David is my favourite Old Testament figure; and not surprisingly, because more than any other Old Testament figure, he is a prototype of Christ.
I spoke a couple of years ago on the life of David from Kings and Samuel; Roy, Zoe and friends who were there often mention some of the ideas.
One of the things which struck me was how your trajectory is far more important than where you currently are.
* * *
Saul, to all appearances, was at the top of the heap. He had power, prestige, authority, wealth, good looks, a family, kingship and a palace.
And yet… and yet. He was tormented by jealousy and insecurity. He could presciently see what God was doing and did not like it one bit. He could see that in strange and inexplicable ways, God’s favour and blessing was on David.
And so he hounds David. He seeks to kill him. And in the short run, he gets his way. David is on the run. He hides in caves, afraid, cold and hungry. While Saul is at the very top of the heap, David, declared the enemy of the King of Israel–without resources, patrons, wealth, power or position–is at the very bottom of the heap.
As we read Kings, we realize that where Saul and David stood meant nothing. What mattered was their trajectory–where they were going.
* * *
Two phrases often repeated in the Book of Samuel and the Book of Kings give us an insight into why David’s life was successful in the eyes of God and man, and why he eventually was blessed in his military, political, administrative, literary and spiritual endeavours.
“God was with David.” ” David walked with the Lord.”
And because of that, we also read this frequently repeated phrase, “the House of David grew stronger and stronger, and the House of Saul grew weaker and weaker.”
What? The house of the down and out, the man who had no resources, no wealth, no political support, nothing but the Lord grew stronger and stronger? While the house of the King, with wealth, power, glory, courtiers, sycophants, tax revenue grows weaker and weaker?
Because David walked with God. Because God was with David.
* * *
That study had quite an impact on me.In some important ways, I wasn’t where I wanted to be as I prepared the study, and I realized forcibly that what matters is not where one is, but where one is going. One’s trajectory is what matters, far more than one’s current position.
As long as I was walking with God in humility and repentance, trying to do his will, continually revising my life when I was not doing so, seeking his blessing, then, if it pleased him, “my house” like David’s, would grow stronger and stronger.
So be it.
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Thanks, Rhoda. I find the thought comforting too–that it doesn't matter where one currently is, what matters is if God is with you, and you are “walking with God.”
I love your insight – it is so true. I have never compared the two like that.