WHY WAS DAVID SUCCESSFUL? Part 2

WHY WAS DAVID SUCCESSFUL? Part 2

          Although David had a beautiful outward appearance and was a pleasant person, he was probably not nearly as tall as Saul (I Sam. 10:23) who was ". . .higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward."  As a matter of fact (I Sam. 16:7), Eliab was probably more like Saul in stature than David and had a good countenance like David.  However, God chose David the musician because of his heart (vs. 7).  Samuel, speaking of David, told King Saul (I Sam. 13:14) "But now thy kingdom shall not continue:  the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart. . ."

          What was the difference between Saul and David?  One writer put it this way.  "Saul was a man's man, David was God's."²  The major difference seemed to be their very different attitudes toward God.  Saul disobeyed God by taking Agag the Amalekite king alive and by saving the best of the animals.  When the prophet Samuel faced him with the problem Saul lied when he said (I Sam. 15:13b) "I have performed the commandment of the LORD."  When the prophet Nathan faced David with his sin of adultery, David replied (II Sam. 12:13) ". . .I have sinned against the LORD."  As we can see, both men faced times of failure in their lives, but it seems that it was the difference in their attitudes that made the difference.