Friday 15 April 2016

Saul feared David

And Saul cast the spear, for he said, "I will pin David to the wall!" But David escaped his presence twice. Now Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, but had departed from Saul. Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. – 1 Samuel 18.11-13

Jealousy is not the only problem Saul had. His jealousy over David’s praise and success led to another emotion.

Saul could have done well by knowing and applying Hebrews 12.15 where God warns against letting bitterness take root in your life because it will grow and destroy everything.

Saul took out his anger on God by trying to kill David. ‘I will pin David to a wall’ he said. Twice David had escaped Saul’s anger.

But I think the key here is why Saul was afraid of David. He was afraid because he knew the Lord was with David.

It is sad that Saul had known the Lord and had chosen to disobey. He had lost the power of God, but he knew what it was. Saul’s problems were his own fault, but he had to have someone else to blame.

This situation could be solved if we could just do what Jesus said when He summarised The Law with ‘love God and love others.’ When there is love there is not jealousy. When there is love there is no fear.

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