1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

74 Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 2007 Editionpersonal jealousy that took root in Saul's mind and led to his downfall. 227 While David'sactions pleased the people (v. 5), they displeased the king (v. 8). The problem was Saul'sdesire to be popular with the people more than being popular with God. Contrast humbleJohn the Baptist who wanted Jesus to receive more honor than himself (John 1:26-27;3:30).Saul's first direct attempt to kill David 18:10-16The evil spirit from the Lord (cf. 16:4, whatever it was) afflicted Saul the very next day.David and Saul each had something in their hand. David held a harp with which hesought to help the king by playing soothing music. Saul held a spear with which hesought to harm his helper. The writer stated the reason Saul attempted to pin David to thewall clearly in verse 12. God was with David, and He had withdrawn from Saul (cf. v.14).Saul's unchecked jealousy bred the symptoms of paranoia; he began to think that his mostloyal subject was his mortal enemy. Contrast Jonathan's implicit confidence in David.The difference was that Saul saw David as a threat to his security whereas Jonathan sawhim as the savior of God's people. 228"The writer H. G. Wells says of one of his strange characters, Mr. Polly,'He was not so much a human being as a civil war.' 229 I think that is aperfect description of Saul. He became a living civil war, miserable,possessed of an evil spirit, mentally breaking, a suspicious, angry, jealousman. As a result, he struck out against the most trusted and trustworthyservant in his camp—David." 230Next Saul sent David out from the palace, evidently so he would not be a constantaggravation to the king. Saul placed David, whom he had already appointed as hiscommander-in-chief (v. 5), over a large unit of soldiers in the field (v. 13). 231 However,Saul's decision only gave David more exposure to the people and increased his popularitywith them. When Saul observed what was happening, he dreaded David even more (v.15), but the people of both Israel and Judah loved him even more (v. 16; cf. vv. 1, 3, 20).God was causing the wrath of Saul to praise Him, to contribute toward the fulfillment ofHis plans. Verses 13 through 16 set the growing approval of the people and the mountingdisapproval of Saul in vivid contrast.227 The women's song did not intend to insult Saul. It is typical Hebrew parallelism in which both heroesreceived honor for slaying multitudes of Israel's enemies albeit David received the higher commendation.228 For a very interesting comparison of Saul, David, and Absalom, that emphasizes David's submissiveresponses to his enemy's attacks, see Gene Edwards, A Tale of Three Kings.229 H. G. Wells, The History of Mr. Polly, p. 5.230 Swindoll, p. 60.231 The Hebrew word eleph can mean either 1,000 or a military unit.