Now Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, but had departed from Saul.   1 Samuel 18:12 HCSB

Our study group has been studying the book of 1 Samuel. This week, I studied chapters 17-18. The backstory of this Scripture passage is that the people had demanded a king. Basically, they rejected having God as their ruler and wanted a king to rule over them. God decided to give them what they asked for and gave them Saul. Saul did not always do as God commanded. Saul sometimes forgot to pray. And in chapter 17, Saul and his army are facing a giant named Goliath. Along comes this scrawny little teenager who steps up to fight the giant and wins. David slay Goliath with a slingshot and a stone.  This giant had been taunting the Israelite army for 40 days.

King Saul is impressed with David and brings him to live in his court and work for him. Everything he assigns David to do, David does well. The people take notice of this kid who killed the giant and they began singing him praises, which made Saul jealous. Saul’s jealousy literally destroyed his relationship with David and was the cause for Saul’s destruction as well. I have often heard the phrase of someone being, “Eat up with jealousy” and I would say this describes Saul perfectly.

Saul is king, but David has won the hearts of Saul’s people. David is good looking, he is humble and he loves the Lord. These things make him popular and this makes Saul angry. Saul even tries to kill David. When this doesn’t work, he plots ways to put David in front of the Philistines hoping they will kill him. But, that doesn’t work either. Our Scripture passage tells us that the LORD is with David. This makes David unstoppable. This makes Saul pitiful because the LORD has departed from him. He has the kingdom, but David has God on his side.

Because of Saul’s disobedience, God has told him, through the prophet Samuel, that once he dies, his family will not inherit the throne. Someone else will be anointed king. This is going to be David.

There are so many valuable lessons that come from this historical narrative of Saul and David, but I want to focus on just one. Saul has it all or so it would seem. He has the kingdom. He has the palace. He has the army. He is David’s boss and eventually becomes his father-in-law. But the one thing he is missing is the LORD. All these things do him no good without the LORD.

Saul has failed to be obedient to God. He has failed to pray. If you read chapter 17, it tells us that they were literally trembling with fear over Goliath. I couldn’t find one verse that says they prayed for God to deliver this giant into their hands. But, David comes in with righteous anger because this giant has been taunting God’s army. David faces Goliath and tells him that God will deliver him into David’s hands. David loves the Lord. David trusts the Lord. David may not yet be king, but he’s got it all. He has the favor of the people. He has command over Saul’s army. He has wisdom and strength which make him a great warrior and a great leader. Even Saul says in verse 8 of David, “Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” David’s got it all.

Saul has the kingdom and the crown, but that’s about it. Once God departed Saul, he spent years in what reads like bouts of insanity. He destroyed his relationship with his own children when they sided for David.

I don’t know what you view as your kingdom, but I ask you, “Is it all it’s cracked up to be?” Is your sin and disobedience worth having God depart from you. Here is where some of you say that God promises to never leave nor forsake us. But, you must understand that if we reject God, He will let us have our way. If that means living life in debauchery without Him, He will allow that (Romans 1:20-24). Be very careful because Saul’s jealousy and anger literally destroyed him. Our sin will do the same.

My prayer for you today is that the LORD be with you, but that’s a choice that you have to make. God never forces Himself upon us, we must accept Him. If you are undecided, you might want to read 1 Samuel and look at the life of Saul and compare it to the life of David. That should make it a no brainer.

Have a great day!