King Saul or King David?

My children and I took a trip down to Jacksonville Fl to see our friends Kim and Paul. On Saturday night Paul asked if I had seen the movie "David". I have always loved this part of scripture. Davids story gets my heart each time I read it. And I have read it many times and love the rich history of the Old Testament!! I had not seen the movie and was curious if they stayed true to the scripture.

The movie opens with Saul being anointed as King by Samuel. It then goes back to David as a child and then forward through the rest of his life. I can't remember the name of the actor who played David but Lenard Nemoy played the part of Samuel. He did an awesome job bringing this great prophet to life. The movie did indeed stay true to scripture and was done in excellence.

As the life of David unfolds I came to realize something I haven't seen each time I've read this scripture. There is a great difference between Saul and David and God's judgments on them both. Samuel told King Saul that all he had to do was do what God asked of him and God would establish his Kingdom for ever. Saul agreed with great excitement and began his reign has the first King of Israel. Unfortunately, Saul was a very scared and impatient King. He didn't trust that God would hold up his end of the deal. When asked to wait on God Saul would panic at the 12th hour and do what he thought was best. After going down this road with him to many times, Samuel finally lost it! Samuel had to tell Saul that God was not pleased with him. He would lose his Kingdom and David would be crowned King. Saul wasn't prepared for God's Judgment!!

David however chose differently. He loved God and did as God asked him to do. He was anointed King over Israel as a young boy (while Saul was still King) but never told anyone of this until much latter. David fell but not because he was impatient or didn't trust God, he fell because his eyes betrayed him. He looked upon a beautiful woman who was already married and devised a plan to have her. He had her husband killed in battle to hide their unborn child together. David messed up. Because of this he would loose this child and evil would come into his family. David too was facing God's judgment.

Sin was committed by both Kings. Saul rejected God and his ways. David allowed lust to control his mind and flesh. Saul didn't trust God to do what he said he would do. David trusted God and loved Him with all his heart. Saul didn't know God.. David knew Him intimately! Saul went to Samuel to hear from God, David went right to God.

Which one are we? Saul or David? Do we seek God through other people? I want to be like David. The bible says he was a man after God's own heart. He loved God and repented when we realized his sin. He didn't run from God, he ran to Him!! Read below.

"When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long.For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden.I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You in a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they shall not come near him. You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah Psalm 32:3-7

One more thing... Even though David sinned against God and His laws by having the affair with Bathsheba, God gave them another son. Solomon! Solomon would become King and God's choice to build His Temple. What satan means for evil, God uses for His glory. This is true in our own lives if we will give God the opportunity to show us how much he truly loves us and be honest with him about our sins. He is a faithful God. David teaches us this through his life.

To read more about the lives of Israel's first three Kings go to 1 and 2nd Kings along with Chronicles and Psalms and judge your own relationship with God according to His Word. Is your heart towards God like King Saul's or King Davids?