Romancing The Rock

‘When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. As they danced, they sang:

“Saul has slain his thousands,
    and David his tens of thousands.”

Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.’ [1 Samuel 18:6-9]

Photo by Jeff Miller

Do you ever wonder how different history would be if one detail changed? Recently as I was reading this passage, I did exactly that. What if Saul had not reacted to the way the women were praising David higher than he?

When love prevails, we want only the best for those close to us. If Saul was walking in the right attitude, he would have listened to the song of the women and realised he had a special servant in David. If Saul was in the right frame of mind, he would have known the submissive and respectful nature of David’s heart. If Saul was not so self-absorbed, he would have, on the basis of David’s successes and talents, promoted him to more responsibility.

Imagine how different the world would have been if Saul did not take offense to David’s popularity. He might have held on to his kingship for much longer. David may never have been a king. Who knows?

The point is, I guess, that our attitudes can shape our destiny. Saul’s attitude was one of selfishness and suspicion — in the end his whole family lost the honour of being in the royal lineage. He died, and most of his relatives along with him. David, on the other hand, had an attitude of submission to God and even when he was wronged in terrible ways, he would not raise a hand to harm the king. In the end, he became one of the greatest kings of Israel’s history, and generations after him ruled as well.

What attitude are you holding wrong today? Perhaps it is time to hand it over to the Lord and adjust your thinking, so that you can walk into a better, freer, future.