“2026: Year of the Explosion” Day 15: God‘s people should not fear; rather, the people who would come against God’s people should fear.

“When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went out against them. Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the Valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of God, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up, and I will give them into your hand.” And he went up to Baal-perazim, and David struck them down there. And David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like a bursting flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. And they left their gods there, and David gave command, and they were burned. And the Philistines yet again made a raid in the valley. And when David again inquired of God, God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; go around and come against them opposite the balsam trees. And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” And David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer. And the fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations.”

‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭14‬:‭8‬-‭17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

After the army of Pharaoh was drowned, swallowed up by the Red Sea, Moses sang a song in which he extolled the greatness of God and the awesome power of God shown through the miracle at the Red Sea. Interestingly, he also noted that because of this miracle, the people they would encounter on their way to the Promised Land, would be fearful of them.

“You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode. The peoples have heard; they tremble; pangs have seized the inhabitants of Philistia. Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed; trembling seizes the leaders of Moab; all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away. Terror and dread fall upon them; because of the greatness of your arm, they are still as a stone, till your people, O Lord, pass by, till the people pass by whom you have purchased. You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain, the place, O Lord, which you have made for your abode, the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬-‭17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Moses, in the recounting of the wilderness journey, spoke of the fact that although the Lord had put fear of the Israelites on the people of the land, the Israelites let fear get the better of them. Indeed, they refused to believe God, a tragic error that would keep them from ever going into the Promised Land.

“Then I said to you, ‘Do not be in dread or afraid of them. The Lord your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place.’ Yet in spite of this word you did not believe the Lord your God, who went before you in the way to seek you out a place to pitch your tents, in fire by night and in the cloud by day, to show you by what way you should go. “And the Lord heard your words and was angered, and he swore, ‘Not one of these men of this evil generation shall see the good land that I swore to give to your fathers, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh. He shall see it, and to him and to his children I will give the land on which he has trodden, because he has wholly followed the Lord!’”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭1‬:‭29‬-‭36‬ ‭ESV‬‬

When the time came for the people who remained to finally go into the Promised Land, the Lord again promised that He would put the fear of them on the current inhabitants of the land.

“‘Rise up, set out on your journey and go over the Valley of the Arnon. Behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession, and contend with him in battle. This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you on the peoples who are under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.’”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭2‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“You shall not be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God. The Lord your God will clear away these nations before you little by little. You may not make an end of them at once, lest the wild beasts grow too numerous for you. But the Lord your God will give them over to you and throw them into great confusion, until they are destroyed.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭7‬:‭21‬-‭23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

In today’s portion, our final portion, of the story of David’s victory at Baal-perazim, we see that after David was again obedient to what the Lord had said, a great victory was given him. Additionally, his fame spread throughout the land. As well, fear of him spread throughout people.

Child of God, the Lord has told us that we have no need to fear. Rather, those who come against the Lord, those who come against those who are coming in the name of the Lord, should fear.

Yes, the Lord takes care of His own. And for that, we should be most grateful. And because of that, we should never fear!

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!