1 Samuel 18:28-29 NLT
“When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and how much his daughter Michal loved him, Saul became even more afraid of him, and he remained David’s enemy for the rest of his life.”
As I read through the life of David, I can’t help but grow increasingly interested in Saul. Saul was the first chosen earthly king for the Israelite people, hand-picked by God, yet something went seriously wrong during his reign.
Saul always appeared to have the best intentions, but many of his decisions went awry, which eventually led to David being appointed the new king and to Saul’s eventual downfall. Disobedience of course is one major element of Saul’s life story. Seemingly “small” mistakes and a good dose of arrogance combined, created the perfect storm for him.
Before I continue, I want to mention the above scriptures again but in The Message Translation;
“As Saul more and more realized that God was with David, and how much his daughter, Michal, loved him, his fear of David increased and settled into hate. Saul hated David.”
What stands out to me is Saul’s fear, and how that fear translated as hate. What may appear to us as blind, bizarre rage is ultimately at its core, fear. Saul allowed fear to lay unchecked in his heart and mind for so long, that it eventually settled, took up residence, and transformed into a blazing fire of hatred. Hatred toward David became Saul’s driving force and his primary reason for living. Every decision and choice he made from that point forward was fueled by senseless fear and hatred.
Do you have any unchecked fear in your life? To be honest, it’s extremely difficult to not experience fear in the culture and generation we are living in. Fear can actually be a healthy thing, like when we see a lion running straight towards us. We must be aware and conscious of the fact though, that fear usually doesn’t stay fear. If left unchecked, it will develop into bitterness, anger, and hate. Before long, we may become unrecognizable when we look at ourselves in the mirror.
Take a moment today and see if there are any check engines lights on in your life. Do you feel hate towards something or someone? Why? What is the root cause of that hatred?
God desires for you to be free and whole today. I encourage you to release any ill feelings you may have and take a step toward restoration.
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