Day 1151: Whom the Lord exalts - 1 Samuel 18 vs 6 - 19

6-9 As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” And Saul eyed David from that day on. 10-12 The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice. 13 Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.

14 So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. 15 And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. 16 And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. 17 But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them. Then Saul said to David, “Here is my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me and fight the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 18 And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father’s clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?” 19 But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife. 1 Samuel 18:6-19 English Standard Version

Our last reading ended by saying “David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.” That was probably a general reflection. But was going on behind the scenes? (vs 6-9)

After some time the army returned, and Saul was deeply distressed to hear David being exalted and praised. We are told that “Saul eyed David from that day on.” His jealous feelings against the son of Jesse started early in their relationship. So much so that the next day when he was afflicted by the harmful spirit, he hurled his spear at David. Although David dodged the spear, it happened on two occasions. It's possible that David put this down to the harmful spirit, rather than blaming Saul personally. Moody people can do dangerous things!

But not only did Saul hate David, he was also afraid of him (vs 13), and in awe of him (vs 16). It was obvious to Saul that God was with David and giving him success in all he did (vs 15). And he was jealous too because of David's popularity with all the people. Oh how we need to guard against jealousy. To the Corinthians Paul said: “I could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh . . . for while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-3) And to the Galatians he wrote: “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:25-26)

So Saul hatched a plot. He thought to himself “let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” He urged David to 'valiantly fight the Lord's battles', and hid his true intentions by offering him a wife from his daughters. That had been part of Saul's original promise to the man who defeated Goliath. It meant becoming part of 'the royal family'. But what was David's response? (vs 18)

David declined the offer, citing his own lowliness, and the lowliness of his family. The apostle Peter wrote: “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you.” Wise advice we can surely take to heart!