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2 Timothy 3:16-17 says that all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. Such is the purpose of the Scriptures. As an aside, it is ironic that these verses speak of works instead of faith. Perhaps our faith in God is the presumption here, but even so, in that context, with faith comes works.
Anyway, the Bible speaks of a divide between Heaven and earth. That which is good is attributed to Heaven, and everything else is attributed to the earth. The earth is Satan’s domain, and there has been forever a conflict between God and Satan concerning man’s soul. The Bible teaches us what is good, that we may gain favor with the Lord.
Which brings us to jealousy. Jealousy is a state of being that God has reserved for Himself, telling us He is jealous when people turn to other gods. He excludes man from jealousy. So, jealousy in the hands of man is an earthly state of being, along with turning to other gods, that in and of itself is unlikely to gain entry for us into Heaven. As far as jealousy among people is concerned, James warns us in 3:14-16 that “if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”
Saul is a Biblical illustration of jealousy in action. In Saul’s time were the Philistines who constantly harassed the Hebrews in their armed forays against them. In one of such skirmishes, David kills Goliath and thus is well-regarded by Saul. Saul’s son Jonathan takes to David, and David and Jonathan bond with eachother in a manner that males can bond under God. It’s something akin to brotherly love, though they’re not brothers.
Saul and David, in each of their separate battles against the Philistines, gain some notoriety, but not in the way that Saul favors. A song is made up among the women that goes, in 1 Samuel 18:7, “Saul has struck down his thousands, And David his ten thousands.” Saul gets jealous because David, in the song, is credited with killing more Philistines than Saul, even though rightfully so. Through much of First Samuel, Saul tries to kill David out of jealousy, but David eludes him with help, partially from Jonathan.
Where does God stand in this rivalry? Well, before David became an issue for Saul, God in 1 Samuel 15:1-3 tells Saul to strike down the people of Amalek for harassing the Hebrews as they journeyed from Egypt to the Promised Land. Saul, for whatever reason, instead becomes enchanted with Amalek with their goods and wares, and he lets them live. This made God angry. So, between Saul who did not strike down Amalek, and David who ‘slew his ten-thousands’ of the enemy, God in His way has sided with David. Eventually, Saul in 1 Samuel 28:15-19 is told by Samuel’s ghost that Saul will die during a battle with the Philistines because he did not strike down Amalek. This comes to pass in 1 Samuel 31:4, as he dies by taking his sword from his armor-bearer, whom he ordered to kill him as the Philistines were closing in on him.
Saul’s jealousy for David, which arose in part because Saul did not follow through in killing the people of Amalek, surely took Saul’s time away from things like containing the Philistines since he seemed more obsessed with killing David out of jealousy then he was in maintaining his sovereign household against the Philistines. It is the motive of God that those who have faith in Him live long and prosper. The Philistines stood in the way, and Saul was more dead set against David than he was against the Philistines. Add to that his leniency toward Amalek, and it’s not hard to understand how he ends up in the doghouse as far as God is concerned. Whether he ends up in God’s House is another matter.
Anyway, the Bible speaks of a divide between Heaven and earth. That which is good is attributed to Heaven, and everything else is attributed to the earth. The earth is Satan’s domain, and there has been forever a conflict between God and Satan concerning man’s soul. The Bible teaches us what is good, that we may gain favor with the Lord.
Which brings us to jealousy. Jealousy is a state of being that God has reserved for Himself, telling us He is jealous when people turn to other gods. He excludes man from jealousy. So, jealousy in the hands of man is an earthly state of being, along with turning to other gods, that in and of itself is unlikely to gain entry for us into Heaven. As far as jealousy among people is concerned, James warns us in 3:14-16 that “if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”
Saul is a Biblical illustration of jealousy in action. In Saul’s time were the Philistines who constantly harassed the Hebrews in their armed forays against them. In one of such skirmishes, David kills Goliath and thus is well-regarded by Saul. Saul’s son Jonathan takes to David, and David and Jonathan bond with eachother in a manner that males can bond under God. It’s something akin to brotherly love, though they’re not brothers.
Saul and David, in each of their separate battles against the Philistines, gain some notoriety, but not in the way that Saul favors. A song is made up among the women that goes, in 1 Samuel 18:7, “Saul has struck down his thousands, And David his ten thousands.” Saul gets jealous because David, in the song, is credited with killing more Philistines than Saul, even though rightfully so. Through much of First Samuel, Saul tries to kill David out of jealousy, but David eludes him with help, partially from Jonathan.
Where does God stand in this rivalry? Well, before David became an issue for Saul, God in 1 Samuel 15:1-3 tells Saul to strike down the people of Amalek for harassing the Hebrews as they journeyed from Egypt to the Promised Land. Saul, for whatever reason, instead becomes enchanted with Amalek with their goods and wares, and he lets them live. This made God angry. So, between Saul who did not strike down Amalek, and David who ‘slew his ten-thousands’ of the enemy, God in His way has sided with David. Eventually, Saul in 1 Samuel 28:15-19 is told by Samuel’s ghost that Saul will die during a battle with the Philistines because he did not strike down Amalek. This comes to pass in 1 Samuel 31:4, as he dies by taking his sword from his armor-bearer, whom he ordered to kill him as the Philistines were closing in on him.
Saul’s jealousy for David, which arose in part because Saul did not follow through in killing the people of Amalek, surely took Saul’s time away from things like containing the Philistines since he seemed more obsessed with killing David out of jealousy then he was in maintaining his sovereign household against the Philistines. It is the motive of God that those who have faith in Him live long and prosper. The Philistines stood in the way, and Saul was more dead set against David than he was against the Philistines. Add to that his leniency toward Amalek, and it’s not hard to understand how he ends up in the doghouse as far as God is concerned. Whether he ends up in God’s House is another matter.
