Bible Study: When Bitterness and Envy Find Strongholds in Our Hearts-Part 1

For Part 2 Click Here!


Bible Study: When Bitterness and Envy Find Strongholds in Our Hearts-Part 1
 
 
1 Samuel 22:6-19 (KJV)
6 When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;)
7 Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;
8 That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
10 And he enquired of the Lord for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
11 Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.
12 And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.
13 And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?
15 Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.
16 And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.
17 And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the Lord: because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the Lord.
18 And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.
19 And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
 
 
Saul’s Envy
 
In this section of the scripture we find Saul (the current chosen king of God’s people) so bitter and jelous that He is willing to wipeout the whole city of Nob which were God’s priests. They killed men, women, children, babies, animals, and livestock. Why would Saul fall to such evil deeds such as these?
 

• Even though it was disobedience of God’s instructions that truly turned God against Saul, his jelousy and resentment worsened matters. God had given up on King Saul by this point not because of God’s lack of grace, but because He knew Saul would never humble himself before Him to repent. Saul’s wickedness had taken root and drove him to commit sins he would have never even considered just a few years before this moment. Saul even consulted a witch (medium), something highly forbidden by Mosiac Law.
• Saul was viewed as the over-confident and arrogant type who God warned Israel about when they requested a king. He was to arrogant for orders or repentance, which costed him dearly in the end. 

Can I ask, What is it that you despise today? What kindles your anger so much that you find  yourself “acting out of character” without even really noticing?

Often times in our jealousy we make a joke out of ourselves. I am sure Saul felt that way when David snuck up on him in a cave and cut off a piece of his garment without Saul knowing. I am sure it was also embarrassing for David to steal the king’s spear and canteen that was right by his head even with all those guards around.

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What embarrassing things have happened to you in a state of jealousy or anger?

​Saul continued on in his sinful mindset until it eventually cost his as well as his son’s lives. Don’t let jealousy and envy get that far in your life. Do not let it take root to build a stronghold. God can break that cycle when you forgive your fellow brothers and sisters. Praise God that we are sometimes given multiple chances to get our hearts right. Unfortunately, Saul chose his own fleshly desires over God’s which would cause his kingdom, position, family, and life to be taken from him. That was a big price to pay for the jealousy of a small, shepherd, harp-player like David. Don’t let jealousy, anger, or resentment drive you to a spiritual grave as it drove Saul to a physical grave!


1 Samuel 31 (KJV)
31 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.
2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchishua, Saul's sons.
3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.
4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.
7 And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
8 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.
9 And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people.
10 And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.
11 And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;
12 All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.
13 And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
 
 
For Part 2 Click Here!