Jesus is on a mission. He doesn't let popularity distract him. He doesn't allow it to interfere with his mission.
He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd,
so that they would not crush him.
He doesn't accept acknowledgment for its own sake if that acknowledgement comes from demons.
And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him
and shout, "You are the Son of God."
He warned them sternly not to make him known.
Jesus is about the Father's business. He cures all those with disease and spreads the love of the Father. Popularity does not serve his purpose so he pays no attention to it.
Saul is the opposite. He allows his pride about being popular to drive him outside of the LORD's will for him and for the nation.
Saul discussed his intention of killing David
with his son Jonathan and with all his servants.
Fortunately, Jonathan is consistently humble. He never begrudes David the favor which he might otherwise expect as the son of the king.
Jonathan then spoke well of David to his father Saul, saying to him:
"Let not your majesty sin against his servant David,
for he has committed no offense against you,
but has helped you very much by his deeds."
The Kingdom comes when people care more about what is right than acknowledgment for our success. The Father's will is done when we set our pride aside and care more about his will than our own self-image. This seems hard at first, but when we actually put it into practice we become invincible. As the psalmist says, "What can man do to me?" (see Psalm 118:6). We become free from the usual slavery to our own egos. There is no longer anything to fear.
I am bound, O God, by vows to you;
your thank offerings I will fulfill.
For you have rescued me from death,
my feet, too, from stumbling;
that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
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