A message from Micah:
David and Saul were two men who were called by God to be kings in Israel. But they lived their lives very differently and had different priorities. Saul operated in the flesh, but David operated in the Spirit. Their lives give us important insights about how we are to follow God today.
David, by the Holy Spirit, had zeal for God (1 Samuel 17:26-29). He behaved wisely (1 Samuel 18:5). The people rejoiced because of David (1 Samuel 18:6-9).
Saul was in the flesh, and he had an evil eye toward David. To have an evil eye is to have a folded eye. It has creases, crevices, and hidden places. To have a good eye is to have an unfolded, simple eye that is straightforward. Saul’s eye was complicated. He spoke one thing and intended another. David’s eye was way more clear.
Saul was always suspecting that David was doing something bad which was not true. Saul is a type of man’s religion and vain worship. He wanted to sacrifice meaningless things to God. He trusted in man-made armor more than he trusted in God.
David’s faithfulness caused Saul’s anger to be aroused against him (1 Samuel 18:10-11). Saul’s evil eye toward David caused vain imaginations and murder to consume Saul’s mind. Saul even tried to kill David. Saul was very unstable (1 Samuel 18:12-16). He was dominated by the devil and by irrational fears.
God was with David, and David behaved himself wisely—very wisely! (1 Samuel 18:17)
Saul tried to ensnare David by giving him an impossible task.. killing 200 Philistines (1 Samuel 18:28-30). David did this with the help of God.
David is the wisest of all the king’s servants, and this caused Saul to be consumed more and more by fear of David. Saul determined to oppose David, but God determined to establish David.
David faced a lot of opposition.
David once rescued the city of Keilah from the Philistines. in return, the city of Keilah was ready to deliver David to Saul that he may die (1 Samuel 23). But David didn’t allow this terrible turn of events to capsize his faith.
In 1 Samuel 24 David was chased by Saul. David had an opportunity to kill Saul, but he spared Saul’s life instead.
In 1 Samuel 25 David protected Nabal’s livestock free of charge from all raiders and armies, yet Nabal slandered David and refused to be generous.
In 1 Samuel 26 Saul sought to kill David again. David again refused to take the life of Saul.
In 1 Samuel 27 David fled to the enemies of God’s people, yet he still ended up fighting the Lord’s battles while in enemy lands.
In 1 Samuel 29 the Philistines rejected David too. They were suspicious of him even though he had not treated them wrongfully. So David had to flee again.
In 1 Samuel 30:1-6 David’s men returned home to find that their new home has been completely burned with fire, and their wives, children, and all their possessions were carried away as plunder. Then David’s own men talk of killing him.
Through all of these intense troubles, David was able to endure because his strength was in God. David knew how to encourage himself in God when facing problems.
PSALM 56 is a Psalm of David
Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up;
Fighting all day he oppresses me.
My enemies would hound me all day,
For there are many who fight against me, O Most High.
Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.
In God (I will praise His word),
In God I have put my trust;
I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?
All day they twist my words;
All their thoughts are against me for evil.
They gather together,
They hide, they mark my steps,
When they lie in wait for my life.
Shall they escape by iniquity?
In anger cast down the peoples, O God!
You number my wanderings;
Put my tears into Your bottle;
Are they not in Your book?
When I cry out to You,
Then my enemies will turn back;
This I know, because God is for me.
In God (I will praise His word),
In the Lord (I will praise His word),
In God I have put my trust;
I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God;
I will render praises to You,
For You have delivered my soul from death.
Have You not kept my feet from falling,
That I may walk before God In the light of the living?
David knew he was the anointed king. He knew he was the rightful ruler. But he didn’t fight for position. A man of God doesn’t strive in his own strength, but entrusts himself to God.
In due time, David became king in Israel. And Saul was dead.
1 Peter 5:6: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
Lincoln House Churches 