by Amelia Love

Created on: December 18, 2010   Last Updated: December 25, 2010

Bring Me Your Davids

The Old Testament discusses Saul and David in great detail. Saul was the first king chosen by God, and everyone approved. He was of great stature, "an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites" (1 Samuel 9:2), seemingly the perfect choice for royalty. Soon, Saul himself agreed. In fact, he became so impressed with himself that he turned away from God and made himself the center of his own universe.

So God chose David, the youngest of his family - seemingly the weakest. This confused everyone, even his own family. But God was looking for something different than everyone else. He even says so: "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). Of course, God knew what Saul would become. And He knew He would choose David afterwards, "a man after his own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14). Sometimes I wonder if He chose Saul first, then David, to help teach us this valuable lesson.

If so, we're not learning. We are obsessed with the Sauls in the world. If a person seems stronger, impressive looking, richer, more intelligent, or more well-known than most, we instinctively think this person is better than most. We emulate her; we want to be exactly like him. Movies are overrun with them - the people who can fight like no other and think like no other, who take down the bad guys in one easy sweep. These are the people we make kings and queens.

You think Christians would know better. Consider our history. Our very finest were often the dregs of society - the youngest and weakest son, the slave, the lowest servant of the lowest clan, the murderer turned shepherd, the fisherman, the tax collector, the prostitute, the son of a carpenter born in a manger. Each and every one faced criticism and rejection, two things most of us avoid at all cost.

But we don't know better. If anything, we are more prone to search out the Sauls than anyone else. We often have the tendency to believe that the Sauls of the world are more blessed by God and therefore better equipped to follow in God's service. We ignore the Davids. In fact, true to church tradition, we often attempt to push the Davids away, even discourage them from pursuing God's will because we are afraid they will make God look weak. Or worse - us. A preacher who loves God and seeks beyond all else to serve Him mightily will not be welcome if he stutters. Poor Moses, "slow of speech and tongue" (Exodus 4:10) - he would

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