1 Samuel 18:6-16--Saul's Jealousy of David

1 Samuel 18:6-16
English Standard Version

Saul's Jealousy of David
6 As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. 7 And the women sang to one another as they celebrated,

“Saul has struck down his thousands,
    and David his ten thousands.”

8 And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 And Saul eyed David from that day on.

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. 11 And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.

12 Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul. 13 So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. 14 And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him. 15 And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

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This contents of today's passage should come as no surprise to those who have been following along with us, as I've been hinting at both the popularity and notoriety of David increasing and the issue that Saul has with jealousy and wanting all the praises, adorations and accolades for himself.  We even saw this with Saul when Jonathan won a great victory, but Saul took the credit for it.  He was hoping the same would happen with David and that David would win great victories for him, but that somehow the people would praise Saul for the victories.  It didn't happen that way as the people seem to come up with a son after all of David's victories over the Philistines--"Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his tens of thousands."  The women were singing this as David came back victorious from battle, playing tambourines and dancing in celebration.  When Saul saw this he was angry and displeased (he was jealous that David was getting honor, recognition, and attention that he wanted for himself).  He is much more important that just the "thousands" ascribed to him in their song because he is also their king.  He doesn't think it right that one of his servants (though David is in charge of the armies of Israel now) should get more credit and recognition than the king--even if it's probably true that the LORD has granted David more success in a shorter period of time.

We then see the green-eyed-monster of jealousy rear it's ugly head as the passage tells us that, "Saul eyed David from that day on."  None of this was David's fault.  It wouldn't be right for David to intentionally lose the battles, nor does David take credit for the victories (this is most likely why David is having more success as Saul even wanted to take credit away from the LORD Himself).  David has always given the credit to his success to the LORD.  David is also not responsible for the songs of the people.  This is not one of David's psalms that he wrote.  It's not like he was handing out sheet music to everyone telling them what to sing as he entered the city and giving them instructions "Make sure Saul hears you."  No, this is just a natural part of the celebration of many victories over the Philistines, but now you combine this information with what Saul knows about the Spirit of the LORD leaving him, Samuel telling him that the LORD will replace him as king with another, and the victory that the LORD gave to David over Goliath and Saul seems to be putting the pieces together that David might possibly be a threat to Saul if Saul is not willing to step down as king to make way for David.  The LORD's choice seems to be becoming more and more clear and even the people seem to be supporting that choice, and Saul seems to fear that David might start a coup and take the throne by force (because that's what Saul would do).

Saul will no longer be soothed by David's music when David plays the lyre for Saul and instead the evil spirit within Saul tries to take the opportunity to hurl a spear at David and try to pin him to the wall or kill him.  David actually evaded Saul twice and was able to escape.

It was no longer safe for David to live in the palace and Saul no longer wanted him there.  Where Saul originally wanted to keep David close to him so that he could experience the blessings that the LORD was pouring out on David, now David is too close to the levers of power and the throne for Saul's comfort--especially with David's influence over the military.  So, Saul sends David away and publicly demoted David so that he now only commanded 1,000 men in the army (Saul was reasonably sure that he had more men that would support him in the army and was only counting heads and not considering "If God is for us, who can be against us?."  It would not matter the size of Saul's army or David's army if the LORD was on David's side and not on Saul's side.).  Even in his demoted role, David still had great success, and Saul will remain afraid of David and the people continued to love David and they treated him at least like a prince and it was because of the victories that the LORD gave to David that the people felt safe to come and go as they pleased, for their was peace and safety everywhere in the land thanks to David and his men being given victory over the Philistines.