It All Starts With Pride and Arrogance

# 268 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 19:7 Then Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all these things. So Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as in times past. 8 And there was war again; and David went out and fought with the Philistines, and struck them with a mighty blow, and they fled from him. 9 Now the distressing spirit from the LORD came upon Saul as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing music with his hand. 10 Then Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away from Saul's presence; and he drove the spear into the wall. So David fled and escaped that night. (1 Sam 19:7-10) Jonathan had no reason to doubt the sincerity of his father's promise to not kill David and so he tells him that the coast is clear. Nonetheless, he accompanies David on his return to Saul, perhaps as a way to show his father that he and David were good friends. David resumes his old duty of armor bearer for the king and things seem to be going well. But then war breaks out with the Philistines again and David is sent out to the battle and once again returns victorious. Bad news for David because this awakes the old spirit of jealousy and envy in Saul. This distressing spirit that came from the Lord was God's judgment against Saul for his pride and arrogance. If you think about Saul's reaction to David's successes, it makes perfect sense. When a man is prideful, the spirit of envy and jealousy are not far away. Just consider the power of these two emotions. If left uncontrolled they will veto all other sane and reasonable actions. They consume the one that they control, and they often can think of nothing else but freeing themselves from the presence of the one who is causing their envy and jealousy. The news reports are rife with victims of jealousy and envy. Not all escape the spear as David did. And it starts with pride and arrogance. When you feel yourself struggling with envy or jealousy, the best thing to do is get a good dose of humility. I know of only one place to find true humility and that is at the foot of the cross