Posted: 4/11/06
BaptistWay Bible Series for April 23
Beware the green-eyed monster
• 1 Samuel 18:1-16
By Joseph Matos
Dallas Baptist University, Dallas
Admit it. We have all been jealous of someone at some time. Our best friend gets the girl (or guy). Our coworker gets the big promotion. Our seminary classmate gets the church. Generally our jealousy stems from someone having what we believe rightfully is ours. 1 Samuel 18 describes the jealousy of Saul toward David. How could a king be jealous of a shepherd boy?
What did David have that Saul didn’t?
1 Samuel 16 ended with David finding favor with Saul and being hired to his staff full time. In the next chapter, David defeated the mighty Philistine Goliath. Saul’s favor toward David only grew. But in chapter 18, Saul’s pleasure with David quickly degenerated into jealousy.
The first four verses describe how the friendship between Jonathan and David was forged. Though David would later marry Saul’s daughter, Michal, it is with Jonathan that he became “one in spirit” (v. 1).
Other indicators of Jonathan’s devotion to David include the covenant he made with David, his attitude toward David (“he loved him as himself,” v. 3) and his handing over his robe, tunic, sword, bow and belt (v. 4). This could be interpreted either as Jonathan’s recognizing David as successor to the king or his acknowledgment that David was the greater warrior.
Regardless, one thing is clear; Jonathan accepted David. And in ensuing passages, Jonathan would follow through on his loyalty to David.
Verse 5 appears to suggest Saul had great confidence in David, as well. For he continued to give David responsibilities in the military, and with success after success, Saul continued to advance David in rank. The people, and Saul’s officers, were pleased with this action. But Saul would not always be pleased with David’s success.
When read in the context of David’s continual rise in rank, verse 6 suggests David’s defeat of Goliath was just the beginning of renewed fighting with the Philistines. On one occasion, when the men returned from battle, the women came from around Israel to welcome them. They sang, played instruments and danced in a victory celebration.
A victory over their archenemy should have filled Saul with joy as well. But the lyrics of the song caught his attention. While the song did praise him, David received greater accolades: “Saul has slain his thousands; and David his tens of thousands” (v. 7). Whether the last phrase should be translated as “tens of thousands” or not, the intent is clear: David had been more successful than Saul.
Saul, in his attitudes and actions, displayed his jealously of David. His attitude is recorded in verse 8. Saul became “very angry” with David, and the song “galled” him.
How vivid a portrait this paints! Recalling, therefore, a question posed at the beginning of this lesson, what did David have that Saul didn’t? What led to his jealousy of David? As the song suggests, David enjoyed greater praise from the people than Saul did. This is just as Saul himself interpreted the words (v. 8).
More than that, Saul began to think to himself, if David had won the approval of the people, then there would be nothing else for David to have except the kingdom itself. Little did he know the truth of that statement.
Saul’s actions quickly followed. David had lost his favored status with Saul: “And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David” (v. 9). But Saul did more than just watch David closely.
Despite his military prowess, David still was a servant, and as such he played the harp for Saul whenever he had a bout with the evil spirit from the Lord. In fact, the day after the victory celebration, David played the harp for Saul to ease his torment.
Unlike before, however, Saul was not soothed. Instead, while David played, Saul picked up a spear and threw it at David, intent on pinning him to the wall. He was unsuccessful, twice.
After this, Saul experienced yet another emotion, fear (v. 12), and we learn the reason. David had yet something (actually someone) else that Saul did not: “the Lord.”
Again, Saul sent David into battle. This was not a promotion, though. Saul apparently meant to have David killed in battle. Later in the chapter he set the price for David to marry Michal at 100 dead Philistines (v. 25), thinking David would die trying.
However, Saul’s plan failed, both times. At every turn, David met with success because “the Lord was with him” (v. 14). Saul’s fear grew in proportion to David’s success.
Saul, in his mind anyway, had more reason to fear; now “all Israel and Judah loved David” (v. 16).
The remainder of chapters 18 and 19 detail how Saul acted upon his jealousy toward David. As stated, he would send him to fight the Philistines (vv. 24-28); he ordered others (even Jonathan) to kill David (19:1); and he again tried himself to kill David with the spear (19:9-10).
The Lord, with the aid of Jonathan, Michal and Samuel, foiled his plans each time. Saul was undaunted. He would spend the rest of his life trying to rid himself of David.
Though we experience jealousy at times, may we confess to the Lord and repent. May it certainly never reach the extremes exhibited by Saul. Let us be content where God has placed us and with what God has given us.
Discussion questions
• How do you handle feelings of jealousy toward another?
• What can we do to prevent jealousy from overtaking us?
• What is the cure for jealousy when it does appear?
• Can anything good come from feelings of jealousy?
• What should be the proper response to another’s success?
We seek to connect God’s story and God’s people around the world. To learn more about God’s story, click here.
Send comments and feedback to Eric Black, our editor. For comments to be published, please specify “letter to the editor.” Maximum length for publication is 300 words.