourselves more to prayer to drive away our fear. May we keep our eyes on the eternal. And may our thinking be more about what God wants rather than what we want. What are you afraid of? What worldly fear drives the eternal away and makes the present so imposing? Pray to the one who fills you with awe and wonder. Allow your day to be filled with passion and worship for the one who has called you to be his child. May your prayer bring greater faith, confidence, and assurance. Invitation.

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