The Fruit of Saul's Jealousy Was Cruelty

Narrator: Chris Genthree
Duration: 2min
 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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"Saul eyed David," (but David was not jealous of King Saul). Saul became infuriated at the youth. Murder was in his heart as he cast his javelin at him. Then observing that "the Lord was with David" and that "all Israel loved David," Saul said, "Let the hand of the Philistines be upon him" to slay him!
"Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David," so Saul thought to use her to endanger David's life. Saul proposed that in order for David to become his son-in-law, David should provide 100 foreskins of the Philistines. David actually doubled the number (1 Sam. 18:2727Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife. (1 Samuel 18:27)). But "...Saul became David's enemy continually." David had won another great victory by slaying many of the Philistines, but instead of honoring David "...Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin" (1 Sam. 19:1010And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night. (1 Samuel 19:10)). When Saul saw that all his servants esteemed the name of David to be "precious" he commanded all his servants to kill David! (1 Sam. 18:3030Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by. (1 Samuel 18:30) and 19:1). "Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father." David was not the adversary, he was the target of Saul's cruel jealousy! "Saul also sent messengers to David's house... to slay him..."! He also "... sent messengers to... bring him... that... he might... slay him..." (1 Sam. 19:1515And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. (1 Samuel 19:15)). His unsuccessful efforts to slay David intensified his wrath and in 1 Sam. 19:2020And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. (1 Samuel 19:20) and 21 we see him sending more messengers, three times, and finally "... then went he also..." to slay David (1 Sam. 19:2222Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah. (1 Samuel 19:22)). Saul was so determined to slay David that he cast a javelin at HIS OWN SON, Jonathan, to smite him, when he sought to dissuade his father (1 Sam. 20:3333And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David. (1 Samuel 20:33)). How cruel jealousy is!