(Saul) - 1 Samuel 9-15
Israel insists on a king because they want to be like the other nations around them (1 Samuel 8:19-20). They had rejected God as their King (1 Samuel 8:7).
Samuel annoints Saul as directed by God. Saul has a good reputation, is handsome, strong and stands a head taller than anyone else in Israel. Similar to David, Saul when annointed and then later publicly appointed as king does not appear to let it go to his head. He did not try to build a palace or set up a throne. Instead, like David later does, he returns to his father's home and continues the work he was doing before he was annointed. And like David, we are told the Holy Spirit came on him in power.
We know David committed some very grievious sins later in his life. But what makes him different from Saul? God abandoned Saul, but never left David. Why?
I think the answer to this is very important. Not sure of the answer yet, but I do think I've pinpointed one thing that I need to address in my life.
One characteristic of Saul that stands out is that he was a people-pleaser and had self-esteem issues (when he was appointed king he was nowhere to be found because he was hiding in the baggage!) Self-esteem issues come from the same focus as those who are arrogant. The symptom which the world sees may be different, but the root is the same - a focus on self.
A lack of confidence does not equal humility. A truly humble person looks to the Master while a person with self-esteem issues is still looking to self. A truly humble person in reality has a great deal of confidence - not in themselves - but in the great God they serve.
This difference between lack of self-esteem and true humility is one I'm still trying to grasp - and one that I really don't see as being an issue in David's life. What do you think?
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