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Pride vs Humility: A Parallel Between King Saul, David and the 2020 Election

Pride vs Humility: A Parallel Between King Saul, David and the 2020 Election

Last updated on: March 13, 2022 at 9:07 pm by Connor Brennan

Pride vs Humility: A Parallel Between King Saul, David and the 2020 Election 2022-03-13T21:07:42-05:00 Connor Brennan

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To say that this election process has been tumultuous for Americans would be putting everything in too light of a fashion. As the world has seen, there’s been a monstrous amount of tension in the air as we awaited the results of a painfully drawn-out race.

As of this past Saturday, with the Associated Press calling the election and other media outlets following suit, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have won the race. For many, this was an immense relief, especially after how stressful these last 4 years have been.

I myself ended up shedding a few tender tears myself when I heard the news. I was at my family’s house on Saturday, and it was truly a vindicating experience for all of us. Some members of my family were willing to give President Trump a chance, and he utterly blew it. Instead of uniting the nation, he’s willfully poured fuel on the many fires that’ve erupted here over the years.

Now, to the parallel!

Saul’s Fall from Grace

“I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night.

1 Samuel 15:11

King Saul refused to follow the commands God gave him through the Prophet Samuel, and for that, God declared that Saul would lose his throne. King Saul would end up unwittingly proving himself unworthy of ruling, when he callously ordered the genocide of an entire town containing priests that had aided David. All this, because of his sheer paranoia and pride.

And the king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me.” But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to strike the priests of the Lord. Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn and strike the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod. And Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword; both man and woman, child and infant, ox, donkey and sheep, he put to the sword.

1 Samuel 22:17-19

In truth, the priests of Nob, the aforementioned town, did the right thing, but King Saul’s ego said otherwise. He saw enemies where there were none, and treated his targets with utmost contempt.

In stark contrast, when David heard of King Saul’s death, instead of rejoicing, he wept. Wept for the man who had desired his death so many times. Wept for the man who had driven him into hiding, all because of God’s decree that David would succeed him as king. Where Saul’s pride ruled how he treated David, David’s enduring love for him stayed unshakingly true.

Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

2 Samuel 1:11-12

David showed love for one of his greatest enemies, despite their enmity. His love of Saul is echoed in his descendant, Jesus Himself, and the decree to love our enemies.

Naturally, the story of Saul and David is hyperbolic compared to what’s transpired during this presidential election. But even then, there’s an increasingly stark contrast between the natures of President Trump and president-elect Joe Biden. Where ego and contempt for enemies guides the president’s actions, Biden has made it clear that he seeks to overcome that enmity.

Whereas President Trump loves to ridicule and demean those who oppose him, Biden opted instead to extend an olive branch to his opponents. That, and other evidence of his humble nature, are reminders of how David remained unflinchingly merciful and kind in the face of King Saul’s irrational hatred of him. For both Joe and David, their empathy conquered everything else.

https://youtu.be/aYQBlO4afmw

Verdict

This is my interpretation based on what I’ve analyzed: I believe that the results of the 2020 presidential election are an indicator that ultimately, God deemed President Trump unfit for re-election. Or even, God may have never intended to give him a second term.

I firmly believe that while God did allow for President Trump to become president in 2016 despite him losing the popular vote, God had clever reasons to do so. My take on things is that God allowed President Trump to rise to power, knowing full well that in due time, truly evil people would use his name as an excuse to crawl out of the woodwork. Namely, domestic terrorist groups like The Proud Boys, and the men who wanted to abduct Michigan’s Governor Whitmer. They all feel validated to commit evil because our president has done a shoddy job of condemning them.

God absolutely has the authority to give and take away power. Trump was given power, and used it to feed the American people with lies. Our president has a sick passion for providing false witness against his enemies, and not caring whether or not his statements are true. After he’s made it clear that he doesn’t respect Biblical rules, should it really surprise any of us that God wouldn’t allow him to stay in power?

Oh, and another thing. There’s an ever persistent problem in our country, a matter of obscene denial. Many supporters of Trump constantly shut down any attempt to discuss his transgressions with phrases such as “he’s not perfect”, or repeatedly quoting Bible verses about not judging. Look folks, let’s not forget how vicious and blunt the Old Testament prophets were when it came to dealing with their leaders. It wasn’t a matter of judging, but about holding leaders accountable.

When King David had a noble warrior named Uriah callously sent to the front lines, just so that he could get his hands on Uriah’s wife Bathsheba, his prophet Nathan gave him a blistering message from God rebuking him. Nathan refused to give King David a mere tap on the wrist. He relayed a message from God, that King David was going to be punished for breaking God’s Commandments.

It disturbs me, and it should disturb all of us, that there’s been a persistently cult-like response to anybody, Christian or otherwise, pointing out our president’s wrongdoings. There’s nothing Biblical about it.

I thoroughly enjoyed finding the parallel between the conflicting kings in 1 Samuel, and our two modern front-runners. Like King Saul, President Trump has refused to heed certain Biblical commands, while Joe Biden abides in humility just as David did. While I can’t say for sure that Joe Biden is “God’s candidate”, I firmly believe that God is pleased with his election.

As for President Trump, it’s extremely difficult for me to have any sympathy for him, especially knowing how he still refuses to be held accountable for his wrongs. To me, he’s absolutely earned his upcoming loss of authority. I have reason to believe that God used this unusually long electoral process to expose the president’s true nature, showcasing why he won’t retain his power in January. The end results truly feel like God’s will to me.

Featured Image by Connor Brennan

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