After defeating Goliath, David was taken to Saul…still holding Goliath’s head in his hands. That is bold, and I love it so much. When David was allowed to speak with Saul, Jonathan (Saul’s son) was there too and loved David as much as himself…let’s read it.
As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine’s head. “Whose son are you, young man?” Saul asked him. David said, “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.” After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. Whatever Saul sent him to do, David did it so successfully that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the people, and Saul’s officers as well. When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes. As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. 1 Samuel 17:57 through 18:1-9
Isn’t it amazing that right after David’s own brother tried to shame him and send him away, accusing him of pride, David was taken to the palace by Saul, and not allowed to go home. He got there by God’s power, not his own. The favor of God rested so firmly on David that Saul’s own son fell in love with him, loving him as he loved himself. Which is the exact way we are instructed to love our neighbor, is it not?
What a beautiful climax to the story…but this story is barely beginning at this point.
It was almost immediately that Saul became jealous of David.
Friends, some of our open doors will have those who are jealous of our anointing on the other side. It’s not a real indicator of our own pride, but their corrupt hearts. There may be someone that opens a door for us, only to attempt to sabotage us on the other side. Let’s read on in this chapter…
The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand, and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had left Saul. 1 Samuel 18:10-12
Do you see that Saul was PROPHESYING when the evil spirit FROM GOD came upon him. This is unbelievable. He was prophesying…and the evil spirit came from God. This should shake all of us. There is so much more going on than we can imagine.
I have been through a very similar type of situation before. One day a door was open, I could feel God moving in that direction and knew where Holy Spirit was about to place me, then in a moment of sheer jealousy a person purposefully sabotaged me. Actually, two people…it was like a Jezebel and Ahab situation. One was dripping with a jealous spirit…I knew it wasn’t me, as I had watched that same person exhibit the jealousy toward anyone they felt was in their way…and they partnered with another in authority who just wanted space filled and couldn’t be bothered.
Friends, other people’s jealousy and sin isn’t your fault, and sometimes God is using it to move you to the exact place He wants you to be. We see it over and over again in scripture…remember Joseph? Moses? Jealousy has been around from the beginning, it’s what drove the devil to try to take the worship and praise meant from God…Let that sit on your spirit for a minute. We know where it originates, but God is gracious and works ALL things together for our good, wouldn’t you agree?
Breathe deep, relax and trust God to place you where He wants you to be.
365 Days in the Presence 