#FEARLESS365 is a yearlong study of God’s commandment to us to live without fear. For 365 days, we will focus on one scripture and volunteers from all over the world will share their personal thoughts and what God has shared with them on the specific verse. For more info… go here.
Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon: then kill him, fear not; have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
2 Samuel 13:28
The story of Absalom’s life can be found in 2 Samuel, beginning in chapter 13 and continuing until his death in chapter 18. He was an interesting character. He was the third son born unto King David in Hebron. He had Amnon, his eldest brother and rightful heir of the throne, killed. He rebelled against his father and sought to steal the kingdom out from under him. In the end, he died in battle. His life is one of many that validates the words of Proverbs 10:27. There the Bible says, “The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.” Absalom was completely fearless, but that was what led to his downfall.
I don’t think that could be said about his servants. They were afraid. They had been given orders to kill the one who everyone would have thought should have been the next king of Israel. Why? Because Amnon had raped his own half-sister Tamar! Instead of dealing with the issue, King David tried to cover it up. Absalom was furious. He had plotted against his brother for two years. Now he wanted revenge. So, he told his servants to do what his dad refused to do. Should Amnon have been put to death? Under their law, yes. Should Absalom’s servants have been the executioners? No. What they were ordered to do was illegal. It was not their right or responsibility to play judge, jury, and executioner.
What does this have to do with us? How do we apply this to our lives? If we are not careful we will do foolish and harmful things in our attempt to conquer our fears. Have you ever heard of the game Chicken? It’s played with cars. Two drivers race toward each other and the first to swerve is the loser, or the chicken. What happens if neither driver swerves? They both lose! Don’t let people talk you into doing crazy stuff in the name of being fearless!
How else does this apply? Sometimes you must choose between the fear of man and the fear of God. The fear of God is a healthy fear. Matthew 10:28 says, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” God is a loving God, but he also judges sin. We often forget about that when faced with a tough decision that forces us to choose between living in obedience to the scriptures or pleasing the people in our lives. This is especially true when that person is an authority figure over us! We read in the book of Acts how the apostles stood up to the rulers of the day and refused to stop preaching the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ! They knew that the only hope that anyone had of going to heaven was through the shed blood of Jesus, and they overcome their fear through the power of the Holy Spirit and boldly proclaimed the word of God. Don’t let fear keep you from dong the will of God for your life.
James D. Oakes is a Hispanic Pastor and Construction Worker from Martinsville, Virginia, USA. His mother suffers from Bipolar Disorder.
Defying Shadows 
Good post. There is a great difference between being fearless and fearing the correct one. Being fearless does not help, unless it is being fearless with the proper type and amount of fear of God in our lives. We can do nothing in and of ourselves, it is only through God that we can do anything. Thanks for sharing.