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Christians tend to be far more impressed with a person's failures than with his or her successes. This tendency can be illustrated in many ways. For example, consider the too common statement made by one Christian to another: "Yes, but do you know what he (she) did (or was)?" Though he or she obviously repented evidenced by his/her redirection of life, the past still lives as the most important measure of him or her.
Consider the man David for example. Most Christians are more likely to remember David from the incident of adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11) than with David's compassionate courage expressed at the incident of Keilah (1 Samuel 23) [or any of David's faith experiences in his flight from King Saul]. A part of that reaction involves the human fascination with a man devoted to righteousness who committed adultery instead of a man devoted to righteousness who expressed his faith in God. [Expressing faith in God is what a person devoted to righteous is supposed to do; committing adultery is not what a person devoted to righteousness is supposed to do.] Yet, a part of this reaction focuses on our fascination with the failures of a person devoted to righteousness.
A key consideration is to be seen in the contrast between King Saul and King David. God selected both men to be King of Israel (1 Samuel 10:1,9,10; 16:1, 13). Both men were physically impressive--they had the physical stature of a leader among the Israelites (1 Samuel 9:2; 16:12).
Saul was impetuous and self-centered. The Lord was to serve Saul [a manipulation attitude] rather Saul serving the Lord. Consider the incident recorded in 1 Samuel 13:8-14.
Two situations are called to your attention. Consider each carefully.
The first is seen in Saul's declared reasons/justifications for offering a sacrifice rather than continuing to wait for Samuel to offer that sacrifice (1 Samuel 13:11,12). 1st reason: "my army was deserting me." Saul's confidence rested in military strength, not divine action. Saul's attitude: "I must have my full army," not, "God will act in this confrontation regardless of the size of Israel's army."
2nd reason: "Samuel, you did not come on time, and the enemy was preparing to attack," not, "God is here now no matter what the enemy is doing." As King Saul repeatedly demonstrated, it was always someone else's fault. Never did he appropriately assume responsibility for his failures in judgment or action.
3rd reason: "The Philistines will attack me before I ask the Lord to be with me," not, "The Lord is with me; He is the reason I am King, and I am here at this moment." The attitude was the attitude commonly found in idolatry: If I am to be blessed by the god, I must convince the god to be on my side and bless my endeavor. It is an attitude of manipulation rather than an attitude of trust.
The second situation is seen in Saul's statement, "So I forced myself." Saul tried to guarantee success in his endeavors by taking matters into his own hands. In a crisis moment, Saul placed his confidence in Saul, not in God. Saul did not do this once, but repeatedly. 1 Samuel 13, 14, 15 illustrate in three significant incidents how Saul based his actions on what seemed wise to Saul--even in an incident when God plainly revealed exactly what He wanted!
David was a striking contrast to Saul. A significant reason for David fighting Goliath was the fact that a man who did not belong to Jehovah taunted the army of the living God (1 Samuel 17:26, 46, 47). The reason David gave for not killing King Saul (when David had opportunity to kill the man who was determined to kill him) was dependence on God (1 Samuel 24:6; 26:8-11). When David realized his evil because he was confronted by the prophet Nathan, David immediately acknowledged his failure and was willing to die for what he had done (2 Samuel 12:13, 14). Perhaps David's attitude toward himself is best seen when Abigail asked him to realize the true nature of his plans when David purposed to kill Nabal and his men: (1 Samuel 25:26) Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, since the Lord has restrained you from shedding blood, and from avenging yourself by your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek evil against my lord, be as Nabal. Then David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me, and blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand."
In Acts 13:16-41, Paul gave an overview of Israelite history that led to an emphasis on Jesus Christ. This overview was presented to a knowledgeable audience in a synagogue. God led Israel from Egypt (Acts 13:17), to which the audience would agree fully. God preserved Israel in the wilderness (Acts 13:18), to which the audience would agree fully. God gave Israel Canaan (Acts 13:19), to which the audience would agree fully. God gave Israel judges as leaders (Acts 13:20), to which the audience would agree fully. God gave them the monarchy in which David was a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:21-22), to which the audience would agree fully. Through David, God gave Israel a Savior named Jesus (Acts 13:23, 24), to which some in the audience did not agree.
The point: first century Israelites and God-fearers accepted as fact that King David was (1) a man after God's own heart and (2) was the forefather of the Messiah promised Israel.
Why was David "a man after God's own heart"? Was it because he was perfect? Obviously not! Then why? Four reasons are given for your consideration. (1) David understood that human existence is about God, not about selfish ambitions. Even if ambitions are rooted in acts of God [like David's anointing], God determines your purposes, not your selfish ambitions [like David' refusal to kill King Saul]. (2) David never questioned Who he wanted to control his life. He made some horrible choices! However, consciously rejecting God was not one of them! (3) David accepted responsibility for his actions/choices, even when he did evil! (4) David constantly stood ready to repent when he made mistakes. Someone else was not to blame! There was no justification of failure! "I sinned! It is my fault!"
For Thought and Discussion:
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 13
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