A Hated Man

And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” And Saul eyed David from that day on. The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice. Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul. So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him. And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them. (1 Samuel 18:8-16 ESV). Saul begins to hate David soon after he was given more direct responsibility. The more David was given, the more he seemed to succeed, so much so that he surpassed King Saul in all he did. Saul’s jealousy kept him from being able to ever trust David again. His son Jonathan, though, begins to love him. Upon overhearing Saul’s conversation with David, Jonathan became “bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” Others began to love David too. Saul’s daughter Michal loved him and later married him. Even all Israel and Judah loved David. David’s life became a rollercoaster of affection and anger, devotion and hatred. It is understandable that David would be loved; the young shepherd willing to risk his own life becomes a champion in battle and a leader of Israelite armies. In addition to his natural strength, beauty, and courage, David’s anointing and consequent accomplishments became the reason that some loved him and others hated him. So it is for the rest of us too. God’s call to serve, his anointing and equipping for ministry, are often met by both affection and anger. They do not guarantee 100% approval ratings, favorable conditions, and lots of friends. When we seek to serve the Lord we ought to expect both admiration and resistance, joys and also challenges. We should not try to judge the veracity of God’s call on our lives by the reception we get. Sometimes we are loved. Sometimes the response is dangerous, difficult, and even painful. Jesus certainly was this way. Those who should have loved him most rejected him first; those who should have supported him to the end became the tool of his death. God knows that we will suffer the same rejection often. He also knows that we can rely on his strength for every circumstance of life. Regardless of how you are treated in this world, remember you will be treated as you are in the next: you are the child of the King. Walk in that knowledge each day.