I’m sorry if I was long-winded yesterday, I will try to be more brief today. There are so many things I always want to write about, it is hard to control myself.
Today is no exception. We are reading 1 Samuel 18-20.
Jealousy
We had watched David rise to prominence with God and with men yesterday, but today, that ‘green-eyed monster’ jealousy raises its ugly head. Saul doesn’t like the people loving David more than they do him.
I don’t have to worry about that too much. Being the backup preacher, I know I won’t overshadow my pastor. His years of experience and polished delivery are far beyond my skills.
At work, I train the agents, but they have direct managers they report to. I don’t have to administer any discipline, therefore, it is not unusual that I am embraced more than their leader. This can cause some resentment and animosity.
I work through this by including the managers in all my planning. We’ll be a stronger team if we’re all in agreement.
Avoid abuse
Saul wasn’t concerned with teamwork. He was just annoyed by the song the townspeople were singing, that said David killed ten times as many as Saul. His ego couldn’t take it.
An evil spirit comes over him, that same monster we spoke of before, and he hurls a spear at David. The young warrior’s reflex holds true, and he dodges the murder attempts twice.
Before that, we see in verse 18:8 that Saul was overcontrolling. People with these insecurities will try to separate people from their families. This is true in many abusive relationships. (1)
They will praise the person and lavish them with gifts, but then try to possess them. When that person forms additional friendships like David did with Jonathon, they will strike out with physical violence like we see with Saul.
The Bible teaches everything we need for life and righteousness. Here is it teaching how to avoid abusive relationships.
I would like to say that I am immune to this. But, there have been women in my life who repeated mistreated me, and I would continue to take them back.
None ever attempted to murder me, but David continues to give Saul opportunities.
Insecurity
Saul’s insecurity may have come from many sources, but knowing the Lord had left him could have been a driving factor.
When I feel that distance is forming between God and me, my first thought is to spend more time with God.
Sometimes I just don’t feel I am walking with Him the way I used to. I have to remember; He didn’t move. My wandering caused our separation.
Because Saul’s pride will not let him seek God, his friendship with David ends.
Jonathan warns David, and their friendship grows. He wants to keep trusting his father, but each time he learns that this demon that possesses him is too powerful.
Politicians
Saul was Israel’s first king. It’s the first taste of a politician. He lies to their faces and then attempts to kill them at the same time.
Those close to him: his son Jonathan, his daughter Michal, both love David. The more Saul tries to destroy him, the more they protect him.
These insecurities tear this family apart.
Moving away from insecurity, we read of another good point.
Positive influence
When a person is on a mission for God, those around will be too.
We read Saul keeps sending men to capture David. David was with Samuel. Each time the men got near Samuel, they began prophesying. Saul goes himself, and he prophesies.
The job of every Christian is to be like Christ. To have a positive impact on the world, so that others will emulate us. We must be on fire, and fan those flames so the fire spreads.
Jonathan, still trying to have hope for this father, made a covenant with David. (v20:14) He would have to keep that pact, even though it would cause Saul to attempt to kill him. (v20:33)
The problem is that they resort to lies and deceit. Sin is never the way to defeat sin. Overcome evil with good. (Rom 12:21)
We all have relationships. Some are friendships, others are romantic, many are just casual acquaintances. In all these, we must be careful and not allow others to be abusive toward us. It starts small, but will always escalate.
First to higher forms of abuse, and to sin.
If something doesn’t seem right, ask a friend to help you look at the situation. Like David asking Jonathan, lean on others to get to the truth.
Tomorrow we will read 1 Samuel 21-24
(1.) https://www.thepersonalgrowthproject.com/blog/the-role-of-isolation-in-abuse
