Forget yourself

A summation of Saul’s and David’s lives reveals a very similar pattern: chosen and empowered by God, people follow, disobey God’s command… and this is where they split… Saul denies his sin and seeks only the approval of others.  David confesses his sin and repents, seeking the approval of God alone.  Saul’s life ends with the loss of God’s spirit and his kingdom, his sons’ deaths and suicide.  David is given a promise of a house that will stand forever (Christ) and dies knowing his son will build the temple of God.  The turning point is so drastic yet obvious that it seems too simple to be the catalyst for such different outcomes, but it was…and still is.  God calls David a man after his own heart, not because he was without shortcomings; he had plenty (lust, murder, terrible father…).  He receives the coveted title because he was more concerned with honoring God and seeking his approval than anything or anyone else’s. This is seen throughout David’s life, but more than anywhere else, it manifested itself through his humility.

It is humility that allows us to sit in the mire of despair without feeling the need to raise ourselves up by putting others down (2 Sam 16.10-12).  It is a humble spirit that gives courage to face the giants of life because we know that victory or defeat does not rest on our shoulders (1 Sam 17.45-47). It is humility that reminds us that we are simply sinner’s saved by grace and shouldn’t hesitate seeking instant restoration with God through repentance (2 Sam12.13; 24.17).  Simply put, humility is the foremost quality of a true follow of Christ (see Philippians 2.6-11) and consequently, that of a man (or woman) after God’s own heart.