REPLACED AND AFRAID

• DAY 175
• FAITH FILE: KING SAUL
• SCRIPTURES: 1 SAMUEL 18:7-9, 12-16 NLT

This was their song: “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!” This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?” he said. “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!” So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. Saul was then afraid of David, for the LORD was with David and had turned away from Saul. Finally, Saul sent him away and appointed him commander over 1,000 men, and David faithfully led his troops into battle. David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the LORD was with him. When Saul recognized this, he became even more afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle.

In our previous study of Saul, we discovered that he was a man with a proud heart. He not only loved to exalt himself but also to be exalted before people. The approval of men is so important to him that it cost him his approval before God. I almost picture how furious this song must have made him feel –“Saul has killed his thousands and David ten thousand?! How can a man be exalted above a king? Saul’s heart was void of the spirit of God and therefore, void of faith and courage. So jealousy and fear came to tabernacle with him. He considered David a threat.

Can’t Get It Back

Naturally, when people encounter a threat their reaction is fear. The thought of losing his kingdom made him afraid. The presence of God with David made him afraid. He knew that nothing could stop David from taking over. But he thought, “Perhaps if I killed him, I would stop him and I could keep my throne.” Do you see what fear can do? Something that God gave you on a platter should be easily maintained if you stay faithful to God but if you walk away from Him, you will be struggling to use your strength to retain God’s blessings. It is fear that drives people to diabolic means. 

Listen, God’s gift cannot be acquired or maintained outside God. If God has given something to somebody no spear you throw can take it away from them. You can plot, scheme, try, jazz, anything you like, God has taken it, period. The interesting thing is that Saul still sat on the throne. God didn’t dethrone him, he left him with the gift. But fear won’t let him see that he hadn’t lost it all, it just drove him to destroy his replacement and get his legacy back. He was comfortable with the throne even if it meant God wouldn’t be in it. May that not be your portion in Jesus’ name.

Do What’s Right

Yet this incident had David in it. While Saul walked in fear, David walked in faith. He behaved wisely and diligently in all that he was asked to do. It is easy to become rebellious and insubordinate when your boss is unruly, but not David. He did what he ought irrespective of what he faced and this is a quality he shared with Daniel, Joseph, Jacob, and Moses. 

Beloved, chances are that someone is threatened by you because you have been given what they have been denied. They are afraid of the favour upon your life. Your job is to continue to please God and you will see how you will miss spares and darts thrown in your direction. And if you aired in one way and lost the endorsement of God in one area, repent before the Lord and let him restore you to mercy.

Shalom