| I was thinking about people and how changeable | | | | presence of God in your life, in their opinion, makes |
| they are. One minute you seem to receive love and | | | | them 'feel' less than you and so they seem to |
| affection from someone and the next time you | | | | position you above them yet they are smart enough |
| meet them, you don't even recognize it's the same | | | | to know you did nothing to earn this, it's a gift. |
| person. Have you ever wondered when you can't | | | | When Saul heard the praise of the women more so |
| think of one thing that you could have done or said | | | | for David and less for himself, in his mind he knew he |
| to cause a wedge between you, but somehow in | | | | had the authority to do something, in the natural |
| the atmosphere and in the spirit realm, you can feel | | | | realm, to bring the attention on David down to a |
| it? Some feelings transferred are so thick; it feels like | | | | lower level. He did this by banning him from his |
| you could cut them with a knife. | | | | presence and by demoting him to the rank of |
| In the book of Samuel, chapter 18, young David | | | | captain. Yet, it backfired on Saul. When David was |
| went before Goliath a giant and champion from the | | | | demoted, God elevated him in the public eye that |
| Philistine ranks, which challenged Israel, and in essence | | | | much more. How did God do this? He watched |
| challenged God. But God sent young David to defeat | | | | David's attitude when Saul kept persecuting him. And |
| him. King Saul ruled Israel at the time and approved | | | | in verse 15 it say's and David behaved himself wisely |
| of David fighting the giant. God gave David favor; he | | | | in all his ways; and the Lord was with him. In other |
| valiantly killed Goliath and as he was returning home | | | | words, the more Saul persecuted him the more God |
| from the slaughter something very typical to our | | | | rewarded him and the more the people loved him. |
| time happened. Women came out from all the towns | | | | I looked further into this to see why the people |
| along the way and joined in on the celebration of | | | | loved David so much. David was humble and he |
| victory by cheering, singing and dancing with joy. | | | | thought nothing of going out and coming in among |
| The lyrics from their songs zeroed in on the truth by | | | | the people. He didn't consider himself higher or more |
| confessing that King Saul had 'slain his thousands and | | | | important than the average person. The Bible warns |
| David his ten thousands.' Well, let's see, those words | | | | us to not esteem ourselves higher than we ought. |
| place a young, unknown man above a literal king ten | | | | As we look around there will always be someone |
| to one. Were these women trying to dig up trouble? | | | | greater than we are in some fashion. They will either |
| No. These women were rejoicing in a wonderful | | | | be better looking, or more educated, have a better |
| defeat, victorious win and singing about truth. What | | | | position, larger ministry, more popular, better orator, |
| could be so wrong with that? | | | | and more possessions. But one thing's interesting |
| King Saul reacted to the song and was very angry. | | | | about God. He has a habit of choosing leaders who |
| He kept an eye on David and began to concentrate | | | | have obvious weaknesses which stand out to others, |
| or watch him from that day forward. Actually by the | | | | as well as us. |
| next day things got worse and an evil spirit from | | | | Remember Paul and his thorn in the flesh? Oh, how |
| God came upon Saul, overwhelmed him and he began | | | | he hated this, some physical weakness, it appeared |
| to rave like a madman. David tried to soothe him by | | | | to be some defect around his eyes, that he felt took |
| playing the harp whenever the evil spirit would | | | | away, or detracted from his looks perhaps. He was |
| manifest through Saul. At times the music would | | | | concerned that people might reject him, not think of |
| seem to help calm Saul's spirit, but eventually he | | | | him as equal to themselves. The truth was this, most |
| would attempt to kill David. | | | | people who truly knew Paul, knew he was so gifted |
| Why would anyone react so violently to mere | | | | and chosen of God that they would have been |
| words? After all, isn't it expected that when people | | | | tempted to really have a greater problem with all of |
| do great things they should be rewarded with honor | | | | Paul's gifts, talents and favor, had they not been able |
| and thanks, even praise? Listen, when someone | | | | to zero in on his weakness, with their own eyes. |
| around us is receiving something that we believe | | | | They secretly used this malady to keep from hating |
| belongs to us; we are confronted with a choice. We | | | | him for all that God had bestowed and allowed to |
| have at that moment an opportunity to look deep | | | | come his way. |
| into our own heart and witness what's there. Except | | | | Interesting, what we sometimes think and pray to |
| for one great problem; envy is a spirit which remains | | | | God to please remove from us, is the one thing he's |
| hidden in the hearts of most humans. | | | | using that's actually working in our benefit, for our |
| Who was actually greater, King Saul or David? Well, | | | | good. It's not fun to be hated, especially when |
| Saul was king, not David. Saul found his identity in his | | | | you've done nothing, like David, to deserve it. Hatred |
| accomplishments and successes. Saul's reward in life | | | | comes directly from a jealousy spirit. |
| was hearing people rave about how wonderful he | | | | Pastor, have you looked at someone and wondered |
| was. David found his God as his reward; his joy came | | | | perhaps why God blessed them with an easier road |
| from serving not receiving. He enjoyed singing to | | | | than yours, or a greater ministry or gifts than you |
| God and playing his harp to soothe the nerves of | | | | have? Truthfully, you really don't know the price they |
| those who were tormented. David's music was laced | | | | pay to carry those talents for the Lord and his |
| with the Spirit of God and when he played, demon | | | | purpose in allowing the difference between you and |
| spirits had to leave, because they could not remain in | | | | them.. We have to trust that God knows exactly |
| the presence of God's Spirit. | | | | what he's doing. Our purpose is not to look and judge |
| In verse 11 the Bible tells that the spirit of jealousy | | | | these things, our purpose is to keep our eyes looking |
| uses those who receive it. It's a lethal demon whose | | | | straight on and take only the part he gave us and |
| main purpose is to kill, and destroy lives. King Saul | | | | run with it. That's the only part we'll be responsible |
| was so motivated by this spirit that he cast a javelin | | | | for in the end. |
| at David intending to kill him, but David jumped aside. | | | | Do we want to end up like David, or Saul? They |
| Interesting the Bible says Saul was afraid of him and | | | | were both sinners, but one refused the temptations |
| jealous. | | | | of the jealous spirit and he ended well, while the |
| How and why do fear and jealousy mix? When | | | | other gave into it and it took him out. It's our choice. |
| someone identifies that you carry the presence of | | | | God's looking at attitude. Do you want to be |
| God on you, even though in their mind they know it | | | | promoted? Be truly happy for others when it |
| came from God, and it's for a purpose, they may | | | | appears they have something you don't. Even pray |
| fight it. Everyone has a choice to either praise God | | | | for those that look like they have more than you, |
| that he's anointed others and given them certain | | | | like Job did his friends, and watch God move favor |
| talents and gifts, or they can choose to hate them | | | | into your arena, because he will. |
| for it. The reason they also fear you is because the | | | | |