Jealousy

1 Samuel 18: 6-12

“6 When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. 7 As they danced, they sang:

“Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” 8 Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” 9 And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.10 The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand 11 and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. 12 Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul.”

Saul became increasingly threatened by David’s success and his popularity.  Instead of coming to terms with these things within himself, he lashed out at David. Instead of  repenting of his sins in order to strengthen his relationship with God, he attempted to kill David.  His solution to his problem was to sin more.

The sins of narcissism and jealousy clearly clouded Saul’s judgment.. In Saul’s mind, it was David’s fault that the Lord’s spirit was not upon him and that by killing David the Lord’s spirit would once again be with him.

How is it that we refuse to see our sins when we see the sins of others so readily?

Christ said, “First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5)

Fortunately, the Holy Spirit is present in every believer, and will give us the spirit of humility and an awareness of our own sins.  

All we have to do is listen and obey.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)