13 So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns. 14 In everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him. 15 When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.
17 Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage; only serve me bravely and fight the battles of the Lord.” For Saul said to himself, “I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!”
18 But David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?”
Saul’s popularity made him proud and arrogant. David’s popularity made him humble. David succeeded in almost everything he did, and this made him extremely famous. Even through this, David never used that advantage against Saul. Praise and honor can go to a person’s head and create in them a sense of importance over others. It can create pride and arrogance. If you are in a position where you are successful and people are looking up to you, think about how you are responding. Will you choose humility?
