It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine(s), 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. The women sang as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” Then Saul 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. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on. 1 Samuel 18:6-9
This didn’t happen immediately after David killed Goliath, but soon after as the people observed David’s continual growth in wisdom and expertise, especially as a warrior. In ancient times when the troops victoriously return home from their season of war, the people would cut fronds from the trees waving them in the air, playing tambourines, singing and dancing. King Saul experienced that every time he returned from battle. I don’t know what they sang then, but obviously he was not happy that they changed their lyrics to “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”
The green-eyed monster of jealousy took a big bite out of Saul! Bitter jealousy always distorts reality. No one thinks clearly when jealous.
How do you define jealousy? International Standard Bible Encyclopedia defines it as: “the intense emotion aroused by the infringements of one’s rights (real or presumed) to exclusive possession or loyalty.” Mine to protect! We need to understand that jealousy can be positive or negative, holy or sinful. The difference is selfless concern for what is best for everyone involved or selfish demand for exclusive rights to something.
There are over a dozen scriptures referring to a divine jealousy, including Exodus 34:14 - “- for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God–" As God, it is His right to demand exclusive loyalty, devotion and worship. He jealousy protects what is His, especially righteousness and truth. Divine jealousy is always in keeping with God’s holy nature. Paul speaks of “a godly jealousy” in 2 Corinthians 11:2. “For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy.” The easiest way to discern between godly and ungodly jealousy is: for or of! Beth Moore explains it as: “Jealousy for someone’s best is of God. Jealousy of someone’s best is of the enemy.” Since jealousy is such a strong emotion keeping it godly definitely requires partnership with God.
Is there anything that you are jealous for? How does that impact your attitude or actions on his/her/its behalf? Let me give you a personal example. Being jealous for my ministry keeps me committed to quality and purpose. It motivates commitment, sacrifice and encourages passion, and enables joy whether one person shows up or dozens. It is always a choice. The first indication of ungodly jealousy is resentment and feeling threatened. Ungodly jealousy resents another’s success or advantage. It resents someone else having something they want exclusive rights to. Weird thing about jealousy is that they may not even want it; they just don’t want others to have it either.
Saul obviously thought he had exclusive rights to the people’s praise and adoration. The three most common motivation of ungodly jealousy are: attention, admiration and power. The women’s jingle threatened all of these.
In the thirty years that Saul had been king, he had been a mighty warrior. Under his command thousands of Israel’s enemies had been slain. “Thousands” was high praise. Over the months since the victory over Goliath, David had been learning the intricacies of being a warrior. Saul knew the “ten thousands” they attributed to David was an exaggeration. But seen through the distorted eyes of jealousy, he felt threatened.
Back in 1 Samuel 16:21,22, “Saul loved [David] greatly.” He loved what David did for him as David’s music calmed his terror and the Spirit of life and light within David met a gapping need in his soul. In 1 Samuel 18:5, when everyone else was so pleased with David’s gaining wisdom, growing and maturing quickly, Saul was pleased as well. All of sudden all this changes. Over night he goes from loving and pleased to consumed by jealousy.
Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, as usual; and a spear was in Saul’s hand. Saul hurled the spear for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David escaped from his presence twice.
Now Saul was afraid of David, for the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. Therefore Saul removed him from his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. David was prospering in all his ways for the Lord was with him. When Saul saw that he was prospering greatly, he dreaded him. 1 Samuel 18:10-15
Let’s follow the downward spiral:
1. He was angry that others gave David more honor than him. Who was he angry at? Most likely David, even though he had no control over what the women sang. One of the characteristics of sinful anger is that it is transferred to the innocent.
2. He blew it out of proportion by adding his greatest fear. Because of his constant faithlessness and disobedience, Samuel had told him God was done with him being king. That judgment hung over him – how, when, who???
3. He allowed his opinion of David to be shaped by his imagination. He brewed on it constantly. He made assumptions regarding what others thought or planned, and the negative impact it mighthave onhim. All this fueled suspicion and distrust.
4. He ranted and raved in the throne room, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. He didn’t seem to care who heard or got the backlash of his juvenile temper tantrum.
5. What usually soothed now irritated and provoked. He was totally unpredictable.
6. He reacted with impulsive anger, followed by a conscious act of uncontrolled wrath. No one “impulsively” throws two spears. When the first one missed, he found another and tried again.
7. Saul feared David! This statement encapsulated his entire attitude toward David. What do you think he was afraid David would do? I have a feeling that he feared David would do to him, what he would do to David should the situation be reversed. Power was everything to Saul: power to do what he wanted to do; power over others to do what he wanted them to do; power to control the situation or at least the way it looked. Power was control. He feared David would steal his power. David had no desire to have power of any kind over Saul. The sad thing is, fear is a transfer of power. He gave fear power over himself. That kind of fear ate him up! That kind of fear made him throw spears!
8. He cut himself off from the benefits of David’s presence. This included the power of the Holy Spirit that God had so graciously made available to Saul through David. He didn’t just remove David from the throne room, but God!
9. By appointing David as commander of a thousand, King Saul was putting him in charge of the frontline forces. This was the most dangerous assignment possible, made even more so because David was a novice. This act of anger, fear and just plain evil, intentionally endangered David, but also a thousand of Israel’s finest soldiers. But God continued to teach David, shape him and sakal him, so he gained wisdom. God’s presence was obvious, as was His protective hand.
10. When Saul saw that David was constantly growing wiser – maturing as a man and as a leader, his dread deepened. Despite that he was still king, the rest of his reign was consumed by attempts to control and destroy David.
Let’s recap the list:
1. Transferred anger to the innocent
2. Blew the situation out of proportion
3. Let imagination take over
4. Refused to let it go
5. Gave himself the right to rant and rave uncontrollably
6. Refused to be consolable
7. Followed up a negative reaction with intentional behavior that was equal or worse
8. Imposed his perspective on others – assumed they thought or would do the same thing
9. Cut himself off from those who can benefit him most
10. Imposed a punishment that exceeds the “crime”
11. Endangered others in the process
12. Let it define his life
Does this list tend to make you a bit uncomfortable? If so, why? There is a bit of Saul in each one of us that needs to be confronted, surrendered and removed.
How did David respond when the women exaggerated his accomplishments? At times volumes are expressed in the absence of information. He didn’t respond to their praise. And the people loved him all the more for it. “But all Israel and Judah loved David, and he went out and came in before them.” 1 Samuel 18:16
How did David respond to Saul’s spear throwing? I love how Gene Edwards answers this complex question in A Tale of Three Kings.
David had a question: What do you do when someone throws a spear at you?
Does it not seem odd to you that David did not know the answer to this question? After all, everyone else in the world knows what to do when a spear is thrown at them. Why, you pick up the spear and throw it right back! When someone throws a spear at you, David, just wrench it right out of the wall and throw it back. Absolutely everyone else does, you can be sure.”
And in doing this small feat of returning thrown spears, you will prove many things: You are courageous. You stand for the right. You boldly stand against the wrong. You are tough and can’t be pushed around. You will not stand for injustice or unfair treatment. You are the defender of the faith, keeper of the flame, detector of all heresy. You will not be wronged. All of these attributes then combine to prove that you are also, obviously, a candidate for kingship … after the order of King Saul.
There is also a possibility that some twenty years after your coronation, you will be the most incredibly skilled spear thrower in all the realm. And, most assuredly, by then quite mad.
Unlike anyone else in spear-throwing history, David did not know what to do when a spear was thrown at him. He did not throw Saul’s spears back at him. Nor did he make any spears of his own and throw them. Something was different about David. All he did was dodge.
What can a man, especially a young man, do when the king decides to use him for target practice? What if the young man decides not to return the compliment? First of all, he must pretend he cannot see spears, even when they are coming straight at him. Secondly, he must also learn to duck very quickly. Lastly, he must pretend nothing at all happened.
You can easily tell when someone has been hit by a spear. He turns a deep shade of bitter.
David never got hit.
Gradually, he learned a very well kept secret. He discovered three things that prevented him from ever being hit: One, never learn anything about the fashionable, easily-mastered art of spear throwing. Two, stay out of the company of all spear throwers. And three, keep your mouth tightly closed. In this way, spears will never touch you, even when they pierce your heart.
What do you do when someone throws spears at you? Again, they may be words, rumors, insinuations, a “look,” verbal attacks, criticism, cold silence or chilly attitude, even a fist or something else. We have all had spears thrown at us. There will be many more in the years to come. Each one is a pointed attempt to put us in our place, demonstrate power and gain control.
Remember the real reason Saul threw spears was fear. Does fear motivate the spear-throwers in your life? How does this perspective help you dodge the arrows/ missiles? How does it keep you from picking up a spear and throwing it back?
Saul’s focus caused him to spiral downwards. David’s focus caused him to spiral upward. While you dodge thrown spears, where is your focus? Do you need to reset your mindset? “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” Colossians 3,2
