The Lord was with David (1 Samuel 18:28). These words will become a refrain as we follow the life of David. Lest we think God has chosen a favorite and it is David instead of King Saul, this is more about what David and Saul have chosen. When we were first introduced to David, we read that he was a man after [God’s] own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). We’ve also learned that Saul placed a higher priority on Saul than on God.

The story shows that God is at work in our lives, but not apart from our actions. If God is with us, or if we have become alienated from God, it is not because it was predetermined. It is more about the daily conduct of our lives. David was devoted to God. That did not mean God gave David special favors. We simply see the outcome of a life totally devoted to God.

David himself wrote in Psalm 11: In the LORD I take refuge. In so many ways, it is easier to be a Saul than to be a David. Trust in God is a daily commitment to being a person after God’s own heart.