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Today I want to stare with you a story concerning David and King Saul, and it is found in 1 Samuel Chapter 18 beginning at the fifth verse.
1 Samuel Chapter 18 reads, 5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. 6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. 7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands 8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said they have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? 9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward. 10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand. 11 And Saul cast the javelin: for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice. 12 And Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul. 13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. 14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways: and the Lord was with him. 15 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
The Introduction
Today, we will be concentrating on the destruction of sin, and the particular sins that led to the death of Saul were disobedience as well as jealousy. When I was first given this topic, I felt a great urge within myself to battle the spirit of jealousy and insecurity. I admonish you to fight jealousy. If it’s anything that is hindering your soul’s salvation, you need to fight it with the word of God. For, Jealousy is a spirit that is out to cause division in the church. Jealousy has been a destructive tool used against the church individually as well as collectively since the beginning of time (Reference to the jealousy of Eve, Lucifer, and Cain). As saints of God, we must learn how to defeat the spirit of jealousy. As we study the actions of Saul, we find that disobedience and jealousy lead to self destruction. Saul was a disobedient king, and God rejected him for that. Saul was sent by God to the Amelekites, and he was supposed to utterly destroy the nation of the Amelekites leaving nothing to survive. It seemed that, for a moment, Saul forgot that God is all powerful. When God tells us to do something, we should do it just like he said to do it. Saul tried to show mercy by allowing Agag (the king of the Amelekites) to live, and he also allowed the good-looking animales to live. Disobedience Brings Separation According to the Bible, Saul rebelliously showed mercy, and let all of these live. But God wanted everyone and everything that was Amelekite to be destroyed. So, how could Saul show mercy, when there was no mercy? If the Most High God had no mercy for the Amelekites, then Saul was to also show no mercy toward the Amelekites. Yahweh is the Most High, and He is all powerful. There is no authority above Him. So, as the king of Israel, Saul was only supposed to do what he was given the authority to do. Saul was once anointed by God. But we can only remain in the favor of God, when we humbly and totally submit to God. Saul disobeyed God, and the rejection of God was his punishment. In 1 Samuel Chapter 15 verse 22-23, the prophet Samuel said: “22Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou has rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king. God rejected Saul as king because of his disobedience. Then God anointed David, and He allowed the oil to pour out upon David’s head as a symbol of the anointing. The Spirit of The Lord was upon David from that day and forward, and He was departed from Saul. First of all, we must obey God in order to be saved, and we must obey in order to be protected from the evils of this world. That is not saying that you will not be tested and tried, but it is saying you shall overcome in the end in the name of Jesus. You must obey in order to conquer evil spirits like Jealousy. Sin automatically separates us from God. You cannot be cold and hot at the same time. If you are lukewarm, God is going to spue you out of His mouth. The Lord says in Revelations Chapter 3:16, “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. That’s what happened with Saul. Saul was hot, when he was chosen to be the king of Israel. When he was obedient to the word of God, he had favor with God. However, Saul became lukewarm by rejecting the word of God. To be lukewarm is an abomination to God. Saul wanted to do things his own way. So, God chose to find someone else other than Saul to do things His way. God rejected Saul as king of Israel, because Saul rejected Him first. Therefore, God sent an evil spirit upon Saul. For, The Spirit of the Lord was departed from Saul. Saul was being troubled by an evil spirit, and they called for a cunning harp player to put Saul at ease. David was the cunning harp player that was brought in before Saul. Every time David played the harp, that evil spirit would leave Saul. But later on, things changed for the worst for Saul.
Destruction is Found in Jealousy
After Saul had already been rejected as king, God showed mercy upon Saul by allowing David (the one that He anointed) to calm Saul’s heart. After David killed Goliath the Philistine, David had favor with the entire nation of Israel as well as the nation of Judah. The people loved David. The saying of the women of Israel, made it plain. They said that “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands. Therefore, David was highly favored by God and the people of God. But Jealousy reared his ugly head at the man of God, and caused Saul to reject David. In fact, Saul tried to kill David three times. Saul threw a javelin trying to kill him. David was only trying heal Saul’s heart when he noticed that an evil spirit was upon Saul once again. Later on, Saul put David in charge of a thousand men of war hoping that the philistines would eventually kill him. That was not a successful plan, so Saul told his son Jonathan and the other soldiers to kill David. Why would Saul do that? He was already being afflicted by an evil spirit, but he tried to kill his only help. David was the only one that could help Saul when that evil spirit tourmented him, but Saul was trying to kill David. Remember that God rejected Saul. God was done with Saul, but He allowed David to heal him on several occasions. How merciful is our God? He is so merciful! Yes HE is! God showed mercy toward Saul by putting David in his presence, but Saul was trying to kill David. Saul could not realize that he was hurting himself. Saul could not realize that the sins that he committed were destroying him, and that’s why God is warning us! Do not Self Destruct! We need to stop throwing away the people that are trying to build us up. Stop lashing out at people that are trying to help you. Saul’s heart was filled with Jealousy, and Jealousy was making Saul self-destruct. First of all, you must obey, so that the favor of God can remain with you. If you are fighting with a spirit of jealousy in the church of God, I advise you to fight on. Fight it with all of your might. Resist it, and cast it out in the name of Jesus. Jealousy is one of the many spirits that are out to destroy you.
Conclusion
The Bible says in Psalms 105: 15, “Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.” Jealousy is directly opposed to this commandment. God said,” Touch not mine anointed.” However, Jealousy causes people to plot against other people in the church. Jealousy causes people to lash out at the saints of God. Jealousy causes people to cut off their blessings. Jealousy causes people to cut off their healing. Acting out of Jealousy is causing people to destroy themselves. There is no room for Jealousy in the house of the Lord, because it is too destructive. Jealousy itself is a contradiction to the purpose of the church. The church should be united as the body of Christ and full of power. The church should be united, sanctified, and set apart from sin in order to bring healing to the land. God said in 2nd Chronicles Chapter 7 verse 14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” If you’ll notice, He said,” turn from your wicked ways!“ Turn away from jealousy. Turn away from covetousness. Turn away from insecurity. Turn away from being fearful. Turn away from blaspheming your brothers and sisters. Turn away jealousy and hatred, and run to Jesus. In the might name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.
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