1 Samuel 18:14-18: a reflection

14David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. 15When Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him. 16But all Israel and Judah loved David; for he went out and came in before them. 17Saul said to David, “Behold, my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you as wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight the LORD’s battles.” For Saul said, “Don’t let my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be on him.” 18David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?”

David is at the height of his early success: he behaves wisely in all he does, the LORD is with him, and all Israel and Judah love him. He is popular, gifted, favored, everything going well. And yet, when Saul offers him his daughter in marriage, David's response is one of genuine humility: Who am I, and what is my family, that I should be son-in-law to the king? At the peak of his rising fortune, David does not think highly of himself; he is genuinely humble about his lowly origins and unassuming about his own worth.

Notice David's humility precisely in the midst of success. Success and popularity often go to a person's head, breeding pride and self-importance. But David, prospering and loved, still asked, who am I? He did not let his rising fortune inflate his sense of himself; he remembered his humble origins and remained unassuming, even as honors were offered him. His success had not yet made him proud.

That is a rare and worthy thing: humility that survives success. It is easy to be humble when we are low; it is much harder to stay humble as we rise, succeed, and are praised. Success tempts us to think highly of ourselves, to forget where we came from, to grow proud. David, at least in this season, kept the humble heart that asked, who am I? When things go well for you, when you succeed and are praised and honored, guard against the pride that success breeds. Remember, as David did, your humble place before God, and let your success make you grateful rather than proud. Stay humble as you rise; it is the harder and better way.

Lord, at the height of his early success, prospering and loved by all, David still asked in genuine humility, who am I, that I should be son-in-law to the king? Keep me humble like that in my own seasons of success. It is easy to be humble when I am low, but much harder as I rise, succeed, and am praised. Guard me against the pride that success breeds, the temptation to think highly of myself, to forget where I came from, to grow self-important. Help me remember, as David did, my humble place before you, and let my success make me grateful rather than proud. Give me the humility that survives success, the heart that still asks, who am I, even at the peak of blessing. Keep me lowly before you.