For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. James 3:16
Jealousy
Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops and Saul’s officers as well. 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. As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly.
1 Samuel 18:5-8
After David’s victory over Goliath, he was recognised as a military hero and given a high rank in Saul’s army. However, when they returned from fighting the Philistines, the women who went out to greet the soldiers gave greater praise to David than to King Saul. Their words displeased the king and he became very jealous and angry.
Why did Saul get angry? Did he not understand that the victories of David were also victories for the king and the entire nation?
When we are led by the Spirit of God, we live by faith and trust the Lord for our victories. When Saul disobeyed the Lord and started to rely on his own strength, the Spirit of the Lord left him and his faith was replaced with fear.
When our hearts are gripped with fear, we resort to the natural and try to protect ourselves with what we can see, feel and touch. Fear can also create feelings of jealousy and anger, especially when our pride has been hurt.
In the story of Saul, we see how his fear of losing the kingdom caused his focus to shift from caring for the people, to defeating David. As jealousy and anger consumed him, he drifted further and further away from the Lord and the result was that he not only lost the kingdom to David but also met with a tragic end in battle.
Let us, therefore, place our anger and jealous thoughts on His altar today and ask Him to fill us with the love and grace of His Spirit so that we can live as overcomers.
Dear Lord,
I thank You for this day and place on Your altar every bitter and envious thought. Cleanse me with Your precious blood so that I may walk by faith and not in the wisdom of man. Amen.
God bless you.
Your obedient servants in Christ,
Theo and Manju