1 Samuel 18:5-7
Verse 5 Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.
We all have wanted to be popular at one point or another in life. We may not admit it to ourselves but to feel like we are invisible is a depressing place to be. We see others who seem to be hoping to be the friend of the popular people, while we watch on wishing that one person would want to be a good friend to us. Of course those popular friendships aren’t always as good as they look. Those who are popular struggle to maintain that status and sometimes that means doing or saying things which don’t make them feel comfortable.
David was on the brink of finding out the cost of being popular. He had found some fame in the killing of the giant, Goliath, and yet had been able to go back to life with his sheep. Now he had found acceptance from the king and that opened doors of more opportunities for his name to become known among the people of Israel. His name was on the way to becoming a household name that lasts to this very day. Talk about being popular!
David, as God’s anointed next king, has become friends with the next in line for the throne. He has come to a position where he is in the presence of the king of Israel on a frequent basis. He is becoming known as someone who is a mighty warrior. God blessed him in every military mission and the young ladies had noticed. One day, one of those young women coined a phrase that became the chant of all the young women of the time, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”
All of this popularity was going to come at a cost. The women sang and danced to this tune when Saul came home from the battle. This could not end up with the king being pleased about his choice of armor-bearers. David may have been popular with the ladies but his place in the king’s household was about to get interesting!
We may think being popular will bring us to a status which we have long desired but even the best of notoriety can cause of a ripple effect we don’t see coming. It can mean losing friends or even a change in status. We must evaluate what we are willing to give up and if popularity is worth the cost.
Making It Personal
Did you desire popularity? What was your reason for wanting it? Is popularity still something you strive for through friendships, material possession and the like?
Making It Personal Kids
Do you want to be popular? Why is being popular something you want? What are you willing to give up to be popular?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for reminding us that being popular isn’t all that it is portrayed to be. Give us growing wisdom so that it is Your approval we seek instead of the world’s approval. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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