I believe King Saul is often misunderstood. We see him as the enemy that David had to overthrow. But when Israel asked for a king, the Lord selected Saul. He was God’s choice to lead His precious people.
The Lord picked him because he was a good man with a good heart. 1 Samuel 9:2 in Young’s Literal Translation describes Saul like this: “There is not a man among the sons of Israel goodlier than he.”
But Saul had deep feelings of inadequacy. Right from the start, he doubted his ability to be king. He even hid when he was due to be presented to the nation as their new leader. When success came, it only amplified the faults in his foundations.
The effects of success
It is the same for you and I. If we secretly struggle with insecurities when we are small in the world’s eyes, our issues will only be magnified when we reach the limelight.
If we hanker after affirmation when we are a ‘nobody’, we will feed on public approval when we become a ‘somebody’. It can be a deadly trap.
We don’t know why Saul battled with low self-esteem. Perhaps he felt like a failure growing up under the shadow of a wealthy father who forgot to affirm him. The Bible very clearly states that his dad, Kish, was a powerful and wealthy man.
It can be hard to be raised in the home of a hero. If your father or mother, brother or sister has made it big, it can make you feel like you have a whole heap of impossible expectations to live up to. Maybe that was Saul’s story.
Rocketed to the top
The young leader’s pathway to promotion was unbelievably speedy. Saul received a powerful prophecy and then just seven days later, he was crowned king of Israel.
Sounds great, doesn’t it? No confused questioning of God to ask if He would ever fulfil His promises. No season of wondering if he was imagining the whole thing.
Promotion landed on his lap. However, success only lasted for a season. He was a great leader – for about two years. Then things started to go wrong.
Instead of facing his flaws and seeking healing for his soul, Saul relied on the praises of people to build him up. I believe he lived with a constant need for recognition and respect. That’s what life can be like without inner stability.
Shaky ground
Saul ended up giving in to opinions rather than obeying the voice of God. As a result, he never fulfilled his purpose. He lost everything. Saul looked like a success (as many of us do), but he had a host of insecurities that cost him his destiny.
That’s how important our hearts are. Proverbs 4:23 says: “Guard your heart for it determines the course of your life.” (New Living Translation)
It’s not our education or our upbringing that decides our future. It’s not our gifts or talents that secure our success. It’s our hearts that determine whether or not we fulfil our purpose.
David, in contrast, waited for more than a decade to see his promises come to pass. But when opportunity knocked at his door, he was ready to answer. His heart had been healed & honed through the ups and downs of life.
Doorway to your Destiny
This blog is taken from my new book Doorway to your Destiny. It will show you how to accelerate your transformation so that you are ready for your God-given purpose. It will show you how you can work on your heart while He works on your circumstances.
Doorway to your Destiny is available here in the UK and here in the US. Also, we have several special events coming up: in the UK – Healed for Life for Women & Healed for Life for Youth. And in the US, our next Refresher is on 30th September in Pembroke Pines FL. Hope to see you soon!
