A Tale of Two Kings: Saul and David This week I wanted to refresh my memory so I read the Books of 1st and 2nd Samuel. When reading about the lives of the prophets, priests, and kings I looked a little closer than before. The children of Israel had relied on the leadership of the Lord through the prophet Samuel for many years. They were not subject to a natural king or ruler. Their direction came from the King of kings - Yahweh. Unfortunately, after facing various trials, the Israelites began to allow doubt to rise in their hearts. They went into survival mode and asked for a natural man to step up and be their king, hoping that he would lead them into victory once again. The prophet Samuel warned them of their unwise decision. He described to them the danger, corruption, and defeat that would overtake them if they accepted an earthly king. Despite the prophets warning, they were persistent. So, the Lord selected Saul to be king over Israel. Obviously, all the prophet said came true. There was much corruption that came from Sauls leadership, and the Lord was heavily grieved by him. The Lord said, I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.” (1 Samuel 15:11). The prophet Samuel constantly prayed and cried to the Lord over this awful ruler on behalf of the people, but the Lord said (in my own paraphrase) Samuel, how long are you going to cry over the king Ive rejected? Get up and go! Ive anointed myself another king for my people... (1 Samuel 16:1) So, Samuel went where the Lord instructed and anointed David, a young and good looking shepherd boy, to be the new king for Israel, and the Spirit of the Lord was upon David from that day forward. However, the change of kings didnt happen immediately. David spent very many years under Sauls authority before change ever occurred. He served faithfully in little knowing that God would make him ruler over much. The Lord won many victories for David and Sauls anger grew each time. He sought to take Davids life many times, but the Lord protected him. Likewise, David had the opportunity to kill Saul, but he did not do it out of respect for the position God had him in as king (thats a testimony of integrity in itself). Year after year, the Lord directed David and delivered all his enemies into his hands. Through loss and sin, God still kept His hand on David, knowing that his destiny was great. To make a long story short, God had in His plans for David to replace Saul as king but those plans took a long time to unfold. When Saul finally died, David was able to blamelessly replace him and lead the Israelites for the rest of his days, and his descendants took over the throne after him. Now, Ive heard it said, Saul was appointed, but David was anointed! While I see where that comes from, its not entirely biblical. The Lord anointed Saul as king over Israel, too. The Bible evens says that after he was anointed as king, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul and changed his heart and made him into a new man. The Lord truly was with Saul just as He was with David. However, the difference in their anointing came down to this: one guarded it and the other did not. It was an issue of the heart. While Saul turned into a man that had a heart for himself and obeyed the Lord on his terms, David was a man after Gods own heart and He did what was right. It wasnt a question of who was anointed and who wasnt, they both were. Both lead effectively, heard the voice of God, had the Spirit come upon them, prophesied, won many battles, and triumphed in public, and received honor. Both also fell into sin. The only difference was one guarded that which was entrusted to him and the other squandered it. One had a repentant heart and one had a problem with making excuses. The Lord called and anointed both men, but at some point, the very one that the Lord chose became the one He regretted and resisted. Our Father will open doors of opportunity and Hell give us great provision, but that special grace can soon leave if we decide that our way is better. What God entrusts to us at one point may not be what He allows us to keep. We have to be good stewards over whats given to us. The Lord will give and He will take away, but blessed be the name of the Lord. Our God doesnt do anything out of spite or shame. All His acts are of love and mercy. It is by His mercy that He will both raise us up and sit us down when we need it. His grace says, Ill let you watch and listen until youre ready. That same grace says, Im trusting you with this. Follow me and you will succeed. Leave me and you will fail. We must consider Jesus. Both Saul and David were anointed. Only one started small, remained faithful, and left a huge legacy. The other died a fools death and goes down as the bad Old Testament king. Ones failures outweighed his success, the other was the opposite. Which one do you want to be? May we not use being anointed as a cloak for vice. The fact that the Lord has His hand upon us should not give us the excuse live unwisely and write it off with Well, I am anointed. Im called. Ive done so much for God. No. We all come short of the glory, we sin, and need repentance. Anointing will cost us something that only few are willing to give. David said, I wont give God an offering that doesnt cost me something! But despite what God does in or through us, we cannot forget that this life is for His glory and not ours. His love for us endures forever! I want to be like David: a warrior, a psalmist, one who leads well, and whose heart is ever towards the Lord. By Gods grace He will keep and sustain us. He wil finish the good works He has started, but we must keep denying ourselves, picking up our cross, and following Him down that Narrow Road. No matter what, it will be worth it.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 23:55:43 +0000
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