Read: I Samuel :13:7b-14
Think: The first two kings of Israel, Saul and David, are an interesting pair. They actually had much in common – both were great fighters and military leaders, both were intensely passionate, and both professed a desire to serve God. In addition, both experienced debilitating setbacks.
In his weekend sermon, Pastor Ben noted that setbacks can be times in which our identity is shaped. As we experience difficulty, we discover who we are deep inside and we make decisions that shape who we will become. To the extent we turn to God in the down times, He can shape us so that we identify more closely with Him. A setback becomes an opportunity to change who we are.
Saul didn’t manage his opportunities well. Through his long reign, Saul was forced to risk his life and his kingdom to fight the Ammonites, the Philistines, and the Amalekites. Even though he was successful, young David gained greater popularity. Saul sunk into jealousy and anger, and tried to kill David. In I Samuel 7, Saul is facing a setback in the form of another war. Here, he usurps the responsibility of the priests, though he has been specifically warned against it. Consistently turning away from God during difficult times, Saul became bitter and angry. Eventually, he killed himself on the battlefield, after watching three sons die.
David knew setbacks, too. While some were the result of his own mistakes, other problems came to him unbidden. Saul’s hatred for him became a constant threat. He was forced to flee to the wilderness, pursued by Saul and his armies. Outlasting Saul, David the King inherited the on-going wars with the peoples surrounding Israel. But in his troubled times, David turned to God. He sought to know God better and serve Him faithfully. Through the setbacks in his life, David’s identity was shaped into one of the best descriptions of a life ever written: ‘a man after God’s own heart’.
Do: Reflect for a moment on the stuff in your life that you wish was different. Now, write down your name followed by a comma. In a few words, describe yourself as you would hope the adversity in your life would show you to be.
Pray: God, if setbacks reveal the person I really am, then I’d like to see some changes in my identity. Make me more like you. Make your thoughts my thoughts. Make me a person after your own heart.