Learning from Failures

This morning we need to soberly look at a story of two men. Men who towered over their generations. Men who held the highest offices to be had on earth. Yet from their privileged position one is elevated to heavenly proportions and the other slips hellishly down. One started a royal line that shall never end. Even to this day his name is spoken and sung with the joys of heaven. The other ended his miserable earthly life apostate, hardened and distant from God. Blinded by bitterness, driven by pride, shackled by fear he spends his last supper with a witch at Satan's side, dines on an ox roasting by a fire that would soon roast his tormented soul.

Yes, King Saul and King David are a striking contrast in so many ways.

The Life of David vs. The Life of Saul

GOD PICKED DAVID:
2 Samuel 7:8 "Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.

PEOPLE PICKED SAUL:
1 Samuel 10:23-24 So they ran and brought him from there; and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.24 And Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?" So all the people shouted and said, "Long live the king!" NKJV

DAVID FOLLOWED GOD'S PRAISES:
Acts 13:22 "And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.' NKJV

SAUL FOLLOWED PEOPLES PRAISES
1 Samuel 18:6-8 Now it had happened as they were coming home, whe