1 Samuel 18:6-9 - Managing self-centredness and jealousy

Both Jonathan and his father, Saul, were impacted by David’s triumph over Goliath, one positively and the other negatively. In one a deeper friendship was forged, and the other jealousy and hatred were engendered. How did Saul's hatred for David begin? These verses take us to the scene where David first returned from the battle with Goliath. After such a victory, doubtless to say he was the man of the hour. His popularity grew and his name was on every lip. Verses 6-7 tell us that women came out of all the cities of Israel singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. And as they rejoiced, they sounded out a glorious chorus in unison, saying “Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands.”

If Saul had not taken those ladies’ words too personally, he would have appreciated what the ladies were singing about. But he took it a tad too personally and he became jealous about it. He read the chorus as ascribing to David more honor than him. His self-centredness took a better of him. So he could not rejoice with David. If only he had dismissed it as just an occasion for rejoicing, it would not have affected him. But he allowed his negative interpretation of the song to swirl in his mind till it ate him up. Before long, his jealousy turned into hatred and hostility. Had Jonathan been the one who was jealous, we could understand. For he was David’s contemporary and rival for the leadership. But why Saul? Why such needless envy? From that day, everything Saul saw concerning David, he viewed it with the eye of jealousy. His view of  David became distorted through that negative lens of self-centredness. Hence, since that victory celebration, Saul eyed David with suspicion.

How can we prevent the spirit of jealousy from consuming us?  Remember, each one of us has our own success story to tell. The fact is that life is not always about us. There will always be moments of victory or defeat, both for us and for others. So we must take the New Testament’s admonition to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. For when we do that, we leave no room for envy and jealousy to develop. We need to be sensitive to God. With that, every experience we have can become a God moment for us. If we appropriate it rightly, we will certainly grow in godliness. Life’s journey will certainly be more meaningful!