ICS Daily Devotions
Forget Him Not

1 Samuel 18:6-9 (NKJV) Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. So the women sang as they danced, and said: ”Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, ‘They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom”’ So Saul eyed David from that day forward.

It wasn’t that King Saul was not a great warrior. God had also led him to win many victories. In fact, it said here that he had slain his thousands! But here we see that he was offended that people would ascribe more victories to David and became concerned that what he considered his own would be taken away from him and given to someone who merited it more than he did.

But why? This was not reasonable. David was only a boy at that time. Saul was offended due to his insecurity and from this stemmed escalating irrational behaviour: displeasure, anger, thoughts of murder, plotting these murders, and finally attempted murders. Desperate acts to cling on to something that was not even his to hold on to.

Galatians 5:19-20 (NKJV) Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies

We need to be watchful because within every one of us there lurks a ‘King Saul’ ̶ the flesh that must be put into submission to God. The flesh is defined as the sum of appetites, desires, wishes, and needs which purpose is the satisfaction of self. This self must constantly be laid down so we may put on Christ. We must constantly remember who we are in Him. Apart from Him, there is no firm foundation.

Saul’s identity was not firmly planted in God. He forgot that his achievements and triumphs were not his own. He attached his identity on the kingdom and took successes for his own glory. He forgot that it was God that made them happen. He forgot who he was.

Do you remember who or whose you are?

Sermon Series: Don’t Be Offended