“Whatever Saul asked David to do, David did it successfully. So Saul made him a commander over the men of war, an appointment that was welcomed by the people and Saul’s officers alike.”
Before David ever became Saul’s right man, he had navigated a lot of difficult situations. He was overlooked by his father as he didn’t even consider him as a potential future king. And he was overlooked, even mocked, by his brothers for asking about Goliath.
David refused to listen to the voice of his father and the tapes in his head that said he would never measure up. He also refused to respond harshly to his brothers for mocking him for asking about Goliath. Even when he stepped up and Saul laughed at him because he was young, he refused to let it shake him.
This is because David had his faith rightly placed in the Lord and not in himself. He knew that the Lord had come through for him time and time again when he tried to do the right thing. As he stepped out and did what was right, he learned that God backed him. And being faithful to God, he was noticed by Saul.
Saul promised to give him his daughter for killing Goliath and then never gave her to him. But he did take David in, to be a warrior in the military. In 1 Samuel 18:5, it says that whatever Saul asked David to do, he did so successfully. So Saul made him commander of the entire military.
David loved his job and did it well. He was clearly called to it and experienced God's blessing because of his position. The hand of the Lord was so much on David, giving him the victory in battle, that the people would sing, “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!” (1 Samuel 18:7b)
Rather than taking credit for doing well in developing David and giving him the right opportunities, Saul became angry. He felt threatened, and he said to himself, “Next, they’ll be making him their king!” From then on, rather than celebrating David, Saul kept a keen eye on him.
Because Saul envied David’s favor with the people, he turned on him. It started with attacking him. Saul hurled a spear at him. Next, as he saw the Lord was with David and no longer with him as a result, it led to a demotion. David had been commanding the entire army and doing well. Then, despite his faithfulness to Saul and the men, suddenly, he was demoted to command a small troop. He was given authority over a troop of 1,000 men.
David did not become so discouraged that he quit. He kept looking to the Lord and trusting Him. As a result, he continued to succeed in everything he did. The more Saul oppressed David, the more the Lord anointed him and gave him favor.
Saul, wanting David dead, tried to trick him into stepping out into danger by promising to give him his older daughter in marriage if he went to war against the Philistines. Then when he succeeded, he gave his daughter to another man.
Then again, Saul offered David to become his son-in-law and marry his younger daughter, Michal, if he killed 100 Philistines and gave Saul the foreskins. David then killed 200 and brought the foreskins back to Saul. But it says that when he realized that his daughter loved David and the Lord was with him, Saul became even more afraid of David. (1 Samuel 18:29)
Meanwhile, David, in his faithfulness serving in his demoted role, became very famous. Every time the commanders of the Philistines attacked, David was more successful than the rest of the officers. God continued to bless him and powerfully make the way for David.
He Sets Things Right
The Lord gives justice to all treated unfair, hang on baby, because God will meet you there. Blessings abounding are coming your way, He will leave you with nothing to say. You have a God who loves to set things right, trust Him for it and don’t get in a fight.
(Psalm 103:6)
Here is the crux: David was put in a position under Saul to bless Saul and learn from him. If David had been in the right position at the time the Philistines attacked, Saul and his sons would not have died. They would have succeeded and would have taken home the victory.
Over and over again, David showed himself to Saul as like a son. David refused to overstep his bounds, accuse Saul, or cause him any harm. Yet Saul hated him and was threatened by him. Through his growing paranoia, Saul went more and more off the ledge of sanity.
Through story after story, one thing that is consistent is that life is not fair and people make wrong choices. However, another consistency is that our answer comes from God and not man. When we are looking for people to right things for us, we are looking in the wrong direction. People will let us down. But God never does. He holds us tight in His love and never lets us go.
Some Trust in Princes Don’t put all your faith in your leaders,
who are human and may have a change of heart after.
They will ultimately die, their lives to end,
leaving you to learn, on your own to fend.
But blessed are those whose help is in the Lord,
whose hope is in Him—their life won’t abort. He is the Master of heaven and earth.
The sea He established, great are His works!!
He cares for the oppressed and feeds the famished;
He sets prisoners free, reaching out to the banished.
He gives sight to the blind, opening ears to hear,
as the broken and lost, He loves to draw near.
Healing our bodies and taking our pain,
His death on the cross is not in vain.
He lifts up those depressed and bowed down,
giving them abounding joy, instead of a frown.
When we make Him center, we find we are no longer lost,
He gave us everything when dying on the cross.
The Lord watches over the forsaken and left out,
as they receive His love, they have new clout.
The fatherless and widows are close to His heart,
He cares for them deeply, from them, His eyes never part.
The Lord reigns forever, His praises acclaim,
walking with His people, they are not the same.
With every generation, He sees to their care,
teaching them His ways, as He watches over their fare.
(Psalm 146)
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