There are two stories going on in your life – the Upper Story and the Lower Story. We all live in and see life from the perspective of the lower story. No matter how hard we try, we can only see so far down the road because humanity’s viewpoint is linear, horizontal, limited. All our decisions require some sort of faith or trust in what we cannot control around the corner. The Upper Story is how the things look from God’s perspective. His viewpoint is panoramic, vertical, unlimited. Not only does he see around the next bend in the road, he is sees it all from beginning to end. The goal is to align our Lower Story to God’s Upper Story because when we do, God promises it will be a good story.
SUMMARY
Saul was a man’s man. He was tall, handsome, kingly and impressive…a likely choice for a king. He was just what Israel wanted. Trouble was, Saul was not God’s man. King Saul cut corners on God’s commands, so God cut Saul out of the picture and set His sights a king who was, at the moment, singing songs and tending flocks in a nearby pasture.
God’s ordination began in the unlikeliest of places: the humble house of Jesse in the small village of Bethlehem. Seven of Jesse’s sons were paraded before Samuel, but none were chosen. The youngest brother, David, had not been invited but was found with among the sheep. After being summoned from the fields, the choice was immediate: David was anointed by Samuel to replace King Saul. The boy then did what any responsible shepherd would do: returned to tending his sheep.
Life was quiet for the newly anointed boy king until he was again called from the fields, this time to supply his brothers on the frontlines of battle against the Philistines. When he arrived, David saw what everyone else did not: an opportunity for God’s power to be displayed. Armed with a slingshot, five pebbles, and an extraordinary faith, he faced down Goliath…and won. The Philistine’s superhero lost his head while his army lost their courage and ran!
David’s days in the pastures were over. Saul brought him into the king’s court and assigned him a high rank over military operations. David was well liked and successful in his pursuit eventually marrying Saul’s daughter, Michal, and becoming best of friends with Saul’s son, Jonathan. But his success planted an irreversible seed of jealousy in Saul, to the point where he tried repeatedly to murder David.
David fled for his life and days in the palace ended yet his popularity grew. Unfortunately, so did Saul’s irrational behavior and his thirst for David’s blood turned to obsession. On one occasion, David had an opportunity to kill Saul, but he refused out of respect for the man whom God had anointed king. He chose, to extend mercy and grace to Saul who tearfully confessed, “You are more righteous than I…I know that you will surely be king” (p. 154). Saul’s new lease on life was as short as his fuse and the chase quickly resumed.
David found consolation by journaling his fears and his faith in his psalms. Saul’s obsessive pursuit of David blinded him to the fact that the Philistine armies were once again on the attack. They prevailed and Saul and his sons were killed. Israel was defeated and David was left to mourn the staggering losses.
It was another seven years before David was recognized as king over all Israel. He became the military, civil, and spiritual leader. He conquered the city of Jerusalem, made it his capital city, and then brought the Ark of the Covenant there with great fanfare. All Israel joined him except his wife Michal, whose empty heart left her with an empty womb.
David was home at last. His first desire was to build a house, a temple, for God. Instead, God told David, “The LORD will build a house for you” (p. 159). God made a covenant with David and promised him a house (an eternal dynasty), a throne (royal authority), and a kingdom (rule on earth). David responded as usual with awestruck worship and gratitude, knowing that distant generations of his own family would welcome the King whose reign would never end. Though David may not have fully recognized it at the time, he had indeed built a house for God…the temple of his heart.
QUESTIONS
- In your childhood, when a team was chosen, were you closer to the first one chosen or the last?
- When Saul disobeyed God at the end of chapter ten (p. 143), Samuel told Saul that the LORD had sought out a man after God’s own heart and appointed him as the ruler for His people. In your own words, explain what it means to be a man or woman after God’s own heart based on David’s example. (Ps. 119:2-3, 47-48, Acts 13:21-23.)
- In his battle with Goliath, “David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him” (pg. 149). From an Upper Story point of view, what issue is at stake here? From the Lower Story viewpoint? How does understanding this help you to stand firm, honouring God in challenging circumstances?
- Think of a time when jealousy has somehow overtaken you. How can focusing on the Upper Story help conquer these feelings?
- How does David’s choice to spare Saul’s life in their encounter at En-Gedi (p. 153-154) reflect David’s view of submission to God? What is David’s end game in every encounter with Saul? How can this influence some of the situations you are presently dealing with? What is one change you can make in your life this week to be influenced by God’s Upper Story so you don’t get caught up in the mess of your Lower Story?
- How would you characterize your own worship? How does David’s exuberant worship challenge the temperature of your worship of God?
- “The Lord does not look at the things human beings look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (pg. 145). We have an innate reflex for making assumptions about people based on their appearance. How might your view of others impede your willingness to share your faith?
- Do you go hard after God’s glory, so much so that others around you know exactly Who you love and serve?
TAKE-AWAY
Being called by God is never a path to comfort and worldly security. Our true hearts will be revealed in the midst of the struggles of life. And God’s glory is at stake in the way we handle these situations and challenges because the people around us, both those who love the LORD and those who don’t know him at all, are watching us. Remember to check the status of your heart to see if it is set on making the God of Israel known to the world or if there is something offensive hiding there that would greatly detract from your witness for and your connection to God.
PRAYER
God, Help me to see myself and others not with the belittling eyes of this world, but only as You see me truly, as Your beloved, created for what You intend – reflecting the glory of God to everyone around me. Give me a deep, abiding love for you, that no matter what I experience in this life, my heart will call others to “glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together”. Amen.
