1 Samuel 18:5-9 Devilish Vice of Envy!

 ”So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved 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. Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. So the women sang as they danced, and said: “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.” Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” So Saul eyed David from that day forward.“ ‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭18‬:‭5‬-‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely: David was fully submitted to Saul and sought to serve him wisely in every way. David knew the way to be blessed. It was to work hard to be a blessing to his boss. He would not undercut Saul’s position or authority in any way.

i. Where did Saul send David? Saul set him over the men of war. This was a remarkable promotion – a man perhaps in his young twenties was now a “general” in the army of Israel.

b. He was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants: David quickly became popular both among the people and among the leaders (Saul’s servants). This was not because David was a yes-man-people-pleaser-sycophant kind of man. David did not seek this popularity and did not depend on any of those carnal tools to gain it. David became popular because he was a man after God’s own heart and people could see the love, the wisdom, and the peace of God in him.

i. We might imagine Saul’s initial reaction was positive. “Good,” he thought. “My new assistant is well received. Everyone thinks I made a brilliant choice in bringing him on staff. This is working out well.”

c. Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands: David became unexpectedly popular. When the people of Israel started singing everyone knew David was more popular than Saul.

i. When women sing and dance in your honor, you are popular. When it happens in all the cities of Israel, you are popular. This song was the number one hit in Israel! David wisely received this popularity because 1 Samuel 18:14 says of this period in David’s life, And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the LORD was with him. In this environment of praise and popularity, David behaved wisely in all his ways.

ii. When you are praised and popular, it isn’t wise to let it go to your head. David was happy to hear these affirming words, but he didn’t let it dominate his thinking or change his opinion of himself. He kept the heart and the mind of a shepherd, even in a season of great success.

iii. This wasn’t easy. This was a test, one the devil wanted to use to bring David down and one the LORD wanted to use to build David up. David never received this kind of affirmation when he kept the sheep. The sheep never danced and sang a song praising him. Now David faces the challenge of success. Many people who handle adversity well enough fall under the challenge of success.

iv. But because David could be so content and so happy before the LORD in keeping sheep with no praise or popularity, it put his heart in the right place to handle it when he received praise and popularity. Out in the shepherd’s field David had his heart set: “I’m doing this for the LORD. I love the LORD, and my reward is from Him.” Because his heart was right in the shepherd’s field, David behaved wisely in all his ways when praise and popularity came.

d. Then Saul was very angry: Knowing his character, we are not surprised by Saul’s reaction. Saul did not have a right or close relationship with the LORD. All he had to affirm his heart was the praise of man so when David was more praised it really bothered Saul.

i. It is a bad sign in a leader when they resent or feel threatened by the success of a subordinate. It is a certain sign of weakness in the leader.

ii. Now what more can he have but the kingdom? This is a typical over-reaction in the proud and insecure. Saul could have thought, “David did well, and he has his glory today. I’ll keep serving the LORD and have this kind of praise another day.” Instead, he over-reacted and said, “Now what more can he have but the kingdom?”

iii. However, there is another dynamic at work in Saul: a guilty conscience. He remembered the prophet Samuel told him, “The LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel.” Saul knew his sin disqualified him from being king, and he clung to the throne in the energy of his flesh. An honorable man would step down, but if Saul were an honorable man, he wouldn’t be in this mess. Instead, Saul constantly worried, “When will God cast me off the throne? Who will He raise up to replace me?” This insecurity, borne of guilt, also made Saul over-react to the praise and popularity given to David.

iv. Yet the crowds did praise Saul. They did sing, “Saul has slain his thousands.” For Saul, it wasn’t enough to slay thousands as long as someone else was slaying ten thousands.

e. So Saul eyed David from that day forward: Now Saul’s mind is filled with suspicion towards David. He began to hear nearly everything David said with suspicious ears. He looked at David’s actions with suspicious eyes. His thoughts were twisted by suspicion.

(Guzik)

“He gave way to that devilish vice of envy, which was henceforth as a fire in his bosom, as a worm continually gnawing upon his entrails…. He looked upon him with an evil eye: prying into all his actions, and making the worst of everything.” (Trapp)

Devilish Vice of Envy!

Most of us have been there, wish we had that job, that income, that house, etc.

But it’s how you deal with it when you recognize envy! 

If you are a person after the Lords own heart you repent and pray for Him to remove it.

Do you have a fire in your bosom?

Blessings