Key Bible Passages: 1 Samuel 18:5-9 and 2 Samuel 22:1-4

In our lives we’re all bound to achieve many things worthy of praise. Perhaps we’ll achieve great grades at school or university. Perhaps we’ll score the winning goal for our team in the final. Perhaps we’ll work really hard and put a lot of effort into our job and receive great compliments from our boss. Perhaps we’ll even achieve something that, for better or worse, people will write songs about! Either way, we’re bound to become accustomed to the sound of applause. But what we do when we hear it, however, is our hands and our hands alone.

You see it’s not necessarily a bad thing to have your achievements recognised. In fact it can really build up our confidence and self esteem, maybe even inspire others to step out boldly, following in our footsteps. But unfortunately, the sound of applause also has the power to boost our egos, our arrogance and it even has the ability to prompt comparison - and comparison never brings life, rather it only robs life of joy. So how do we get this right and where is God in the applause?

In the books 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel we see God at work in many ways. One of the most famous stories of God at work can be seen through the life of David. Now David was the youngest son of a man called Jesse, who spent a lot of his life looking after his father’s sheep. He was a shepherd, or at least he was until God used him in a big way - defeating the Israelites enemies, the Philistines, by slaying their champion, a giant known as Goliath. Quite the achievement for a young lad, armed only with a slingshot. Definitely worthy of praise!

In 1 Samuel 18:5-9 we see exactly that, as women from all the towns of Israel sang and danced for joy, praising the work of King Saul and David with this song: “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!” But notice the difference in how David and Saul respond. Saul got jealous, as he compared his achievements to David’s and this led to anger and resentment. Instead of praising God for the victory, Saul became cautious of the one whom God had used to bring about the victory!

Now a lot happens between our two scripture readings, and it’s definitely a rollercoaster of events worth reading up on in your own time. But in short, King Saul becomes so jealous of David that he tries to hunt him down and kill him. But God protects David and rescues him from his enemies. In response, David turns his applause towards God - singing praise to Him and acknowledging who He is! “I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.” - 2 Samuel 22: 4

When we achieve and receive applause we need to strive to be humble, recognising that ultimately it’s God, and God alone, who deserves our praise - redirecting the songs of worship to Him. Similarly, when we see others achieve and hear the sound of their applause we need to flee from comparison, jealousy and envy. Those things are only ever going to bring hurt, pain and ultimately lead us away from who God has made us to be.

Questions

To help with further reflection, thought or application.

1: How can you make sure you remain humble like David?

2: How can you avoid comparison better than Saul?

Prayer

“Lord, help us to remain humble when we hear the sound of the applause, remembering that You and You alone are worthy of our praise! Amen.”

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