Don't Let Pride Be Your Guide

I was on a walk with my girls today and was reflecting on what I’ve been reading in 1 Samuel. I started to think of the comparison of King Saul to King David and what distinctively made them different. One king went down in history and left a great legacy while the other’s legacy was destroyed in a few short verses. There’s many things I’ve noticed and will probably use a few posts to touch on each one.

Saul started out humble, but eventually let pride overtake him.

When Saul meets Samuel in 1 Samuel 9 he is a very humble man feeling he is undeserving of becoming king. He pointed out to Samuel immediately, that he was from the smallest and least significant tribe. On a side note, those things don’t matter to God as 1 Corinthians 1:27 says “…and He chose what the world considers weak in order to shame the powerful.” Scripture goes on to say that the Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul. He was starting out on good footing with all the makings of being a great king.

Fast forwarding to Saul's downfall, 1 Samuel 15:13-14 says “Samuel went up to Saul, who greeted him, saying, “The Lord bless you, Samuel! I have obeyed the Lord's command.”

Samuel asked, “Why, then, do I hear cattle mooing and sheep bleating?” Saul disobeyed God and did not destroy everything from defeating the Amalekites as he was told to. He actually deceived himself into thinking that doing partially what God asked was the same as full obedience. Instead of owning up to it, he had a justification/excuse ready. He went as far to sound a bit argumentative with Samuel. His response in 1 Samuel 15:30-31 was telling of how he let the crown go to his head and went from humility to pride. “I have sinned,” Saul replied. “But at least show me respect in front of the leaders of my people and all of Israel. Go back with me so that I can worship the Lord your God.” So Samuel went back with him, and Saul worshiped the Lord.” Saul has just gotten the worst possible news from Samuel a few verses before that, that God would no longer use him, but he took the time to point out the need to keep his “appearance” up before the people. He cared about how he looked more than his standing with God.

In contrast you have King David, who many times did things that a king “should not do” in order to express his emotions to God. He wasn't enamored by appearances and being proper like Saul was. The psalms that he wrote are full of the writings of a man that realized he is nothing apart from God.

When the prophet Nathan points out David’s sin of adultery, he writes Psalm 51. Psalm 51:4 “I have sinned against you—only against you—and done what you consider evil. So you are right in judging me; you are justified in condemning me.” He goes on to say in verses 10 to 13 “Create a pure heart in me, O God, and put a new and loyal spirit in me. Do not banish me from your presence; do not take your holy spirit away from me. Give me again the joy that comes from your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach sinners your commands, and they will turn back to you.” David not only sought God’s forgiveness, but he also recognized how precious a second chance was. True repentance and the recognition of the gift of forgiveness, stirs you to want others to have the same experience. David knew a second chance was so special that he had to share the good news with others. Isn’t that what a lot of us have done when we first received salvation? We finally understood how grotesque our sin was and how amazing God’s grace and mercy was that we had to share with others or we’d burst! David was having that same reaction. “I have to bring others with me too.”

I am challenged by this portion of scripture to question my own motives. Do I go through life caring more about what people think of me than God? When I am confronted with my sin do I repent or try to reason why what I did was ok? The truth is, sin is sin no matter what package we present it in. There are no “okay sins” the same way there is no partial repentance. I either fully turn from what I did or I stay where I am. I hope that I always have an attitude and heart like David, as the bible called him, a man after God’s heart. (1 Sam 13:14, Acts 13:22)