Do You Have Power or Does Power Have You?
“…power belongeth unto God.” (Psalm 62:10)
After David killed Goliath, King Saul made him commander of the army. Everyone loved him, even Saul and his servants. Yet one day Saul heard women coming out of all the cities of Israel, “…singing and dancing,” (1 Samuel 18:6) and playing instruments. It may have been a parade to celebrate Goliath’s death and victory over the Philistines. As Saul listened, he heard them sing, “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” (1 Samuel 18:7)
When Saul heard that, he was angry. He started thinking David wanted to take over. He saw his power in jeopardy: “They have ascribed unto David ten thousands,” Saul said, “and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?” (1 Samuel 18:8)
At first, Saul seemed like a decent guy who didn’t even want to be king. Yet some time after he took power, something changed in Saul. He became disobedient to God. One day Samuel gave Saul bad news from God: “But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.” (1 Samuel 13:14)
Another time Saul disobeyed, and Samuel told him, “…thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.” (1 Samuel 15:26) Saul could have accepted the truth, sought a smooth transition of power to his successor, and returned to private life. He could have done what was right. Yet he didn’t. The power he didn’t seem to want at first was now most important in his life. Saul didn’t just have power. Power had him.
When Saul heard the women singing about Saul’s thousands and David’s ten thousands, the wheels in his head may have started to turn. He may have recalled Samuel’s words about the Lord finding a man after his own heart to replace Saul. He may have realized David was that man. Yet he was determined to hang onto power. He didn’t care about obeying God.
God told Samuel to go to the home of Jesse the Bethlemite because one of his sons would be the new king. Samuel was scared. He replied, “How can I go? If Saul hear it, he will kill me.” (1 Samuel 16:2) Samuel obviously saw what power without fear of God had turned Saul into.
Power can take many forms: political power, police power, corporate power, influence power. Our verse says, “…power belongeth unto God.” If you have power, it belongs to God, not you. You only have it temporarily. How important is power to you? More important than obeying God? What are you willing to do to get or keep it? Do you have power or does power have you?
Earthly life is only temporary. Eternity is forever. Please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links,” then “How Do I Go to Heaven?” to see how to have your sins forgiven and an eternal home in heaven by receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour.
Brian Miller 10/4/2025