And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him.  - Acts 17:26-27 (ESV)

The world is one of design. On both the micro and macro levels there is a pattern and imprint that can be see of a Divine hand. It's hard to miss, but people do. We do.  When we dismiss this critical idea it skews not only our understanding about God but about ourselves, the people around us, and the world itself.

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who addressed the words of this song to the LORD on the day when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said:

    I love you, O LORD, my strength.
    The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
        my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
        my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
    I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
        and I am saved from my enemies. - Psalm 18:1-3 (ESV)

He cuts down cedars, or he chooses a cypress tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it. Then it becomes fuel for a man. He takes a part of it and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Also he makes a god and worships it; he makes it an idol and falls down before it. - Isaiah 44:14-15 (ESV)

We are monotheist. We believe and confess that there is one God. That's one of the things that makes Judeo-Christian belief unique both historically and among world religions.  We almost take it for granted that people would believe otherwise.  

David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men. - 1 Samuel 22:1-2 (ESV)

Life was good. He had single-handedly driven back the nation's greatest enemy. He had won subsequent battles. He was the darling of the people. He had married into the royal family and was going to be the next king (even though it was still secret).

The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? - Psalm 113:4-6 (ESV)

Zeus, Apollos, Hercules, and Aphrodite are a few of the names I remember. Reading Greek and Roman myths are a mainstay in most educations in the humanities. This pantheon of gods are a heavenly soap opera that's used to explain the world around us and the difficulties in it. These immortals suffered from all the human foibles, just super-sized.

Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul. So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him. And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them. - 1 Samuel 18:12-16 (ESV)

Relationships are ruined through rivalry. When there is a competition for who is the fastest, smartest, bravest, or best within a friend group there is sure to be conflict. It's in our nature. We hate being bested. But when you add power, position, and politics in the mix expect an explosion.