1 Samuel 18

1 Samuel 18

Morgan - And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.—1 Sam. 18.9 Saul became suspicious and jealous of David. The reason is given later (verse 12): "Saul was afraid of David, because Jehovah was with him, and was departed from Saul." This is an inexpressibly sad and tragic story. This man was set aside from a position of trust, through his own sin, and now was filled with hatred of the man who was called to assume the position, and fulfil the responsibilities from whichhe had been rejected. The processes of sin are terrible indeed. Out of the first act, others inevitably grow, until the whole nature becomes corrupted. Saul stooped to the basest acts in his hatred of David, and sought every method to rid himself of the man whom he considered his rival. In all this, we see the blindness which results from sin. Saul seems to have had no consciousness that in his persecution of David he was still fighting against God. Here we need to watch and pray. If through our failure, the Divine discipline operates, we deepen our sin by fighting against it. Our true attitude should be that of accepting it, and yielding to it. What a different story would that of Saul have been if he had submitted to the chastisement of God, and received David as the appointed king! Through such acquiescence in the chastening of, the Lord the soul may be restored to fulness of life. Even though the opportunity of some special service is lost for ever through disobedience, the life of fellowship may be restored and maintained; and in some other way God may still make use of those who, thus having failed, are yet responsive to the deepest intentions of His discipline. (Borrow Life applications from every chapter of the Bible) The Remedy for Jealousy So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. 1 Samuel 18:9 nlt Today's Scripture & Insight: 1 Samuel 18:5–15 I gladly agreed to babysit my grandkids while their parents went out for the evening. After hugs, I asked the boys what they did over the weekend. (Both had separate adventures.) Bridger, age three, recounted breathlessly how he got to stay overnight with his aunt and uncle—and he had ice cream and rode a carousel and watched a movie! Next it was five-year-old Samuel’s turn. When asked what he did, he said, “Camping.” “Did you have fun?” I asked. “Not so much,” he answered forlornly. Samuel experienced the age-old feeling of jealousy. He forgot how much fun he had camping with his dad when he heard his brother excitedly tell about his weekend. All of us can fall prey to jealousy. King Saul gave in to the green-eyed monster of jealousy when the praise David received exceeded his: “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!” (1 Sam. 18:7 nlt). Saul was outraged and “from that time on . . . kept a jealous eye on David” (v. 9 nlt). He was so incensed he tried to kill David! Lord, You have given us life and the promise of life eternal if we trust in You as our Savior. For that—and so many other blessings—we give You praise! The remedy for jealousy is thankfulness to God. 1 Samuel 18:10 Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, as usual; and a spear was in Saul's hand. KJV 1 Samuel 18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand. NET 1 Samuel 18:10 The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul and he prophesied within his house. Now David was playing the lyre that day. There was a spear in Saul's hand, CSB 1 Samuel 18:10 The next day an evil spirit sent from God took control of Saul, and he began to rave inside the palace. David was playing the lyre as usual, but Saul was holding a spear, ESV 1 Samuel 18:10 The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. NIV 1 Samuel 18:10 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 NLT 1 Samuel 18:10 The very next day a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand, NRS 1 Samuel 18:10 The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand; NJB 1 Samuel 18:10 The following day, an evil spirit from God seized on Saul and he fell into a frenzy while he was indoors. David played the harp as on other occasions; Saul had a spear in his hand. NAB 1 Samuel 18:10 (The next day an evil spirit from God came over Saul, and he raged in his house. David was in attendance, playing the harp as at other times, while Saul was holding his spear. YLT 1 Samuel 18:10 And it cometh to pass, on the morrow, that the spirit of sadness from God prospereth over Saul, and he prophesieth in the midst of the house, and David is playing with his hand, as day by day, and the javelin is in the hand of Saul, evil spirit: 1Sa 16:14-15 1Sa 19:9 1Sa 26:19 and he prophesied: {Wyyithnabbai,} rather, "and he pretended to prophesy; for the verb is in {Hithpael,} the signification of which conjugation is not only reflex action, but also affectation of the action: Jer 29:26, 27. 1Sa 19:24 1Ki 18:29 22:12,20-23 Jer 28:2-4,11 Zec 13:2-5 Ac 16:16 2Th 2:11 played: 1Sa 16:16,23 and there was: {Wehachanith beyad Shaool,} rather, "and the javelin was in the hand of Saul;" for the javelin or spear was the emblem of regal authority; and kings had it always in their hand, as may be seen represented on ancient monuments. In ancient times, says Justin, kings used a spear instead of a sceptre. 1 Samuel 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 1 Samuel 16:14-15 Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD terrorized him. Saul’s servants then said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrorizing you. 1 Samuel 19:9 (Now there was an evil spirit from the LORD on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, and David was playing the harp with his hand. THE RETURN OF THE EVIL SPIRIT Now it came about on the next day - What day would this be? The day after Saul began to watch David like a "green eyed monster". That an evil (troubling, annoying, harmful) spirit from God came mightily upon Saul - Note the description of this return visit by the evil spirit adds came mightily upon Saul. NET says the evil spirit "rushed upon" Saul. NJB = "seized on Saul." The sequence appears to be significant - first Saul grew jealous of David and THEN the evil spirit came rushing in on Saul's heart and mind. and he raved (naba - same word used in 1Sa 19:20, 21, 23, 24+) in the midst of the house - Raved is the same verb for prophesy. "and he pretended to prophesy; for the verb is in {Hithpael,} Depending on the context "to prophesy" can refer to anything from the frenzied ecstaticism of a false prophet (which would seem to be the case in this passage) to the cold sober proclamation of God's judgment by an Amos or an Isaiah. Saul was controlled by the evil spirit (we are not saying he was possessed but he was manipulated or controlled) and the result of his root of jealousy and fermentation by the evil spirit was the fruit of raving. NIV and NET translate it as Saul was prophesying. Clearly he was not speaking the future, but as MacArthur (borrow) says "Saul's speeches in the midst of the house were the ravings of one troubled by an evil spirit like other false prophets (cf. 1Ki 22:19-23)." TSK on raved suggests "The meaning seems to be, that Saul, influenced by the evil spirit, feigned to be prophesying, the better to conceal his murderous intentions, and to render David unsuspicious. Reformation Study Bible - Ecstatic experiences could be caused by God's Spirit (1Sa 10:6, 15), but also by evil spirits or false prophets (1Ki 18:29). while David was playing the harp with his hand, as usual - What a contrast, evil spirit controlled Saul raving and Spirit filled David playing the harp! and a spear was in Saul's hand - Saul is preparing again to make a point! Saul had lost control and about to made a play with his spear.