Giants, Wind and Waves: Fear and Faith

YHWH God of Israel Samuel Israel

the Lord had revealed the following to Samuel: “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the Benjaminite territory. You will anoint him as leader of my people Israel. He will save my people from the Philistines’ power because I have seen the suffering of my people, and their cry for help has reached me.” 1 Samuel 9:15b-16 (CEB)

There was a wealthy man from the tribe of Benjamin named Kish There was a wealthy man from the tribe of Benjamin named Kish. He was the son of Abiel son of Zeror son of Becorath son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite. He had a son named Saul, who was a handsome young man. No one in Israel was more handsome than Saul, and he stood head and shoulders above everyone else. 1 Samuel 9:1-2 (CEB)

A champion named Goliath from Gath came out from the Philistine camp A champion named Goliath from Gath came out from the Philistine camp. He was more than nine feet tall.  He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore bronze scale-armor weighing one hundred twenty-five pounds. He had bronze plates on his shins, and a bronze scimitar hung on his back. His spear shaft was as strong as the bar on a weaver’s loom, and its iron head weighed fifteen pounds. His shield-bearer walked in front of him. He stopped and shouted to the Israelite troops, “Why have you come and taken up battle formations?

I am the Philistine champion, and you are Saul’s servants I am the Philistine champion, and you are Saul’s servants. Isn’t that right? Select one of your men, and let him come down against me. If he is able to fight me and kill me, then we will become your slaves, but if I overcome him and kill him, then you will become our slaves and you will serve us. I insult Israel’s troops today!” The Philistine continued, “Give me an opponent, and we’ll fight!” When Saul and all Israel heard what the Philistine said, they were distressed and terrified. 1 Samuel 17: 4-11 (CEB)

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long are you going to grieve over Saul The Lord said to Samuel, “How long are you going to grieve over Saul? I have rejected him as king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and get going. I’m sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem because I have found  my next king among his sons.” “How can I do that?” Samuel asked. “When Saul hears of it he’ll kill me!” Samuel did what the Lord instructed. When he came to Bethlehem, the city elders came to meet him. They were shaking with fear. “Do you come in peace?” they asked. 1 Samuel 16:1-2, 4 (CEB)

David asked the soldiers standing by him, “What will be done for the person who kills that Philistine over there and removes this insult from Israel? Who is that uncircumcised Philistine, anyway, that he can get away with insulting the army of the living God?” 1 Samuel 17:26 (CEB)

So Jesse sent and brought him in So Jesse sent and brought him in. He was reddish brown, had beautiful eyes, and was good-looking. The Lord said, “That’s the one. Go anoint him.” 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him right there in front of his brothers. The Lord’s spirit came over David from that point forward. 1 Samuel 16:12-13 (CEB)

Then the troops repeated to [David] what they had been saying Then the troops repeated to [David] what they had been saying. “So that’s what will be done for the man who kills him,” they said. When David’s oldest brother Eliab heard him talking to the soldiers, he got very mad at David. “Why did you come down here?” he said. “Who is watching those few sheep for you in the wilderness? I know how arrogant you are and your devious plan: you came down just to see the battle!”

“What did I do wrong this time. ” David replied “What did I do wrong this time?” David replied. “It was just a question!” So David turned to someone else and asked the same thing, and the people said the same thing in reply. The things David had said were overheard and reported to Saul, who sent for him. 1 1 1 Samuel 17:27-31 (CEB)

When Saul and all Israel heard what the Philistine said, they were distressed and terrified. 1 Samuel 17:11 (CEB)

Later that day, when evening came, Jesus said to them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” They left the crowd and took him in the boat just as he was. Other boats followed along. Gale-force winds arose, and waves crashed against the boat so that the boat was swamped. But Jesus was in the rear of the boat, sleeping on a pillow. They woke him up and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re drowning?”

He got up and gave orders to the wind, and he said to the lake, “Silence! Be still!” The wind settled down and there was a great calm. Jesus asked them, “Why are you frightened? Don’t you have faith yet?” Overcome with awe, they said to each other, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!” Mark 4:35-41 (CEB)

Overcome with awe, they said to each other, “Who then is this Overcome with awe, they said to each other, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”