The Game of Thrones- Israel’s Experience with Human Kings”
“A House Divided”
In the darkest hours of the Civil War President Abraham Lincoln quoted Jesus when he said: “A house divided cannot stand.”
This morning we are returning to our series of messages under the theme: “The Game of Thrones: Israel’s Experience with Human Kings.” A House Divided.
King Saul has been consumed by jealousy over David’s popularity. This jealousy turned to hatred fueling his desire to kill David, creating a deep personal dilemma for Jonathan who had to choose loyalty to his Father, or his best friend David.
The Lord had withdrawn His favor because of Saul's disobedient and unrepentant heart. And although Saul's behavior may be extreme, isn’t it generally true that when we are no longer following God's will for our lives, we start to experience a general lack of peace and joy?
Throughout I Samuel we have watched the tragic unraveling of Saul’s life and his kingship. He was anointed as king so that he could be blessed by God and thus be a blessing to others. His constant acts of disobedience to the word of God resulted in a forfeiture of those blessings.
We know that David entered the king's service as a harpist, to relieve Saul's troubled mind. David had won a great victory for the king over Goliath and the Philistines. But our chapter starts with Saul issuing orders for his son Jonathan and all his attendants to kill David. Why?
At first it appeared as though David was to have nothing but honor. The king obeyed his good impulse, and gave the young hero high promotion among his officers, with the evident approval of the soldiers and all the people. But a black cloud of jealousy soon gathered.
I Samuel 18:5-9
All too quickly Saul's admiration of David has turned to anger to jealousy, which led to hatred. This is the same situation that Cain had with his brother Abel. Jealousy turned to rage and Cain, even when warned by God, killed his brother. And so we find (read I Samuel 18:10 b)
“…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.”
It was the unanimous love of the people for David that drove a wedge between him and King Saul.
I Samuel 18:27b-29
“….Saul gave David his daughter Michal in marriage. When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, Saul became more afraid of him and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.”
I Samuel 19:9b, 10,11 (read)
The real problem with jealousy is that it so hard to contain. Once it takes hold of us, it becomes an all-absorbing passion, and sadly, all too often, it can lead to actions we later regret. Certainly that was the case with Saul. The very next day – just as we read in chapter 19 – he tries to pin David to the wall. But David escapes with the help of his wife Michal, who lets him down on a rope. She then delays the soldiers long enough for David to get away. David flees to Ramah, to the house of Samuel, the great prophet who led Israel for many years and who anointed him as king.
Jealousy
There is a fable of an eagle which could out fly another, and the other didn’t like it. The latter saw a sportsman one day, and said to him:
"I wish you would bring down that eagle." The sportsman replied that he would if he only
had some feathers to put into the arrow. So the eagle pulled one out of his wing. The arrow
was shot, but didn’t quite reach the rival eagle; it was flying too high. The envious eagle
pulled out more feathers, and kept pulling them out until he lost so many that he couldn’t fly,
and then the sportsman turned around and killed him. My friend, if you are jealous, the only
man you can hurt is yourself.”
Why do you suppose many people allow jealousy to hinder their relationships, spiritual growth or ministry? The Jews became infuriated with jealousy toward Paul and Barnabas when they preached that God’s blessings were now available to all Gentiles. Quickly, the Jews whipped up antagonistic opposition against Paul and Barnabas. Luke wrote, "When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul and were blaspheming." (Acts 13:45)
I’m sure you remember what happened to Joseph because his brothers were jealous over a multi colored coat given to Joseph by his father Jacob.
They were so jealous they wanted to kill him and almost did…. had it not been for a caravan of Ishmaelites passing through the region on their way to Egypt. The oldest brother, Reuben, convinced the others that rather than kill Joseph they should sell him into slavery- they could be rid of him and at the same time make some money as well.
The wrong of jealousy wreaked its havoc again as the plot was carried out and an extra lie was added to tell father that a wild beast had killed Joseph and all that was left was his blood stained robe handed to a shocked and devastated dad.
This time murder was avoided but it wasn’t when Cain killed his brother Abel because God preferred Abel’s sacrifice over Cain’s (Gen.4); and all of us know what happened when the prodigal son came home and the Father had a feast for his return. The older brother was so jealous that anger and resentment raged within him as he told his father in no uncertain terms:
“…all these years I serve you and behave myself and you never throw a big party for me but then this son of yours (not my brother mind you) this son of yours goes out and lives like a tramp and you kill the fatted calf for him.” Luke 15:29
What Is Jealousy?
Jealousy is a painful or resentful desire for another's advantages. It means to envy or covet what someone else has. The word more often refers to anxiety which comes when we are afraid that the affections of a loved one might be lost to a rival. Jealousy creates destructive behavior.
There is a distinction between jealousy and envy. To envy is to want something which belongs to another person. "You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, his wife or his servant, his ox or donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor." In contrast, jealousy is the fear that something which we possess will be taken away by another person. Jealousy can apply to our jobs, our possessions, or our reputations, our spouse. King Saul became jealous because he knew he was losing personal glory, adulation and ultimately his kingship.
Do you consider yourself a jealous person? I know that most of us would respond immediately and say, "Oh no, not
me...I am not a jealous person at all. Let's see for a moment if you are a jealous person:
Are you bothered when someone else receives more attention than you?
Do you rejoice in the successes of other people?
Do you struggle with being second, rather than being first?
For example have you ever said:
1. "Why don't I get to sing as much as so-
and-so sings...?"
2. "Why didn't they ask me to teach this
year?"
3. "Why can’t I work in the nursery?”
4. “Why can’t we use the new building?”
You know, pettiness is so ungodly, especially when clothed in spiritual terms... "You know I love him, but can you believe...?" Calling someone to pray for you and then
dumping your junk on them about someone else. Jealousy destroys relationships. If there was jealousy between Pastor Hues and myself it would destroy the ministry here at Redeemer. It has split churches before.
Jealousy, when not dealt with, turns into an abiding bitterness that has the power to destroy. This is what has happened in the life of Cain, King Saul and the Pharisees against Jesus.
Paul wrote, "Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud." (I Cor. 13:4)
I Samuel 19:1, 4-6, 8 David was victorious again. Saul’s jealousy was aroused. He became angry and “…while David was playing the harp and Saul was sitting in his house with a spear in his hand….Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear…but David made good his escape.”
Jonathan tried reconciliation again…but it failed. Listen to this conversation between King Saul and his son Jonathan:
I Samuel 20:30-33
It was only when repeated failure reconciliation attempts proved impossible that Johnathan abandoned it and told his best friend David to “run”. Run for your life.
As I have suggested already, this whole story reveals the destructive power of jealousy. Jealousy is a sin. It ranks, according to Paul, alongside the more obvious sins like sexual immorality and pleasure-seeking. Why? Because it destroys relationships. It is like a poison that no matter how much we try and contain eventually seeps out and radically affects our behavior towards others. Jealousy, you see, is too dangerous to be left unchecked.
When people in the 1st century left the pagan worship of idols and stepped into the Christian community, accepting Jesus as their Savior they needed to know what behaviors, what habits should be different. What habits, what behaviors must they give up? Paul gives the answer in Galatians 5:16,19-21. (read) Jealousy is in the list.
It was the reason why Joseph's brothers plotted to kill him and sold him as a slave. It was the reason why, as our gospel reading tells us, the Pharisees decided to do away with Jesus.
Rather than letting us simmer in our sins, Jesus Christ, God's Son, was born into this world. For the next 33 years, His life was dedicated to saving us. You and I fall into temptation, but Jesus resisted every enticement to sin. This He did for us. You and I regularly break God's commandments. We lust, we covet, we lie, we disobey, we disrespect those in authority, and yes there are times that jealousy has come into our hearts.
We certainly don't give God the praise which is His due. We sinners don't demonstrate perfect “love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness faithfulness, gentleness and self control…” Jesus did, so that we might be saved, Jesus did those things for us. He knew that you and I are going to die someday. He also knew that sad certainty was not what our Creator wanted for us. So we might be spared the terror of eternal death Jesus allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross where He died our death. With His blood He washed away our sins. With His blood and with His resurrection He assures those who believe on Him as Savior that they are no longer condemned. They are forgiven; they are free; they are welcomed back into the Father's family of faith.
The very first Christian sermon ever preached was delivered on Pentecost, the day the church was born. Some sinful souls asked the disciples, "What must we do to be saved?" and Peter, speaking for the Savior, answered: "Repent, believe, be baptized, be saved."
That is the message I share today. All we have to do is admit that you cannot by your own reason or strength set your life right with God. Then, with a broken and contrite heart that believe that Jesus removed your sin at the cross of Jesus. Who alone can forgive and move you from hell to heaven, from damnation to salvation. No one but Jesus. No one but Jesus.
