Was David any different than Saul? Well, Saul and David were both chosen by God to be kings. Okay, that is good news, right? Well, yes, but they both have stories to follow along with them.
Saul listened to Samuel, did what God said he was to do, BUT, Saul went ahead of God and then had rationalizations for his actions, aka - excuses. Saul did it his way all the time saying he did listen to Yahweh. An example of this is when Samuel is told to take the Amalekites by thoroughly defeating them, yet he stopped short (1 Samuel 15:15). Then he makes an excuse that the people spared the best sheep and oxen to make a sacrifice to Yahweh. Ohhh, can you say LIE! Or, maybe rationalize in Saul's case. Then if you continue on in 1 Samuel 15 Saul shifts the blame, v. 15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.
Now it is the peoples fault for not completely destroying the Amalekites. Trying to slide out of it-- just like todays world - IT IS NOT MY FAULT!!
Now David. He was quite the opposite of Saul. Saul was a man of great stature where as David was not of great height or muscle. Here we must remember God sees us on the inside, not the outside physical version of us. God showed Samuel that the next king would come from the tribe of Judah and family of Jesse. Samuel looks at Jesse's seven sons, who happen to be tall and handsome, but he does not find the future king. Samuel speaks to Jesse, who then retrieves David, a runt of the litter. 1 Samuel 16: 12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
God picked David from the lineage of Jesse to be the next king. What happens next is very interesting. There is no fanfare, no celebration, no horns, lights, music or any great ceremony. David is anointed quietly and simply in Jesse's house. The spirit of God comes upon David and leaves Saul. 1 Samuel 16: 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
14 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.
So, how are they different? AND, how are they alike? More to come later. Just for now, know that Jesus has the most written about HIM in the Bible, and next is David.
It is fun to know more than the Sunday School versions of men in the Bible and see what is really going on. Thanks for reading. Love you all.
In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny
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