David: The Boy Who Would Be KingSample

Too often in the entertainment business or the political world and even the church, we see someone fall and stumble due to some sort of recurring sin in their life. The saddest thing is that we see others rejoicing in their fall from the spotlight. In the midst of pain and suffering, it is heartbreaking to see others rejoicing. When we look at the rivalry between Saul and David this type of excitement does not come from the death and fall of the King of Israel, Saul. David’s response to Saul’s death is not excitement or joy but of mourning and grief. We can see the forgiveness and love that David has towards Saul - a man who has tried to kill David for years all because of the promise that David would be the next king of Israel. In contrast, why do we often have a sense of joy when we see someone fall from power who does not necessarily align with our beliefs or views?

Too often in our own lives, and especially in the divisive nature of school social circles, we don’t want to show love to those who bully us, are different from us, or downright hate us. But that is not what we have been called to as Christians. We have been called to love, not hate; to share the Gospel with everyone we come in contact with, not keep it to ourselves. 

The fact of the matter is that we must love everyone in the same way David loved Saul. Though they were bitter rivals, David saw that Saul was a man who was far from God.  Saul was caught up in his own glory rather than that of the one true King. For all of us today we must go and put aside our differences with others and point them to the eternal, everlasting King. In order to have the same godly heart that David has we must be willing to put aside our differences, walk across the cafeteria and show love to those who desperately need to hear the Gospel, even if they mean us harm.