Is Kanye crazy or jealous or a whole lot of both? In 2020 he made the news with a run for president. Back in 2015, during the Grammy Award ceremony, he stormed the stage when another artist won Album of the Year. Then he suddenly stopped and walked off the stage without saying anything until later. We know he’s done it before in 2006 in Denmark. But his most infamous meltdown was in 2009 when he stormed the stage at the MTV awards ceremony when Taylor Swift won an award. Rudely interrupting her he took the microphone and claimed that, Beyonce “had one of the best videos of all time.” Can we chalk it up to a temporary loss of his senses, or is it something more permanent?

What is wrong with some people who despite their own success cannot abide seeing someone else succeed? Is their ego so big that the idea of someone else getting recognition that they think is theirs just unimaginable? Or is it so fragile that they can’t handle the reality of losing out to someone else? Or is it some of both? Regardless, it’s not new with Kanye. We have a great example of the same thing in Saul’s reaction to the success of David after he killed Goliath.

After the victory over Goliath David was brought into Saul’s army full time as a soldier and quickly became a successful leader. His success was such that the people began to sing about David being better than Saul. “(T)he women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing to meet King Saul…The women sang as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” (1 Samuel 18:6-7. This did not sit well with Saul. The text says he “became very angry” and “looked at David with suspicion from that day on” (1 Samuel 18:8-9).

As the story unfolds we will see how David responds with humility and submission to God, which shows why he is a type of Christ instead of Saul. The contrast between David and Saul could hardly be any sharper, but even David pales in comparison to Christ who humbly surrendered the glory of heaven to serve our needs (Philippians 2:1-8). Jesus didn’t need to storm the stage – He is the stage!

Thankfully he invites us to join him there on his stage. This glorious savior, who was motivated by love for undeserving people like you and me, calls us to follow his example of humble service. Will you bow before him? Will you join Him on His stage?