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Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9, ESV).
I believe that the Bible teaches three types of courage.
Both the Hebrew and Greek words in the Bible translated as “courage” can also be translated as “confidence.” What would you say if I asked you this question: “What Bible story exhibits the most courage?”
If I answered this question, I would go with David’s defeat of Goliath (1 Samuel 17). This is one type of courage, but as I’ve considered David over the years, he exhibited all three Biblical types of courage in his life.
#1 Courage to do the impossible
Goliath stood about 10 feet tall and probably weighed close to 700 pounds. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if he lived a few thousand years later and showed up as a walk-on for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team?
On the field of battle, he threw a 65-pound spear and wore armor weighing 135 pounds. In comparison, David, as a youth, was tiny in comparison, and yet reading the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel as the entire Israelite army cowered, there’s no hint of fear or cowardice in David’s words and actions.
He acted like a player today at a Friday night high school game, saying, “Coach, put me in the game.”
And King Saul did, which is almost as amazing as David’s defeat of Goliath. Why did Saul put him in the game (or battle)? Courage has a Spirit that emanates, makes the impossible believable, and extinguishes doubt in others.
David’s mantle of confidence was soon manifest in his words to Goliath…
You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied (1 Samuel 17:45).
#2 Courage to wait
Confession, I do not excel in waiting. How about you?
As I’ve read the biographies of the saints, I’ve noticed one quality: they learned to wait. Though anointed to preach to the Gentiles, Paul waited 15 years, mostly in his hometown of Tarsus, until Barnabas came to get him (Acts 11:25-26).
This same courage in waiting is evident in David, who spent about 10 years fleeing from King Saul after being anointed by Samuel as king. In one instance, when Saul went into a cave to relieve himself, David and his band of mighty men were in that cave, and David did nothing. His words to his men were that he would not raise his hand against the Lord’s anointed (1 Samuel 24:6, NASB1995).
It takes courage not to take control of our calling with our personal strength and wisdom. Let’s remember…
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31, ESV).
#3 Courage to continue after making mistakes
King David sinned with Bathsheba, made an error of pride in counting the number of warriors in Israel, and didn’t rein in his son Absalom. After each of these costly mistakes, David endured the justice meted by God, didn’t blame others, and humbly paid the price of his sinful mistakes.
I’m not justifying David’s mistakes in this blog, knowing that today, with some sins, a person must step down permanently from ministry. But all of us make huge mistakes, and it’s easy to quit, withdraw, and become bitter.
David didn’t, and I respect this courage. As David wrote…
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment (Psalm 51:3-4).
Let’s have courage, courage, and courage in this age of fear.