Primary Concern

“Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul. So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him. And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.” - 1 Samuel 18:12-16

What is your primary concern? What constantly occupies your mind? As you read through the book of 1 Samuel you see Saul become self focused. His primary concern becomes himself, his power, his authority, his welfare. This causes Saul to do some outrageous stuff. He destroys part of his own kingdom just to try to kill David. Saul’s primary concern was not the Lord’s honor or the people’s welfare but it was himself.

Saul clearly saw that the LORD was with David yet he still chose to fight a losing battle. He was destroying himself and his people and didn’t seem to care. He was blinded and miserable because it was all about him. He didn’t want to give up his kingship to David, he was holding onto it with all he had. I wonder if at this point in time he remembered how the LORD used Samuel to call Saul as king. How it was the LORD who made him king. Now the LORD was calling David to be king and Saul didn’t want to give it up so he took matters into his own hands.

We have a lot to learn from Saul. Let us not make the same mistake. What are you holding on so tightly that you need to “let go and let God?” Is your primary concern on God and his purposes and people? If not, ask him to help you. When we are so concerned about trivial worldly things our lives tend to be a mess. Today ask God to shift your focus to Jesus, to be reminded of the cross and to follow him wherever he leads.

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 18-24