1 Samuel 18:6 (ESV): “As
they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine,
the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet
King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.”
Celebrating the
victorious homecoming of the victorious king would not have been unusual. But
the author tells us that the song that the women sang honoured David more than
Saul: 1 Samuel 18:7 (ESV): “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his
ten thousands.”
Saul became angry at David’s
prominence and the next day we read, 1 Samuel 18:10–11 (ESV): “A harmful spirit
from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was
playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. 11 And
Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But
David evaded him twice.”
Saul’s anger comes
directly from the prominence given to David.
It is interesting that while Saul mused about the apparent dishonour he
was feeling, David returned to his humble duties. Seeing David in that role infuriated Saul to
the point of wanting to kill David. It’s
quite amazing what a wounded pride will do.
Saul was well aware
that the honour given to David, although expressed by the women in Israel was
from the Lord. That made him afraid. 1
Samuel 18:12 (ESV): “Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but
had departed from Saul.” Jealousy, resentment,
anger and fear dominated Saul’s existence.
Saul removed David
from his presence and set him up as commander of 1000. That was a clear statement to oppose the
accolades given to David. Saul had a
problem with David and the response of Israel made it worse:
1 Samuel 18:14–16
(ESV): “And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with
him. 15 And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood
in fearful awe of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David,
for he went out and came in before them.”
Jealousy and
resentment invaded the first family rivalry. Genesis 4:4–5 (ESV): “And the Lord
had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his
offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.” This anger led to murder. James 3:16 (ESV): “For where jealousy and
selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”
There’s a lot of
inaccurate, sensational teaching in the Christian church about Satan, demonism,
and their evil affect on Christians. But
the Bible is very explicit: to harbour resentment is to give an opportunity to
Satan. Ephesians 4:26–27 (ESV): “26 Be angry and do not sin; do
not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no
opportunity to the devil.”
I remember speaking to someone who was taking psychotropic medicines. “Do you know what was going on when you thought you had a ‘mental disorder’ and needed psychiatric help?” What I heard was a story of disappointment, bitterness and resentment. We are left to wonder how things might have been different if their reaction had been different?
Eliphaz knew the truth
but wrongly applied it to Job. But what
he said still retains its truthfulness: Job 5:2 (ESV): “Surely vexation kills
the fool, and jealousy slays the simple.”
The jealousy, anger,
resentment of Saul forever changed the course of his reign. As to David we read that Saul “stood in
fearful awe of him.” Proverbs 29:25
(ESV): “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”
When others succeed we
can trust the Lord. When others say
things that harm us, we can trust the Lord. He is sovereign and raises the
lowly to great heights and lowers whom He chooses. He is the ultimate Arbiter,
the defender and the protector of His people. Romans 12:19 (ESV): “Beloved,
never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written,
“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.””
“He lowers us to raise
us, So we can sing His praises. Whatever is His way all is well. He makes us
rich and poor, That we might trust Him more. Whatever is His way all is well.”[1]
The destructive power
of jealousy, bitterness, resentment and anger is beyond comprehension. Only forgiving as Christ forgave us; trusting
in the loving, providential rule of God; and seeking the comfort of the Holy
Spirit will bring the serenity that we long for.
[1] Claire Hamilton | Johnny Parks © 2009 Integrity Worship Music
(Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (Integrity Music, David C Cook)) Parks
Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (Integrity Music, David C Cook))
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