1 Samuel 18:19-23: a reflection

19But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as wife. 20Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David; and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 21Saul said, I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall today be my son-in-law.” 22Saul commanded his servants, “Talk with David secretly, and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore be the king’s son-in-law.’” 23Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. David said, “Does it seem to you a light thing to be the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and little known?”

As David's fame grows and Saul offers him his daughter Michal in marriage, David's response is striking for its humility. Though he is now a celebrated warrior, praised by the people, he does not presume on his rising status; instead he asks, Does it seem to you a light thing to be the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man and little known? Despite his growing fame, David still thinks of himself as a poor man, little known, hardly worthy of such an honor. His rising status has not gone to his head; he remains humble about who he is, not grasping at the honor as his due.

Notice David's humility about his own standing. He had every reason, by worldly reckoning, to think highly of himself; he was a celebrated warrior, the people sang his praises, the king offered him his daughter. Yet David still saw himself as a poor man, little known, and marveled that such an honor should come to him. His rising fame had not inflated his sense of himself; he remained humble, not presuming on his status or grasping at the honor as though it were owed him. He held a low view of his own standing even as others exalted him, not letting his fame lift up his heart.

That is worth taking to heart, for as our standing rises, we can hold onto humility rather than letting it inflate us. When we rise in others' esteem, gain status, are praised and honored, there is a temptation to let it go to our heads, to think highly of ourselves, to grasp at honors as our due; but David, despite his rising fame, still saw himself as a poor man, little known. Rising status need not inflate us; we can hold onto humility. As your standing rises and honors come, do not let it inflate your sense of yourself or grasp at honors as your due; hold onto humility, as David called himself a poor man little known despite his fame. Keep a humble view of yourself even as your standing rises, not letting fame or honor inflate you or grasping at them as owed you, as David marveled that the honor should come to a poor man little known; for humility can hold even as our standing rises, and there is grace in not letting our fame lift up our hearts.

Lord, as David's fame grows and Saul offers him his daughter Michal in marriage, David's response is striking for its humility. Though he is now a celebrated warrior, praised by the people, he does not presume on his rising status; instead he asks, does it seem to you a light thing to be the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man and little known? Despite his growing fame, David still thinks of himself as a poor man, little known, hardly worthy of such an honor. His rising status has not gone to his head. Show me David's humility about his own standing. He had every reason, by worldly reckoning, to think highly of himself; he was a celebrated warrior, the people sang his praises. Yet David still saw himself as a poor man, little known, and marveled that such an honor should come to him. His rising fame had not inflated his sense of himself; he remained humble, not presuming on his status or grasping at the honor as though it were owed him. Take that to my heart, for as my standing rises, I can hold onto humility rather than letting it inflate me. When I rise in others' esteem, gain status, am praised and honored, there is a temptation to let it go to my head, to grasp at honors as my due; but David, despite his rising fame, still saw himself as a poor man, little known. As my standing rises and honors come, keep me from letting it inflate my sense of myself or grasping at honors as my due; help me hold onto humility, Lord, as David called himself a poor man little known despite his fame.