Last Sunday, we followed David’s rise from a humble hero to a celebrated leader as he won the hearts of the nation, the deep devotion of Prince Jonathan, and eventually the hand of King Saul’s daughter, Michal. However, the chapter also tracks Saul’s tragic descent as he realises the Lord has departed from him.
The scriptures reminded us of the sharp contrast between David’s growing popularity and Saul’s ever-increasing jealousy and spiralling paranoia. While David found success in everything because the Lord was with him, Saul became consumed by jealousy. At first, he is galled by the women’s song that “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” 1 Sam 18:7. But this jealousy soon turns murderous as Saul tries to pin David to the wall with a spear in a demonic rage and repeatedly schemed to have the Philistines kill him in battle.
It’s a sobering lesson on how sin twists a “good thing” and makes it all about ourselves. We looked at Proverbs 27:4: “Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?” Unlike wrath and anger, which can be a sudden flood of rage that might eventually recede, deep-seated jealousy is a relentless force that is nearly impossible to defend against.
We finished with a vital warning for us to guard against jealousy and keep our hearts pure. Like ivy, if we let jealousy sprout, it will eventually consume the entire garden of our lives. We must rip out those “seedlings” early and ask the Lord to cleanse and protect our hearts so that we bear the fruit of the Spirit, rather than the deeds of the flesh”.
1 Corinthians 3:3 “... For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? (See also 2 Corinthians 12:20, & James 3:14)
Lord, jealousy and envy are symptoms of a sin-sick heart,
By Your grace, cleanse our hearts,
that we might learn to please You more than ourselves,
and heal our hearts,
that they may be a place where Your love and kindness can sprout,
rather than the ever-familiar weeds of the flesh.
Remind us, Lord, that true success always comes from You,
and teach us to rejoice in the success of others, when it brings You glory and honour.
Amen
The Lord be with you,
Rev Glenn Paddison.