1 Chronicles 10:13, 14  So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord. He failed to obey the Lord’s command, and he even consulted a medium instead of asking the Lord for guidance. So the Lord killed him and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse. (NLT)

1 Chronicles 11:9  And David became more and more powerful, because the Lord of Heaven’s Armies was with him. (NLT)

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Here’s a quick hit from a hotel in another time zone. 

One of the most helpful writing exercises from high school English class was Compare and Contrast. What is similar, and what is different? 

One of my favorite questions when someone presents an idea for consideration is, “Compared to what?”

These tools provide context for making decisions. 

A friend of mine and I met up at our arrival airport yesterday afternoon. He selected a rental car that is nice, new, and fun to drive. However, it lacks some of the features that make conversation comfortable. We had to speak a bit more loudly than normal. 

The car I drive daily is much quieter and is known for its safety features. For a guy with a couple of spinal surgeries in his recent health history, that’s the kind of automobile I need for daily driving in a large metropolitan area. 

Compare and contrast these two automobiles. Which one you would choose for yourself likely depends on whether you prefer rock-hopping adventure or staying safe in case something bad happens. 

You get the point. 

Compare and contrast King Saul and King David using the summary verses above. Saul was unfaithful to God. He did not finish well. David was faithful to God. He enjoyed more and more success. 

There’s a whole lot more to the story than these snapshots can tell. Even so, we get the gist of the stories and their lessons from what we learn here. 

Conclusions: God honors those who honor him. 

Saul repeatedly chose to do what he considered God’s will according to his own criteria instead of the clear instructions he had been given. David regularly and systematically chose the right path and the right response. 

Simple truth: Follow God’s directions, no matter how challenging they appear. Avoid the temptation to do your will your way when it conflicts with God’s will and way. He’s smarter, better, and faster than we ever will be. He never fails. He’s never early or late. Everything he does is motivated and animated by his perfect love for us. He seeks our highest and best in all things. What he wants for us is always better than what we want for ourselves. 

This is a good day to make the good decision to trust God from the bottom of our hearts and to follow his steps. This is the way to get the King David Summary Statement and to avoid the King Saul version. 

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I will trust God and follow his directions for me today.

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Our Father, empower us to follow you into the great adventure of this day. Direct our steps. Guide our thoughts. Shape our hearts and make them like yours. Bless us so that we will be a blessing to everyone we meet. Make kindness our calling card. Make these steps our habitual lifestyle. Amen.