Saul’s kingdom in Israel was never fully realized, and God’s eternal kingdom in Christ hasn’t been consummated. Our present suffering exists between these two kingdoms and our affliction will build one or the other. As we endure suffering, whatever form it takes, which gospel does our life proclaim? As we are bombarded with illness, conflict, financial stress, and death, we can easily slide toward despair and self-pity. We sometimes prefer to live in a spiritual Philistia of defeat. When we do, we’re letting ourselves think and believe and live as if the King of the universe is dead.