Seeking His Heart
Meanwhile… back to David.
We last left David standing victoriously over the slain Goliath. David has another giant to overcome—Saul’s jealousy.
Now at first, Saul was delighted with David. For the first time, he truly paid attention to David. Apparently, when David had come to play the harp and soothe Saul’s troubled soul, Saul didn’t notice or even know the harp player’s name. When David was going out to meet Goliath, Saul questioned Abner, commander of his army.
“Abner, whose son is that young man?” I Samuel 17:55
This “nobody” soon became a “somebody.”
Whatever Saul sent him to do, David did it so successfully that Saul gave him a high rank in his army. This pleased all the people, and Saul’s officers as well. I Samuel 18:5
The women, who gathered to greet the men when they came home from battle, soon changed their song lyrics. As they danced they sang:
“Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” I Samuel 18:7
This little ditty did not escape Saul’s notice. How dare these women elevate David above the king himself!
Saul was very angry: this refrain galled him… And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. I Samuel 18:8, 9
These two emotions—anger and jealousy—will inevitably produce negative action.
… while David was playing the harp, as he usually did, Saul had a spear in his hand and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin him to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. I Samuel 18:10, 11
We see how that anger and jealousy led to rage. When David managed to escape the strike of the spear, another emotion surfaced in Saul—fear. What is at the heart of Saul’s fear?
Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had left Saul. I Samuel 18:12
Ah, the lesson for us. Without the Spirit of God in us, we succumb to all those attributes of Satan—anger, jealousy, fear. We may have times of weariness, discouragement, or anxiety, but deep in our spirit, we know we have God’s spirit of hope within us—lessons I have internalized in this past month. It behooves us to keep our branches connected to our main vine, Jesus Christ. As we are strengthened daily, we can endure and find rest in Him when the tough times come.
On a personal note, (speaking of tough times) I had to change what I had written. Just today, we had to take my mother back to the hospital via ambulance. Congestive heart failure again. I’m scheduled for knee replacement surgery this next Monday. I would appreciate your prayer support as we try to discern God’s will and His timing in all this. Thank you, friends.
~ Joyce ~
Bless your heart, Joyce. Praying for discernment, peace of mind, and healing.
Just the things I need! Thank you, Diana.
Praying for you, Joyce.
Thanks, Bobbie Sue, and for being a faithful reader.
Joyce…Praying for all of you…Love you bunches
Thanks, Raenell. I feel the support of all those prayers.
Over the years I have read your stories and one thing you often said “we must put our trust in Christ” in all situations. You have been a good role model for me. Barb
I’m glad that admonition has come through in my writings. May I follow it faithfully. Thanks, Barb.
May our God above wrap his living arms around you!!!
Thank you, Harry. He often uses people like you to do just that.
Prayers lifted for you & your mom! I’m sure you’ll be pleased with your surgery!
I hope so, Mary. Thanks.