The Folly of Jealousy: Daily Thoughts from 1 Samuel (1 Samuel 18:1-16)

We’ve all had pangs of jealousy, have we not? We see someone who is getting the affection or attention of those we love and we feel we don’t measure up in some way to them. We are tempted to hate them. But there is a better way.

Saul succumbed to jealousy against David and both hated and feared him. But there was a better way, the way Jonathan, Saul’s son, responded.

As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. And 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.

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.

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.

Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul. 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. And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him. And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them. (1 Samuel 18:1-16, ESV)

Who are you jealous of? Jealousy, in its sinful form, is a combination of fear, distrust, and negative self-awareness. Saul knew God had departed from him and that he no longer had the courage or wisdom to lead like he did before. He was aware of his failings. He feared others knowing it and that if they did know it he would be rejected. His fear centered on David because the respect he desired for himself was going to David and he distrusted him and saw him as someone who was trying to take what respect he had. He began to lose trust in all those around him. The answer was not to hate or get rid of David but to come back to the Lord, humble himself and repent. God is the one who exalts and abases.

Jonathan, on the other hand, could have been jealous, but was not. He saw that David could rival him for the throne, even gave him his robe and armor, a sign of his replacing Jonathan, but it was love that motivated Jonathan. He saw the spirit of David and the Spirit in David and made a covenant with him of friendship. God is showing us that He is behind the development of David into the leader He has chosen to lead Israel.

Jealousy? Don’t be a Saul, be a Jonathan. It is not by strength that one prevails, but by trust in Yahweh, the living God.