when kings go crazy

Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul.

1 Samuel 18:12

Saul’s fear was the result of many things, but at its root was his own impulsive disobedience. God had decreed that Saul’s kingship should cease because Saul had chosen to directly disobey God on more than one occasion. And when the Lord moved to anoint David as king over Israel, the Spirit of God left Saul and began to fill the life and actions of David. And all of this became very public and visible. Saul never had a heart of repentance, just a heart of regret. And slowly the fear that Saul had of David turned to hate.

Saul’s fear controlled him and contributed to his demise as king. He put David in a general’s role in the army, secretly hoping that battles with the Philistines might kill the young hero. Instead, God led David into repeated victories that only brought David more fame and favor with the people of Israel. This led to jealousy and rage in Saul. The king became so enraged that he even tried to pin David to the wall with his own spear one day. His sin led to fear, then to jealousy, then to hate, then to rage, then to an attempted murder.

Saul’s casual disregard of God’s Word was a serious problem. And as he degenerates into rage and madness as the kingdom slips from his hands, God already had David in place to lead the nation in the aftermath of all the insanity. Kings go crazy. God does not. Ironically the God that Saul disregarded was firmly in control despite Saul’s own failures and lack of control. David would be God’s servant even as Saul continued in his defiance and self-absorbtion.

Watching this story in scripture provides hope in uncertain situations. There are times I seriously question what I see happening in the world right now. The whole place seems as if the insane inmates have been given control of the asylum! But reading this ancient, true history in scripture gives us firm hope that God is in control of even the most outrageous of situations. And knowing that through David God has brought the True King, Jesus, the Son of David into this world already... that God is working in such a way that the insanity of self-absorbed human government will one day end in the rule of the King of Kings... that makes sense and gives relief. God has exalted and will continue to exalt His Son as the True King.