David Remembered What Saul Forgot

I wonder what would have happened if Saul,

the first king of Israel,

would have stepped out from behind his baggage

and trusted in God as he led the people?

Would he have spent more days in peace,

instead of so many years in turmoil,

focused on protecting his throne instead of being thankful for his time in it.

As it was,

he died a sad death,

and left a legacy of sons who died sad deaths too.

David, far from perfect,

seemed to have a better handle on his position in life compared to God’s.

He, like Saul, made some bad decisions along the way,

but David never lost his reverence for the One he served.

And even when he heard of Saul’s death,

the one who had tried for years to kill him,

David mourned.

And the Israelites mourned with him.

David, many years after being anointed,

would become king of Israel.

I wonder if David ever had time in the middle of battle after battle

to look back on life and remember the years he spent in the fields

as a shepherd.

Did David ever talk about “the good ole days?”

Or was he so focused on the next part of his calling

that he was able to tuck these memories away

and press on in his walk with God?

Did he ever think about Goliath when he felt tired or weary?

And remember how God was with him on that day?

Did he ever dream his life story would be read over and over again

for centuries to come?

This morning I’m running late.

I pushed the snooze button several more times than normal,

so my fingers are moving quickly across the keyboard,

just as my thoughts are moving quickly through my mind.

David’s reign as king has begun.

Saul’s body has been buried.

The next chapter in Israelite history is about to begin.

And here I sit wondering if David ever looked back?

Maybe because that’s where I’m at this morning.

Feeling very sure the next chapter life is going to be different in so many ways,

and yet not sure what that means.

And finding myself teetering on the fence,

looking ahead but wanting to look back.

We’ve faced some Goliath’s along the way,

and we’ve spent many wonderful years “tending sheep”

as we raised our kids,

watching them face many joys and many sorrows along the way,

but doing our best to keep them away from steep cliffs and danger.

I’m not sure what the next chapter will hold,

but like David,

I want to lean on God for direction.

I want to patiently wait for His leading.

I don’t want to get ahead of Him

or lag behind.

I just want to be His,

trusting Him as I take each step.

David had a way of bringing all his missteps right back to the throne,

and I want to do that too,

if my feet step too far to the right or to the left.

I want to know I’m walking in God’s way,

not my own.

David’s next chapter is about to begin,

and I’m sensing ours is too.

I don’t know exactly what that means.

I just know as the pages turn,

I want God to be on every one of them.

Faithful

Lord

King

Provider

Protector

Guide

Comforter

Father

Like David,

I need Him every hour

on every page of this journey called life.

David remembered what Saul forgot.

Turning to God is the only answer –

to every question and every struggle –

in every chapter of life.

I want to remember this too.

Cast your cares on the Lord
    and he will sustain you;
he will never let
    the righteous be shaken.

Psalm 55:22

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight,

Proverbs 3:5-6

(Today’s reading was from II Samuel 1 -4 .)