Surviving
the Javelins of Jealousy
I Sam. 18:10-16; 19:9,
10
Intro: Song of Solomon 8:6
says “Jealousy is cruel as the grave…” In our text verse, we discover some
interesting facts.
1. Saul kept his hand on his
javelin.
2. David kept his hand on his job.
3. You can’t do a job properly with
a javelin in your hand.
4. Javelins of jealousy are usually
thrown at those doing a job.
5. Jealousy is not always the little
people against the big people. (the king hated the boy)
Question:
What is your hand buried in? Your
working or your warring?
Let’s
notice three ways to survive the javelins of jealousy. We have all no doubt been victims of
jealousy, and will probably be so again, so let’s see what we can do to make it
through.
I. Recognizing
Jealousy
A. An Ungrateful Malice – 18:8, 15,
29, 19:8, Proverbs 6:34, 35 David did
Saul’s job by killing Goliath, yet Saul hated him. David behaved himself wisely in all his ways,
yet Saul hated him. He did double what
was asked of him in 18:27, yet Saul hated him. A jealous person cannot be
pleased, consoled, impressed or satisfied.
You can do nothing to make them happy.
B. An Uneasy Mind – 18:9 – Saul eyed
David from that day and forward. – no rest
C. An Uncivilized Manner – 18:11 –
he always wanted to nail David’s hide to the wall
D. An Ulterior Motive – 18:17, 18:25
- every kind deed has a wicked purpose behind it
E. An Unreasonable Mind – 20:30-33
Saul’s rebuke was crazy. And then he tried to kill his own son.
II. Responding
Justly
A. He didn’t hang around – 18:11,
19:10 – slipped/avoided out of his presence
B. He didn’t back up – his back was
against the wall; you can walk away without backing up
C. He didn’t ignore Saul – he kept
his eyes on him when he was around for his own safety
D. He didn’t stop killing
Philistines – even though he knew it made Saul hate him even more
E. He didn’t stop loving his
tormenter’s children – he had a covenant to keep loving
F. He didn’t run his mouth about his
tormenter and tell everybody that Saul was jealous of him
G. He didn’t put his hands on his
tormenter. – 24:6 “Recompense to no man evil for evil.” Rom.
F. He didn’t defend himself to Saul
and to others – he let others do it – I Sam. 19:5
III. Reaping
Joyfully
- Matthew 5:10-12
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed
are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all
manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be
exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they
the prophets which were before you.
- Philippians 1:28,
29 And in nothing terrified by your
adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of
salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of
Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
- 1 Peter 3:14 And who is he that will harm you, if ye
be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for
righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their
terror, neither be troubled;
Conclusion: When you recognize
jealousy, respond justly and reap joyfully. If God be for us, who can be
against us??
