Daily Devotion

David Bible Study Lesson Snippet

When the praise of others makes us sour! 

1 Samuel 18.5-7 So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.  Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments.  So the women sang as they danced, and said: "Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands."  

David came from humble beginnings, he was the youngest son of eight brothers.  He wasn’t even called to the feast when Samuel came, they thought of him as insignificant.  So David went from obscurity to hero in a very short time.  Saul places him with authority over the men of war and as they return the women come out with songs of David’s greatness, he now has the praise and popularity of the nation. There is a great trap for us all in being popular and praised. It is here that the door to pride opens very quickly and the praise given is gladly received and we become filled with our own greatness.  Just like the mother whale said to her baby “when you get to the top and start to blow, that’s when you get harpooned”.  God wasn’t going to let praise and popularity fill the head of his servant, so he allowed Saul in all his carnality to persecute David in God’s training field.

1 Samuel 18.8 Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?"  

Saul’s response to the praise given to David was very different to the women who sang.  It was one of anger and jealousy. How can they praise this man more than me? I am the king!  They have exalted him above me, now, what more can he have but the kingdom?  God had made it clear to Saul that he had been rejected as king and that God was going to raise another who had a heart after God.  David was now a threat to the crown and Saul was clinging to the throne at all costs.  In these matters Saul pictures for us that fleshly aspect of our lives which is self serving.  The part which holds onto positions, clinging to the throne of self and refusing to recognize God’s will, even if it means we may be put to one side that another may be exalted.  

From: 1 Sam 18 - David, Saul & Jonathan