The Results of Disobedience

MEMORY VERSE: “Everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.” —Proverbs 16:5,6

I SAMUEL 18:5-16

DAVID had already been anointed to succeed Saul as king of Israel. He had demonstrated his bravery and skill by slaying the giant Goliath, a Philistine. This led to the rout of the Philistine army which had been menacing Israel, and to the great popularity of David among the people of Israel. When he returned from the slaughter of the Philistines, “the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”

Saul became jealous of David, “and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?” Verse 10 states that an evil spirit from God came upon Saul. This does not imply that God puts evil thoughts and desires into the hearts of men. It was God’s providence in connection with David that led to Saul’s jealousy.

Later, Solomon wrote that jealousy is as cruel as the grave, and we have a manifestation of this in Saul’s attitude toward David. (Song of Solomon 8:6) In chapter 16, verse 14, we are told, according to the marginal translation, that the evil spirit terrified Saul. His servants suggested to him that he commission them to seek out a cunning harp player who could provide soothing music to calm his nerves. This was done, and David was the one selected. Later on, while Saul was “prophesying” probably in a very excited, if not enraged manner, David played the harp. Suddenly, and apparently without warning, he hurled his javelin at David in an attempt to pin him to the wall and destroy him. Twice Saul made this attempt, but David was able to keep out of the way of the javelin.

Saul then became afraid of David, and banished him from his house, but made him captain over a thousand men. David was now free to move about among the people, and because he conducted himself wisely his popularity among the people increased. Thus we have two examples before us. Saul, in his jealousy persecuting David, while David, in this unfavorable position did nothing to unnecessarily stir up further trouble. Certainly he did not endeavor to retaliate in any manner, but left himself in the hand of his God, believing that all things would work out well in the end.

One with an evil, jealous heart is incapable of understanding that the object of his hatred could be a different person than himself. In granting David freedom to move among the people Saul took for granted that this young man would say some foolish things that would be reported to him, and for which he could justify taking his life. But when David acted wisely, Saul became the more afraid of him.

Our memory verse is an appropriate one in connection with the lesson. It states that “by mercy and truth iniquity is purged.” This is in keeping with Paul’s admonition, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Rom. 12:21) David, who was a man after God’s own heart, could have combatted Saul’s evil efforts to destroy him with evil efforts of his own. Instead, he endeavored to win the battle “by mercy and truth.”

David did not succeed in purging the iniquity from Saul’s heart, but his proper reaction to Saul’s endeavors to harm him kept his own heart pure, and enabled him to continue putting his trust in the Lord. But Saul continued to persecute David, and it became necessary for him to flee for his life.

But David remained loyal to the Lord, and was determined that he would not take the punishment of Saul into his own hands, although he knew that he was to be Israel’s next king, and that Saul had been rejected by the Lord. David’s waiting on the Lord under these circumstances constitutes a good example for all the Lord’s people.

On one occasion David and his servant found Saul sleeping, and the servant proposed killing him since they had such a good opportunity. But David would not permit this —I Sam. 26:9,10

QUESTIONS

Explain the circumstances which caused Saul to be jealous of David.

How did David react to Saul’s persecution?

What is the practical lesson in these experiences for us?

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