Study the Bible
with Pastor Gregory

1. The Prosperity of Others – vv. 5-7
   
   
1. At various times, there are occasions when we have opportunity to notice how certain people seem to thrive beyond us – to be the recipients of what we perceive to be greater blessing.
2. In the account provided us in this text of the events surrounding the conclusion of the war with Philistia, David clearly is prospering beyond anyone around him – "So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and prospered."
3. It seemed that whatever military assignment given him, God allowed it to not only work out, but succeed with excellence.
4. As a consequence of David’s knowing the enabling grace of God in his life, "Saul set him over the men of war" – a tremendous promotion for a relatively young man.
5. He was so very popular with everyone that we are told that even those to whom such a rapid rise would have caused tremendous tension, it "was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants."
6. So, David was succeeding in every way, enjoying tremendous popularity with the people when all of a sudden, something happens that causes great tension: "It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments."
7. The people recognize the uniqueness of David – as an individual that God had clearly blessed beyond what could be considered normal accomplishment – they even use hyperbole in praising David – "The women sang as they played, and said, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands’."
   
   
2. The Pride in Oneself – vv. 8-9
   
   
1. Saul may have been simmering on low – ever since David "showed him up" by killing Goliath – we don’t know.
2. However, when Saul heard the women singing such great accolades of David, he "became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, ‘They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands."
3. It was all right with Saul for David to be praised for his accomplishment until he felt as though it infringed upon his own sense of prominence.
4. Saul’s sense of significance had been in that he was more important and valuable than anyone else – that his antics of war had exceeded anyone else’s in Israel.
5. Saul clearly did not see himself as a steward of someone greater than He – for whom he with many other servants all combined their efforts to bring Him glory.
6. He was not interested in others – and was unable to rejoice in the blessing of the Lord in their lives
7. His pride made him think that he deserved the greatest accolades and praise – and that it was illegitimate for someone to get more than he got.
8. Saul’s conclusion was that if David had been the recipient of the greater praise, and before his very eyes he was seeing someone exalted above himself, then perhaps this is "the neighbor" that had been promised who would take his kingdom – "Now what more can he have but the kingdom?"
9. We are told that Saul allowed this event to spoil his perspective toward David from that day on – "Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on."

1. The Susceptibility to Spiritual Vulnerability – v. 10a
   
   
1. As Saul allowed the jealousy of David to take root in his heart, he became susceptible to the schemes of Satan – "Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul"
2. The spiritual vulnerability that such jealousy brings is part of the reason that God’s people are told that the presence of jealousy is indicative of the prominence of the flesh – cp. Galatians 5:21; James 3:14-16
3. Instead of giving place to such sentiments – and we all have to honestly face the presence of such a sentiment when it exists – we are to protect ourselves from such susceptibility by blocking the avenues providing entrance for carnal indulgence – cp. Romans 13:14
4. Whenever we feed the works of the flesh we commensurately quench the protective power of the Spirit in our lives and we become vulnerable to the schemes of a prowling enemy that preys upon those who harbor sinful attitudes and practices - Ephesians 4:27 .
   
   
2. The Surrender to Spiritual Vexes – vv. 10b-12
   
   
1. As a result of the jealousy, Saul gave place to the enemy who fomented his hatred to full flame – causing a desire to kill David.
2. We know that the effort to kill David wasn’t impulsive – but was rather premeditated – "… and he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, as usual;"
3. The implication of this verse as reflected in the KJV was that Saul’s "raving" was under the guise of prophetic activity – perhaps to cover the act of killing David – Saul could claim that under the direction of God, he killed David.
4. We do know that "a spear was in Saul’s hand [and] Saul hurled the spear for he though ‘I will pin David to the wall’."
5. However, when we are in proper relationship to the Spirit of God, He provides us the protection and deliverance from the hand of those in league with the enemy – "But David escaped from his presence twice" – cp. 1 Samuel 19:10
6. Seeing God’s hand of protection on David caused Saul even greater anxiety – "Now Saul was afraid of David, for the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul."
   
   

1. The Forfeiture of Fellowship – vv. 13-14
   
   
1. Things became so severe that Saul couldn’t stand David’s presence – and consequently decided to get him out of his sight – "Therefore Saul removed him from his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand"
2. Saul took it upon himself to attempt to demote David by placing him in the "field" and banishing him from the court life he had previously enjoyed.
3. As a result of his jealousy, Saul completely misjudges David’s heart – instead of coveting Saul’s throne, David was intensely loyal as can be seen throughout this account.
4. By attempting to put David down, Saul forfeited the fellowship with one of the greatest potential blessings of God in his reign – the ability to rejoice in the goodness of God to another "son of Israel"
5. David is described as occupying himself innocently with his duties – "… and he went out and came in before the people" which indicates that the people were watching him.
6. Those who were willing to look at David’s life without the selfish ambition of Saul were able to find great blessing in seeing the hand of God evident in David – "David was prospering in all his ways for the Lord was with him."
7. The result of Saul’s jealousy was that he isolated himself from being able to recognize God’s goodness and generosity to David.
   
   
2. The Focus on Frustration – vv. 15-16
   
   
1. Instead of rejoicing with David that God was blessing him, the more David prospered, the more jealous Saul became – "When Saul saw that he was prospering greatly, he dreaded him"
2. That is, he saw David as a rival – unable to know that God’s storehouse of blessing is not depleted with the blessing of one – God willingly blesses all who faithfully follow and honor Him.
3. But, Saul was only able to see what he did not receive – on what he felt he ought to receive – instead of David.
4. Consequently as God blessed David’s life in general, Saul grew in resentment and lost the ability to focus on anything good in his own life – he became obsessed with what he did not have and slowly found no ability to focus on anything but his frustration.
5. On the other hand, as David performed his duties faithfully, without focus on what God ought to be doing for him, but merely on what he ought to be doing for God, God increased His favor in his life – "But all Israel and Judah loved David, and he went out and came in before them."
   

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