“When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals.This was their song: “Saul has killed his thousand, and David his ten thousands!” This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?” he said. “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!” So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. The very next day a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand, and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice. Saul was then afraid of David, for the Lord was with David and had turned away from Saul.” (1 Samuel 18:6-12)
Yes kids, this is a sad cautionary tale about a man who had it all and lost everything because he didn’t know who he was.
We can learn a lot from this king with an identity crisis.
Life is so much better when you know who you are.
Insecurity derails anointing.
Knowing who (and whose) you are helps you celebrate who others are.
Saul refuses to celebrate David and what he brings to the kingdom.
Insecurity and jealousy pollute his mind and contaminate his soul.
He gets caught up in the math and misses the moment.
“They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands.”
Keeping score makes him crazy.
He got so caught up in numbers that it caused him to focus only on what others had.
He lost sight of what he had lost.
Comparison kills.
Insecurity causes you to lose sight of what matters.
You start counting the wrong things.
David played the harp, but, Saul was so caught up in jealousy that he missed the song.
What was designed to soothe, instead scraped at his soul.
Insecurity causes you to stop hearing the music.
Saul picks up a spear and flings it, thinking he can pin his problem against the wall.
But,his problem isn’t in front of him, it’s within him.
Insecurity causes you to start hurling spears.
Fortunately, David knew who (and whose) he was.
After hopping out of the way, he refuses to pick up the spear and throw it back.
Knowing who (and whose) you are gives you excellent soul reflexes.
Insecurity makes your soul sluggish.
Insecurity causes you to lose everything good.
It leaves you suspicious, afraid, unsure.
Get it settled in your gut…
Who are you…whose are you.
Security in that opens the door wide open.
The shared victories are celebrated.
The music is sweeter.
The Spirit is present.
Life is good.
carbonated joy 