SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 18
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him. When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. [1 Samuel 18:14-15] Saul is not stupid, he sees what is happening. David is quickly becoming a rival to his throne. And since God made it plain to Saul through Samuel that his days as king were numbered, Saul was rightly afraid. We can appreciate his disappointment at losing the throne, but trying to beat God by having David killed was stupid. Did he think he could beat God? Success comes from the Lord. Only when we surrender to Him and His purpose, even when its hard, will we succeed. Jonathan seems to get this!
The religious leaders in Jesus’ day sensed that God was with Jesus too. The wisdom with which He spoke, the miracles He performed. One religious leader said as much: Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” [John 3:1-2] For the religious leaders, Jesus was a rival, one who threatened their position in the land. Like Saul, they reacted in fear, and tried (successfully) to have Jesus killed [though Nicodemus does not do that, he actually surrenders to Jesus, John 19:38-39]. They thought they could beat God. But they failed, and Jesus succeeded because God was with Him.
Another example of someone threatened by Jesus is John the Baptist. His position and ministry was threatened by Jesus, his disciples started running after Jesus. But like Jonathan and Nicodemus (and unlike Saul and the religious leaders), John submits to the one God is blessing: He must become greater; I must become less [John 3:30].
If we want to succeed, we need to surrender to God, and to Jesus. Sure, He is a threat to our comfort zone, our status, our worldly position and success. One big reason that people do not accept Jesus is because of what doing so means, demands. Like Saul and the religious leaders, we’re afraid to lose what we got. It will change life for us. But we can’t succeed against Him. Defy him and be defeated; surrender to Him and succeed! There is no success without God and Jesus. We can fight and deny it but we can’t change it. Life without or against God may be good for the short term, but in the long run it will crash; life with God may be hard for the short term, but in the long run we will succeed!
PRAYER:
Lord, help me to see that by increasing You and decreasing myself, I actually come out on top with You in the end!
Oh LORD, how these verses reveal the ugliness of pride which creates a breeding ground for jealousy, envy, arrogance, fear and so many other vices of satan.
LORD, may I always be mindful of such ugliness when it tries to take root in my heart. Help me to be Your humble servant. Help me to have a David heart and attitude – knowing that everything is by Your hand, Your works never mine.
Search me, O God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
(PS 139:23,24)
In all that he does, he prospers. Ouch!
Saul saw David as a rival and became jealous. Saul saw David as a threat and tried to kill him. All His plans failed since it was the Lord God he was fighting. Saul’s days were limited and he knew that the throne would be taken away. He relied upon SelfPower rather than GodPower. Saul needed to be GodCentered and not SelfCentered. OtherFocussed rather than SelfFocussed.
God’s Kingdom comes with His people working together. All to often we look at others serving the Lord and seeing how they work and we wish, we desire . . . that we could do what they do; we wish were were as successful as they were; we wish we had their following; we wish our campaigns were as successful as their; we wish our schools were had a lot more kids or more families; we wish our congregations were bigger, etc we want the popularity/successfulness that Saul desired. Jealous we become
All parts of the kingdom need to grow. Remember the disciples asking what to do with those proclaiming His name and not being a part of them? All parts of the body of Christ needs oneanother so that the body can grow and carry out its purpose – to give Him the praise and the glory. All for Jesus.
My Jesus, my Savior
Lord there is none like You
All of my days, I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love
My comfort my shelter,
Tower of refuge and strength
Let every Breath, all that I am
Never cease to worship You
Shout to the Lord all the earth let us sing
Power and majesty praise to the King
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of You name
I sing for joy at the work of Your hands forever I’ll love You forever I’ll stand
Nothing compare to the promise I have in You