Introduction In my journey with the Daily Audio Bible through the Bible in one year, we've slogged through the miserable period of the Judges of Israel (where we're reminded repeatedly that everyone did what was right in their own eyes--does that sou…
In my journey with the Daily Audio Bible through the Bible in one year, we've slogged through the miserable period of the Judges of Israel (where we're reminded repeatedly that everyone did what was right in their own eyes--does that sound familiar?) and reached the strange story of the first two kings of Israel: Saul and then David. One odd thing about this story is that Saul seemed to be an unlikely choice to be the first king. He was from the smallest of the tribes of Isreal, and the reason it was small was because it had been almost completely annihilated by the other tribes several hundred years earlier due to awful, aberrant behavior by some of its men. This part of the odd story is actually somewhat inspiring, a reminder that God uses unlikely people to accomplish His purposes.
Anyway, God gives Saul the unexpected blessing of being selected as the first king of Israel. At first, it sounds like the stuff fairy tales are made of, but it quickly turns into a tragic saga of how anxiety can unravel even the most promising of beginnings. Saul was anointed by God and was given every opportunity to succeed. Yet, his reign was marred by fear and insecurity, leading him to make disastrous decisions that ultimately cost him his kingship before it could even get going.
Saul's Anxious Downfall
Saul's journey begins with great promise. In 1 Samuel 10:1, we see Samuel anointing Saul, declaring, "Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over His inheritance?" But despite this divine affirmation, Saul's kingship is plagued by anxiety and self-doubt. One of the most telling examples of Saul's anxiety is found in 1 Samuel 13:8-14. Facing an impending battle with the Philistines and feeling the pressure of his people scattering, Saul takes matters into his own hands. In other words, he does what was right in his own eyes. Instead of waiting for Samuel to offer the burnt offering, Saul performs the sacrifice himself. This act of disobedience reveals Saul's lack of trust in God's timing and his desperation to maintain control on his own.
Samuel's rebuke is stern: "You have done a foolish thing...now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart" (1 Samuel 13:13-14). Saul's anxiety drove him to act rashly, undermining his role as king and his relationship with God.
Another poignant instance is Saul's reaction to David's growing popularity. After David defeats Goliath, the women of Israel sing, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands" (1 Samuel 18:7). Saul's insecurity morphs into jealousy and paranoia, leading him to pursue David relentlessly, seeing him as a threat rather than an ally.
Saul tries to kill David on many occasions, which is another reason I find this story strange. In one visit, Saul throws a spear at David twice--I'm pretty sure I would leave the first time someone threw a spear at me in their house. Also, David becomes the greatest military leader in Israel, winning one victory after another for Saul, and Saul tries to kill him. David becomes Saul's son-in-law and his personal musician, whose job it is to try to soothe the worrying king, but still Saul tries to kill him. This is a very strange relationship, and it's mainly because of Saul's anxiety and resulting paranoia.
The bottom line: God gave Saul a blessing, but rather than continue to trust God with that blessing, he constantly wrestles it away from God and tries to manage it himself. So, it ultimately gets taken away from him.
David's Trust in God
Here's another weird thing about this story: it's about 15 years between the time David gets anointed to replace Saul and when he actually becomes king (in 1 Samuel 16, we see that David is still a young shepherd when he gets anointed, be we later learn in 2 Samuel 5:4-5 that David was about 30 years old when he finally became king of Judah (and even later before he also became king of Israel)). Meanwhile, Saul stays in place as king. During this time, I can't help but wonder how many times David pointed out to God that He has a strange way of showing David that he was the one God chose to become the new king.
But, I digress. Back to the point, in stark contrast to Saul's anxiety-ridden reign, David exemplifies trust and reliance on God, even in the face of immense challenges. David's life was far from easy; he faced numerous battles, personal failures, and betrayal. Oh yeah, and his leader/father-in-law was trying to kill him. Yet, David's response to these trials was markedly different from Saul's.
David's deep trust in God is beautifully captured in Psalm 23, where he declares:
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul".
Psalm 23:1-3 (NIV)
David acknowledges God as his guide and provider, trusting Him to lead and restore him through every valley. He recognizes that God is the giver of blessings.
When David is pursued by Saul and finds himself in desperate situations, he repeatedly turns to God. In 1 Samuel 24, David has the perfect opportunity to kill Saul and end his own suffering. Yet, he refrains, saying, "The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord's anointed" (1 Samuel 24:6). David's restraint and trust in God's justice stand in sharp contrast to Saul's impulsive actions.
As a result of David's trust in God, he came to be known as "the man after God's own heart", and with God's help, he built Israel into the greatest world power at the time. He led them to one of the shining moments in Israel's history.
Lessons for Us Today
The stories of Saul and David offer profound lessons for us today. Saul's anxiety and resultant actions serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of trying to control situations out of fear. His inability to wait on God and trust His plan led to his downfall. David, on the other hand, shows us the power of relying on God, even when circumstances are dire. His life was not free of trouble, but his trust in God provided him with the strength and guidance to navigate through every challenge.
As we reflect on these contrasting narratives, we have an opportunity to think about God's blessings in our own lives. Are we, like Saul, allowing anxiety to drive our decisions? Are we grateful for God's blessings one minute, but then in the next moment are we impatiently snatching them back from God because He's not doing it right?
Or are we, like David, trusting in God's timing and His provision?
Pastor Jason Starrett delivered a great sermon at church this morning (The Chapel.cc). It was probably the best message I've heard about Communion and why we remember Jesus's sacrifice for us. One of his key points was that we need to remember that God provides for us. Yes, we are all born into sin and continue to sin throughout our lives, even after accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior. But contrary to the lies Satan has woven into this culture (to the point where most people regard them as fact), God does not sit there rubbing His hands together, laughing maniacally, excited about the chance to punish us for all our wrongdoing. Instead, He offered up His only begotten Son to take the punishment in my place, in your place. In place of all who accept the Offer.
God provides what we need. His provision pours out of His love for us.
Here's an example of why that matters for me. During the message at church and the subsequent Communion time, God pointed to a place of concern in my life: my job and career. I want to be able to provide for my wife and me, and for our family as long as I can, hopefully until I am ready to retire (at least from my "day job"). My job is going fine right now, but things are unstable in the technology industry, and ageism is rampant. So occasionally I get concerned that I may not be able to keep working in this sort of job for another few years (my targeted timeframe for retirement). What will happen, I sometimes wonder, if I get laid off from this job before then? What if I can't find another one?
From a human perspective, I think these are valid questions. Even though I don't feel like they are causing me daily anxiety, they are nonetheless questions that pop up in my mind regularly.
But here's what I must remember when they float into my consciousness: God provides what we need.
In moments of uncertainty and fear, our minds should immediately pivot away from those thoughts, turning instead to David's words in Psalm 23, where he trusts God for restoration and guidance. We too should choose to trust in God's plan, knowing that He is our shepherd, leading us beside quiet waters and restoring our souls. Knowing that He provides what we need.
Conclusion
Saul's story is a reminder that anxiety and fear can destroy even the most promising blessings and opportunities. But David's life demonstrates that trust in God can lead to restoration and triumph, even in the midst of great trials. Let us learn from these two kings and strive to place our faith in God, allowing His wisdom and timing to guide our steps.
In doing so, we can overcome our anxieties and experience the fullness of life that God intends for us, remembering that God is the giver of all good things.
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