Are They Afraid?

In I Samuel 18, the Bible is telling the story of David's life right after he was used to slay the giant, Goliath. Saul took him into his own house, David and Jonathan became the best of friends, and the Bible also says something that I found to be very interesting.

"And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him (He was obedient), and behaved himself wisely (He had character): and Saul set him over the men of war (He was willing to accept responsibility), and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants." I Samuel 18:5

But even though everything seemed like it was going right, Saul became jealous of David's popularity, and verse 9 of I Samuel 18 says, "And Saul eyed David from that day forward." Now, we all know the story, an evil spirit came on Saul, he threw a javelin at David, but God protected him. This happened twice and verse 12 records: "And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul." Verses 14 and 15 go on to state: "And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him."

So the story goes on, Saul offers his oldest daughter, Michal, to David in exchange for the foreskins of one hundred Philistines; David goes above and beyond that, and brings back double the required amount. So Saul honored his word and gave Michal to David. However, I Samuel 18:28-30 tells us, "And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him. And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually. Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by."

Because of the Lord's hand on his life, David behaved himself wisely and people all around him knew that God was with him. However, Saul was afraid of David because of that same fact.

Do you, as a Christian, bring fear to the world around you? Do your co-workers dislike you for doing your job responsibly? It doesn't matter who is mad at you, who calls you a brown-noser, who thinks that you are just a 'suck up'; all that matters is that we be the witness and testimony that God wants us to be.

Are people afraid of your walk with Christ?