Friday 8 March, 2013

10 The next day an evil spirit that was sent by God came on Saul with power. Saul began to prophesy in his house. At that same time David began to play the harp, just as he usually did. Saul was holding a spear. 11 He threw it at David. As he did, he said to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David got away from him twice. 12 The Lord had left Saul and was with David. So Saul was afraid of David. 13 He sent David away. He put him in command of 1,000 men. David led the troops in battle. 14 In everything he did, he was very successful. That’s because the Lord was with him. 15 When Saul saw how successful David was, he became afraid of him. 16 But all of the troops of Israel and Judah loved David. That’s because he led them in battle. 17 Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I’ll give her to you to be your wife. Just serve me bravely and fight the Lord’s battles.” Saul said to himself, “I won’t have to lift my hand to strike him down. The Philistines will do that!” 18 But David said to Saul, “Who am I? Is anyone in my whole family that important in Israel? Am I worthy to become the king’s son-in-law?” 19 The time came for Saul to give his daughter Merab to David. Instead, Saul gave her to Adriel from Meholah to be his wife. 20 Saul’s daughter Michal was in love with David. When they told Saul about it, he was pleased. 21 “I’ll give her to him to be his wife,” he said to himself. “Then maybe she’ll trap him. And maybe the powerful hand of the Philistines will strike him down.” So Saul said to David, “Now you have a second chance to become my son-in-law.” 22 Then Saul gave an order to his attendants. He said, “Speak to David in private. Tell him, ‘The king is pleased with you. All of his attendants like you. So become his son-in-law.’” 23 Saul’s attendants spoke those very words to David. But David said, “Do you think it’s a small thing to become the king’s son-in-law? I’m only a poor man. I’m not very well known.” 24 Saul’s attendants told him what David had said. 25 Saul said, “Tell David, ‘Here’s the price the king wants for the bride. He wants you to kill 100 Philistines. Then bring back the skins you cut off when you circumcise them. That’s how Saul will get even with his enemies.’” Saul hoped that the powerful hand of the Philistines would strike David down. 26 Saul’s attendants also told David those things. Then David was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. So before the day that was set for the wedding, 27 David and his men went out and killed 200 Philistines. They circumcised them. Then David brought all of the skins and gave them to the king. By doing that, he could become the king’s son-in-law. So Saul gave David his daughter Michal to be his wife. 28 Saul realized that the Lord was with David. He also realized that his daughter Michal loved David. 29 So Saul became even more afraid of him. He remained David’s enemy as long as he was king. 30 The Philistine commanders kept on going out to battle. Every time they did, David had more success against them than the rest of Saul’s officers. So his name became well known.

Three times in this passage we are told that the “Lord was with David”, something that has become more and more obvious to Saul.  Saul’s jealously and anger about this is now tangible as he hurls spears at David in his home.  Saul then comes up with a plan to rid himself of David by offering his daughter Michal to David in marriage.  She loves him so Saul thinks that this will be an easy distraction to the young man David in battle enabling the Philistines to kill him instead.

David, aware

he will be marrying well above his social and financial standing tells Saul he has no ability to pay the “bride price” so Saul comes up with a marriage price that will suit the warrior David, thinking he can be rid of a bunch of Philistines and David all in one go.

But “the Lord is with David”, he is able to pay the bride price and is now to marry Saul’s daughter and become his son-in-law.

Jealously never has a good end.  David is now Saul’s number one enemy.

This makes me look back on times when I have been jealous of someone for whatever reason, and I know how consuming it can be in my head space and heart and likely my actions too.  I may not have wanted the death of the person I was jealous of but I know it was causing death in me.

Lord please help me to keep my heart clean and clear of jealously and envy.  Help me to deal with these negative emotions & attitudes quickly before you, as they have no place

in your Kingdom or presence.  Amen

Written by Suzie Hodgson