Bible Verse: “Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul.” (1 Samuel 18:12)
Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 17:1–24:22
David: the “man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14).
There is so much in his story. Highs and lows throughout the span of his life that we can relate to. David was tapped to be the second king of Israel. Saul’s failure led to his rejection. He had been the king the people wanted (head and shoulders above the rest, literally—see 1 Samuel 9:2).
David, on the other hand, would be the king God wanted.
David’s story starts, much like Saul’s, with a hard and heavy upswing. He is the one who can soothe the king’s troubled spirit. He walks into battle against a giant of a man (the fact that Saul was a head taller than everyone else should not escape our attention in the story of David and Goliath) and comes out victorious, leading Israel to victory over the Philistines. He wins the admiration of the people with his exploits.
The Lord was with David, and he could seemingly do no wrong.
Here’s the trend that both David and, yes, even Saul show:
Remaining in the Lord is the key to success.
But there’s a condition. It’s a condition that Saul innately lacked but one that David possessed, even if imperfectly:
Humility.
We can see David’s humility scattered throughout his stories. His submission to his family (taking care of the sheep and running errands). His confidence in God to deliver him from the hands of the Philistine giant. Playing a harp to soothe the king who he was to replace, even after he was anointed as the new king. We see it in his willingness to spare Saul’s life despite Saul’s murderous pursuit.
Though David had reason to be proud and confident, he knew who he was and trusted God to walk with and ahead of him.
Humility is pride’s opposite. Pride leads us away from God. Humility pushes us to Him. Pride comes from our broken nature. Humility is born of our new creation in Christ’s image.
Prayer: God, thank You for the contrast between Saul and David. Thank You for showing us what reliance on You looks like in the calm, collected face of David. Help me to rely on You with the same humble spirit that David had. Amen.
Reflection: What does humble reliance upon God look like for you? What situation are you facing where you need God’s direction? Commit to waiting for His direction.
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