Daily D – 1 Samuel 18:14-15

by | Apr 13, 2022 | Daily D | 0 comments

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1 Samuel 18:14, 15  In everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him. When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him.

David was successful in everything he did. Once you take out a giant (1 Samuel 17), everything else seems easy in comparison. Once you get a giant-killing reputation, people are motivated to align with you. Adversaries are afraid to oppose you. 

Take a look at the first seven verses of this chapter: 

After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.
From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family.
And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army.
This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.
When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres.
As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”
 
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭18:1-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/111/1sa.18.1-7.NIV

Everyone loved David. He lived up to his name which means, Beloved. Saul loved David. He was a mighty warrior. He was a skilled musician who knew what and how to play when Saul was tormented. Jonathan loved David who saw him as a brother with skills like no other. He gave David the tools of their trade to make him even more successful as a leader of leaders and a warrior of warriors.

Saul promoted him to a high rank in the army. The troops were pleased. They would gladly follow the Giant Killer into battle. 

Everything was going great until they all got back to town. King Saul was celebrated, but David was celebrated ten times more. The women came out to meet them with singing and dancing. Their lyrics esteemed Saul. They exalted David. 

And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.
‭‭(1 Samuel‬ ‭18:9‬)
 
Then Saul tried to kill David for the first time (verses 10, 11).  
Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul.
(‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭18:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬)
 
What was the secret of David’s success? Verses 14 and 15 tell us: 
In everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him.
When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him.
 

The secret to David’s great success was “because the Lord was with him.” Rewind the tape all the way back to Genesis. How did anyone succeed in anything good before now? Noah “walked with God,” (6:9). “Noah did everything just as God commanded him,” (6:22). “And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him,” (7:5).

To Abraham he said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless.” To Jacob God said, “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you,” (28:15). 

To Moses God said, “I will be with you,” (Exodus 3:12). To Joshua God said, “As I was with Moses, so will I be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you,” (Joshua 1:5). To Gideon the angel of the LORD said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior,” (Judges 6:12). 

Do you get the picture? When we align ourselves with God, when we attune our hearts to his, when we step onto the pathway he places before us, when we do what he tells us to do, we experience his presence, his power, his guidance, his provision, and his success. 

Just a thought here, maybe going out on a limb or something, but it sounds like trust and obedience are the secrets to success. One step further: We are about as successful as we choose to be. 

Live successfully. Trust God’s presence and provision. Do what he says. 

What giant will fall today because you trust God and his will obey?

I will join the ranks of my giant-killing namesake by trusting and obeying God.

Our Father, your path, your will, your way, your success. This is my desire. I want to honor you with trust and obedience. Amen. 

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