Dealing with the ‘Jealousy’ Virus

I Samuel 18:6-9; 28 & 29

When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. ⁷ As they danced, they sang:

“Saul has slain his thousands and David his tens of thousands.”

Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” ⁹ And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.

In the previous chapter, David has just returned from killing Israel’s enemy, Goliath. The entire nation was thrilled at this victory. The Lord has once again helped his people.

I Samuel 18 is a victory march. People were out on the streets – with various instruments making music and singing, they were rejoicing, dancing and celebrating for what the Lord had done.

The women came and sang “Saul has killed his thousands, but David his ten thousands” This enraged King Saul. They have credited him with ‘thousands’ and this young David with ‘ten thousands’

At that moment, Saul became jealous of David and he remained his enemy the rest of his life (vs. 29). Even though David had done Saul no harm, Saul chose to be an enemy of David – until his dying day. So many times, he tried to kill David but the Lord was with him.

Saul felt insecure. And insecurity often manifests itself as jealousy.

Jealousy isn’t always a bad thing. We read that God is a jealous God. (Exo. 34:14) He will not share His glory with anything or anyone.

Jealousy is a normal human reaction. It is natural to feel jealous from time to time. Jealousy becomes problematic when it becomes persistent or when it starts to consume you and “creeps into every aspect of your life” and when we eventually begin to “act out in jealousy.”

Saul and David were in the same army; but because David was getting more credit, thus Saul began to hate David.

Jealousy acts like a virus. It is unseen but its presence can be felt. It creates a sense of low self-esteem, hatred, suspicion, fear, guilt and anger. It manifests in resentment and hostility that spoils your peace and effects your relationships.

It was jealousy that caused Cain to kill Abel. It was jealousy that caused Sarah to push Hagar out of her house. It was jealousy that caused Joseph’s brother’s to sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites.

Jealousy deeply affected the relationship between Saul and David too. He tried to kill David on number of occasions but the Lord was with him. Jealousy ultimately destroyed King Saul.

David, a man after God’s own heart, did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. His descendants reigned in Israel.  

Do you struggle with ‘jealousy’? Are you envious of others? Is it creeping into your life and destroying you silently?

Phil. 2:3,4 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

“Take care of jealousy before jealousy destroys you”