Past Commentary by a Common Terry
What do you see?
July 12, 2026
I’ve focused on both King Saul and King David in recent articles. What set them apart? Why was Saul eventually rejected as king of Israel while David became the gold standard for all kings? A man after God’s own heart?
Maybe it is because of his self-awareness. He knew who he really was and knew that God was the only One to provide the strength and Spirit to get him past his sins and weaknesses.
David was no better than Saul when it came to his own sin. He was a sinful man. At times, he committed massive sins, causing pain and ruin to himself and others. But, as Paul said about him in Acts 13:22, he did all the will of God. He knew who and what God was. But he also knew himself. He knew what he could be with God’s Presence. He knew what he would not be without God’s power.
David knew God’s power and necessary Presence in his life because he also knew himself. The question for you is: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?
Earlier this year, I spent time in my sermons on James’ exhortation to be doers, not hearers only, of the Word. The context of that statement in James is needed for us to consider the mirror.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (James 1:22-25)
People who don’t do the will of God, though they’ve heard it, deceive themselves. Saul tried to tell Samuel in I Samuel 15:20 that he did fine in the obedience category. “I have obeyed the voice of the LORD. I have gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me.” And then, he actually fills in his report with details that absolutely contradicted what God told him to do. What Saul saw when he looked in the mirror was quickly forgotten. He deceived himself.
David, though, saw himself clearly, which allowed him to see God as his refuge, fortress, rock, redeemer, rescuer, power source, and LORD. And he remembered. When we see ourselves clearly, we see God clearly and we see why we need Him and want to be doers, not just hearers.
Imagine this: I am prepping myself for the day, about to step out and face the world and meet whatever people I will cross paths with. I look in the mirror and I see a dribble of toothpaste scum in my beard. My hair? Well, it still has that “just slept in” look. I’ve misbuttoned my shirt because the top button slipped into the next to top slit. There’s a coffee stain on my khakis. And, to top it off, my shoes don’t match.
I see all that. I’m aware of it. I can even, if pressed, acknowledge it. But, as soon as I turn away from the mirror...poof! It’s gone from my sight and my awareness. I go get in the truck and head out, thinking, “I look g-o-o-o-o-o-d today!”
What would you think of me when you saw me? “This guy must not have looked in the mirror this morning.” I don’t think that’s all you’d consider about me, but we’ll stop there. But (and this is the kicker) I did look in the mirror. I was so self-deceived, I didn’t do anything. I didn’t change anything. That is what being a doer of the Word is instead of being a hearer only. It changes us. Our behavior, thoughts, words, attitude, disposition—all changed. To do God’s will is to honor Him through the pursuit of being like Him.
David saw himself with mature clarity. Then, he could see God more clearly AND he could see himself as God saw him. That is the other reflection in the mirror.
Maybe it is because of his self-awareness. He knew who he really was and knew that God was the only One to provide the strength and Spirit to get him past his sins and weaknesses.
David was no better than Saul when it came to his own sin. He was a sinful man. At times, he committed massive sins, causing pain and ruin to himself and others. But, as Paul said about him in Acts 13:22, he did all the will of God. He knew who and what God was. But he also knew himself. He knew what he could be with God’s Presence. He knew what he would not be without God’s power.
- Psalm 23: David was a lost sheep except for the Divine Shepherd.
- Psalm 142: His enemies were stronger than him except for God’s deliverance, his refuge.
- Psalm 51: Without God’s forgiveness, he would be cast away from God’s Presence.
- Psalm 40: Without God to lift him up and rescue him, he would be trapped in the quagmire of the pit of despair and desperation.
David knew God’s power and necessary Presence in his life because he also knew himself. The question for you is: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?
Earlier this year, I spent time in my sermons on James’ exhortation to be doers, not hearers only, of the Word. The context of that statement in James is needed for us to consider the mirror.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (James 1:22-25)
People who don’t do the will of God, though they’ve heard it, deceive themselves. Saul tried to tell Samuel in I Samuel 15:20 that he did fine in the obedience category. “I have obeyed the voice of the LORD. I have gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me.” And then, he actually fills in his report with details that absolutely contradicted what God told him to do. What Saul saw when he looked in the mirror was quickly forgotten. He deceived himself.
David, though, saw himself clearly, which allowed him to see God as his refuge, fortress, rock, redeemer, rescuer, power source, and LORD. And he remembered. When we see ourselves clearly, we see God clearly and we see why we need Him and want to be doers, not just hearers.
Imagine this: I am prepping myself for the day, about to step out and face the world and meet whatever people I will cross paths with. I look in the mirror and I see a dribble of toothpaste scum in my beard. My hair? Well, it still has that “just slept in” look. I’ve misbuttoned my shirt because the top button slipped into the next to top slit. There’s a coffee stain on my khakis. And, to top it off, my shoes don’t match.
I see all that. I’m aware of it. I can even, if pressed, acknowledge it. But, as soon as I turn away from the mirror...poof! It’s gone from my sight and my awareness. I go get in the truck and head out, thinking, “I look g-o-o-o-o-o-d today!”
What would you think of me when you saw me? “This guy must not have looked in the mirror this morning.” I don’t think that’s all you’d consider about me, but we’ll stop there. But (and this is the kicker) I did look in the mirror. I was so self-deceived, I didn’t do anything. I didn’t change anything. That is what being a doer of the Word is instead of being a hearer only. It changes us. Our behavior, thoughts, words, attitude, disposition—all changed. To do God’s will is to honor Him through the pursuit of being like Him.
David saw himself with mature clarity. Then, he could see God more clearly AND he could see himself as God saw him. That is the other reflection in the mirror.