Now Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, but had departed from Saul. (1 Samuel 18:12)

Saul Was Afraid Of David

After David killed Goliath, the Philistine giant, and Israel routed the Philistine army, King Saul appointed David over the men of war. David was accepted by the people and by Saul’s servants. The women sang as they danced, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” This angered Saul with a jealous heart that would bring about Saul’s downfall. One day when David was playing music in the presence of Saul, the King took a spear and tried to kill the young shepherd. David escaped, but Saul’s heart grew darker, beginning a long feud in which Saul tried to kill David.

Before the killing of Goliath, Saul had been told by Samuel that God was no longer with him because of his rebellion to destroy the Amalekites as commanded by God. Samuel told Saul the Lord had torn the kingdom from him and would give leadership to someone else. Saul did not know Samuel would anoint David as God’s Anointed. After David killed Goliath, Saul would spend the rest of his life chasing David, trying to kill him, before he himself was killed battling the Philistines. Saul knew the Lord had left him, and he knew David had the Lord on his side. This caused the King great fear.

Saul created his problem by refusing to obey the word of the Lord. Samuel addressed Saul, telling him that when the King was small in his own eyes, he served the Lord faithfully. Pride had made Saul an arrogant king, refusing to bow to the will of the Lord. Saul did things his way in the name of the Lord, but God did not accept his actions. David was a man after God’s own heart, seeking to walk in the footsteps of the Lord’s will. The difference between Saul and David is that God was with David but not with Saul. Saul was afraid of David because he knew what it meant to have the Lord dwelling in the spirit of man. He also knew his life was empty and void because he had rejected the Lord.

There are people like Saul who try to serve the Lord without the spirit of the Lord. Saul was a King, but a king without the Lord’s presence in him. David served the Lord with an obedient heart, giving glory to the Lord. Jesus condemned the religious leaders of His day because they tried to serve His Father without following His will. One cannot profess to be a follower of Jesus and not follow the word of the Lord. Jesus posed the question to His disciples: Why would some call Him “Lord, Lord” but refuse to do what He said? Obedience requires fully devoting one’s heart to the will of the Lord. Like Saul, trying to serve the Lord without the Lord ends in failure.

God will not be with those who refuse to follow His will. He blesses those who obey Him and keep His commandments. Through His grace, He shows His love to those who fill themselves with His word and who do His will. Jesus said in the mountain sermon that many people will profess to follow Him, but, in judgment, will be found greatly lacking. They did not do the will of the Father and will be as outlaws before Him. Saying “Lord, Lord” will not save. Doing the will of the Father is where one finds truth and eternal life. Let the word of God dwell in you richly.