A Tale of Two Kings | Shannon Pinto
THE TWO KINGS
The almighty, living God turned to Gabriel and gave a command.
“Go, take these two portions of my being. There are two destinies
waiting. To each unborn destiny give one portion of myself.”
Carrying two glowing, pulsating lights of Life, Gabriel opened the door
into the realm between two universes and disappeared. He had stepped into
the Mall of Unborn Destinies.
Gabriel spoke: “I have here two portions of the nature of God. The first
is the very cloth of his nature. When wrapped about you, it clothes you
with the breath of God. As water surrounds a person in the sea, so will his
very breath envelop you. With this, the divine breath, you will have his
power—power to subdue armies, shame the enemies of God, and
accomplish his work on the earth. Here is the power of God as a gift. Here
is immersion into the Spirit.”
A destiny stepped forward: “This portion of God is for me.”
“True,” replied the angel. “And remember, whoever receives such a
great portion of power will surely be known by many. Ere your earthly
pilgrimage is done, your true character will be known; yea, it will be
revealed by means of this power. Such is the destiny of all who want and
wield this portion, for it touches only the outer person, affecting the inner
person not one whit. Outer power will always unveil the inner resources or
the lack thereof.”
The first destined one received the gift and stepped back.
Gabriel spoke again.
“I have here the second of two elements of the living God. This is not a
gift but an inheritance. A gift is worn on the outer person; an inheritance is
planted deep inside—like a seed. Yet, even though it is such a small
planting, this planting grows and, in time, fills all the inner person.”
Another destiny stepped forward. “I believe this element is to be mine
for my earthly pilgrimage.”
“True,” responded the angel again. “I must tell you that what has been
given to you is a glorious thing—the only element in the universe that can
change the human heart. Yet even this element of God cannot accomplish
its task nor grow and fill your entire inner being unless it is compounded
well. It must be mixed lavishly with pain, sorrow, and crushing.”
The second destined one received the inheritance and stepped back.
Beside Gabriel sat the angel Recorder. He dutifully entered into his
ledger the record of the two destinies.
“And who shall these destinies become after they go through the door to
the visible universe?” asked Recorder.
Gabriel replied softly, “Each, in his time, shall be a king.” – Taken from the Book, The Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards
There were some important things common to both between King Saul and King David:
· Both were chosen by God
· Both were anointed by the same prophet – Samuel
· Both receive unique opportunities to leave a rich legacy behind them
· Both were humble – at the start
· Both were brave
· Both made some very wrong choices – very grievous sins
If both men had committed grievous sin in their lives, why was one rejected and the other blessed? What was the difference between these two men?
As we trace and compare the histories of these two men, we will probably see their characters reflected in people around us, and more importantly in ourselves.
There are few characters in the Bible more tragic than Saul. He could hardly have had a better beginning, or a more miserable end. He began with the blessing and power of God. He ended seeking help from a witch the day before he and his three sons were killed in battle against the Philistines.
Last Sunday, we heard about how the impact and the legacy of your life should outlive you.
Saul died, but David lives. In the New Testament the name of David occurs about 60 times. Apart from Jesus, his is the first name in Matthew and the last name in Revelation. King Saul is not once mentioned. The Apostle Paul, though of the same tribe of Benjamin as that of King Saul, even changed his name from Saul to Paul. In Israel today, people sing “david melech yisrael chai chai” - “David, king of Israel, is alive, is alive”. David lives also in the songs he wrote which are still sung in a multitude of languages throughout the world. In all these ways David lives. But above all God promised him a throne that would endure forever. That throne is now the throne of our Messiah Jesus who came to give eternal life.
What was the difference between Saul and David?
Psalm 51
Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. -Psalm 51:11
Have you ever seen a leader fall from a high position? David did. By witnessing what happened to King Saul, he saw firsthand what would occur if God would no longer approve and endorse a man.
In Psalm 51 David is repenting over a massive sin he committed with Bathsheba and against her godly husband Uriah. Just like King Saul, King David rebelled against God at certain times in his life. The Holy Spirit’s anointing, however, left King Saul and remained on King David. Why was one able to recover from rebellion while the other couldn’t? What’s the difference between King David and King Saul?
The primary difference as we will see, between the two Kings is in their response when confronted in their sin.
And this one difference brought forth two different destinies.
But let’s look at a few layers deeper. What made it difficult for one to truly repent and the other to not. God would desire to be merciful to both. He is never partial.
King Saul was concerned about the externals and King David was concerned about His heart
Psalm 139 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
24 And see if there be any [n]hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
And it’s very likely that David got this solid foundation from the prophet Samuel when the Lord corrected the prophet Samuel when he was looking to anoint God’s chosen among the sons of Jesse
1 Samuel 16 6 When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for [b]God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
It is easier to repent when the Lord is your greatest treasure and your heart is your priority, because it’s His home.
But Saul was obsessed with the externals. If you are merely concerned about how people look at you or what people think about you, your trapped.
King David Repented and Followed God. King Saul Turned and Never Came Back
When Saul disobeyed the Lord’s direct command, the prophet Samuel goes to confront Saul in his sin. Rather than owning up to his sin, Saul tries to justify his actions and even lies to cover up His wrong. (1 Sam 15:15) He makes excuses for his disobedience. Rather than owning his sin and asking for forgiveness, in pride he argues that his sin is not that big of a deal. He points the finger at everyone else rather than pointing it at himself.
1 Samuel 16:1 explains, “The LORD said to Samuel, ‘How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.”
King David prayed that God would not remove the Holy Spirit from him because he knew God was the reason he was able to serve God so well. He knew his failures were not so different than King Saul’s. But King David also knew the difference between them was not that one failed and the other didn’t, it was that one lost God’s favour while the other didn’t.
1 Samuel 18:12-14 states, “Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul . . . And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him.”
David and Saul were both anointed to be king of Israel; the Spirit of the Lord came upon them both, enabling them to do great things for the Lord. Why, though, did Saul falter while David flourished? There’s so many answers we could give, but God makes it crystal clear for us, “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments” (1 Samuel 15:11).
When King Saul sinned, he “turned back from following” God. When King David sinned, he turned his back on his sin and followed the Lord.
David too would commit some horrific sins, but his response is very different from Saul. Just as the prophet Samuel confronted Saul in his sin, the prophet Nathan would confront David. When the prophet calls David out for his adultery and conspiracy of murder, David immediately responds “I have sinned against the Lord”. (2 Sam 12:13) David took ownership of his sin rather than making excuses. However, David describes in detail the thoughts and emotions he was experiencing during this time in a beautiful song, Psalm 51.
David writes calling out to God for mercy. He owns his sin singing, “For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me”. (Ps 51:3) David owns his sin and is truly broken. He lays himself bare before the Lord asking for forgiveness and restoration.
King David Worshiped God. King Saul Worshiped the People
Saul got lost in all the power and stopped following God. He forgot the main thing and started idolizing the lesser things. He forsook the Giver of the gifts and started worshipping the gifts themselves.
When King Saul disobeyed God and did not utterly destroy the wicked cities and plunder, “Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice” (1 Samuel 15:24). And then when David started becoming successful and the women started singing a song honoring him, Saul states, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” (1 Samuel 18:8).
It’s safe to conclude that King Saul really loved the praise of the people and so he feared people (Democratic). King Saul didn’t have the heart of a true worshipper. He wanted to be worshipped himself. He did not want to write songs about God, he wanted the songs to be written about him.
King David was different than King Saul because King David loved God above everyone and everything and so he feared God (Theocratic). Therefore, David was courageous! David could make the right decisions even if he was in minority or alone.
CONCLUSION
A Model of True Repentance
David serves for us as a model of true repentance that is accompanies saving. David sings “For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise”. (Ps 51:16-17)
What God desires from us is true brokenness. Not self-justification and not even penance. He requires broken and contrite heart. In Matthew 5:3 Jesus kicks off the sermon on the Mount with the beatitudes. The first beatitude rings a powerful truth “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. Those who enter into the kingdom of heaven are the Davids, not the Sauls.
In our sin, we must most own up to our spiritual poverty. We must confess our unworthiness and fall on our face. We must own our filthy rags that cloth us. Brokenness is the only proper response to our sin. Yet, brokenness is not only the proper response, it is the only saving response. Where there is no sorrow over sin there is no genuine repentance. Those who have not recognized their spiritual poverty and their need for grace will not inherit the Kingdom. If we are not broken over our sin, then what need do we have of a Saviour? Only those who embrace the shame of their transgression can share in the glory of the cross.
Are You Saul or David?
The question is not “Am I a sinner”. You are. Both Saul and David were great sinners. Yet one was broken over his sin and the other was apathetic. One was a man after God’s own heart, the other a failed and tragic king. As you look at the sin in your life are you responding like Saul or David?
Do not attempt to justify your sinful actions. Own up to them and fall on your face before your God. Plead for mercy and grace. Confess your spiritual poverty. It is when we are broken that God will heal. He will take our filthy rags and give us the riches of Christ. He will forgive our sin and clothe us in the righteousness of Christ. The bitter tears of brokeness are quickly covered by the sweet blood of Jesus.
To be like King David and not King Saul, God must be our heart’s greatest desire.
So, with every degree of success and blessing God gives us, may our journals and hearts multiply lines of praise and adoration for God alone. If we want to be like King David and not King Saul, then God and not his external blessings must hold the affections of our hearts.
In the midst of being king over a nation, living in a palace, and having people idolize him for all his great feats, King David wrote, “I say to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you’” (Psalm 16:2). Notice King David made it personal. He said to “the Lord” that God was “my Lord.” Our personal relationship with God must be our highest aim.
May our hearts seek God, Our greatest teasure, like King David, so we too will be men and women after God’s own heart.