Spirit of Saul

1 Samuel 18:6-9

1 Samuel 18:6 - Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments.

1 Samuel 18:7 - So the women sang as they danced, and said:

“Saul has slain his thousands,

And David his ten thousands.”

1 Samuel 18:8 - Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?”

1 Samuel 18:9 - So Saul eyed David from that day forward.

As we read from our text today, Saul, David, and the armies of Israel had been in battle with the Philistines for a bit, and during the battle, Saul kills thousands of soldiers, but David kills tens of thousands. When they get back home, people are coming from near and far to see the soldiers return. They have heard about Saul slaying thousands of men, but they have also heard about David slaying tens of thousands of men. They recognize and praise David for his efforts, so what happens? Saul begins to get envious. He begins to get jealous, and in doing so, he develops an intent to harm David.

Have you ever felt that way? Let's say you have worked a job for so many years, but all of a sudden, a new person comes in, and out-works you. Soon they start getting more praise and recognition than you. After a while, they get a promotion that you have been working for since you started at the company. How does that make you feel? But you have worked this job for all these years! How could this happen?

You see, earlier Saul was anointed king of Israel. We read this in 1 Samuel Chapter 10.

1 Samuel 10:1 - Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said: “Is it not because the Lord has anointed you commander over His inheritance?

Saul was having a pretty nice experience at this point in his life. To be put in charge of all of the Lord's inheritance is a pretty big deal right? I'd say he was ecstatic.

But at some point he made a terrible mistake that cost him all of that, which brings me to my first point:

1. Saul's Disobedience: 1 Samuel 15

His mistake was not just a minor mistake, but it was a doozy! He disobeyed the Word of the Lord. God sent him and his army to the Amalekites to kill them. God plainly instructed them to kill every creature in the territory, but Saul decided to save the animals and later on make a sacrifice to God. But that is not what God instructed was it?

So the first symptom of knowing that you have a "Spirit of Saul" is disobedience to God and His will for your life.

1 Samuel 15:23 - For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.”

So this scripture explains disobedience to a "T".

You see, God will call you into a certain field of ministry, and you will proudly accept His call. Later on, you will notice others around you finding success in the same field, but you are still stuck in the same position that you were in since God called you into ministry.

You begin to say things such as:

I wish that was me!

Why can't I do that?

Why can't have that?

So you decided to take it up on yourself to start trying to create your own opportunities. You decide to make your own ways.

Why? Because the moment you said:

"I wish that was me, why can't I do that, why can't I have that", Satan slipped the Spirit of Saul upon you.

You used to enjoy seeing others get blessed, but since the "Spirit of Saul" attached itself to you, all you can think about is:

"Why can't that be happening to me?"

Come on! You all know what I'm talking about!

You see your best friend getting their breakthrough, but you're too concerned with them getting their breakthrough that you miss out on yours. You're missing out because the "Spirit of Saul" has fastened it's grip on you.

Saul's disobedience leads to my next point:

2. Saul's Jealousy of David: (OUR TEXT)

After Saul disobeyed God, God decided to send the Prophet Samuel to the house of Jessie to anoint a new king. We know the history behind all of this...

After Samuel anoints David, David is called upon to take supplies to his brothers who are in the Israeli military. He goes, and overheard the giant Goliath of Gath cursing God. David gets mad, takes him out with a smooth stone and a sling shot, beheads him, and is now considered a hero throughout all the land.

As we read from our text earlier, they face the Philistines once again. This time Saul kills thousands, but David kills tens of thousands. What happens? David gets all of the glory and praise throughout the land.

Saul gets jealous to the point that he begins to plan to hurt David, just as was mentioned earlier. He's had enough of being second to David. He's ready to get rid of him.

One thing leads to another, and later on, we find Saul chasing David in caves trying to kill him. David didn't understand why all of this was happening, but it was all because of Saul's jealousy.

You see, jealousy can cause us to do the unthinkable. It can cause us to hurt the ones around us. It can cause us to behave in ways that we would've never even thought of if the Spirit of Saul didn't attach itself to us.

But the saddest part of Saul's jealous condition is that David never even did anything for Saul to hate him. Every ounce of pain that Saul felt, every bit of the things he was facing, he brought upon himself.

He disobeyed God! Not David!

But because of the spirit of jealousy that was upon him, he couldn't see it.

When the "Spirit of Saul" attaches itself to us we don't realize it. We blame everyone but our self.

So the next symptom of the "Spirit of Saul" is jealousy.

This brings me to my third and final point:

3. Saul's Death: 1 Samuel 31:1-6

1 Samuel 31:1 - Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.

1 Samuel 31:2 - Then the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons.

1 Samuel 31:3 - The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers hit him, and he was severely wounded by the archers.

1 Samuel 31:4 - Then Saul said to his armorbearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and abuse me.” But his armorbearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it.

1 Samuel 31:5 - And when his armorbearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword, and died with him.

1 Samuel 31:6 - So Saul, his three sons, his armorbearer, and all his men died together that same day.

Finally, Saul's jealousy brought him to an end. His three sons, his armies, and himself were fighting against the Philistines, and they were taking a pretty hard beating.

The battle took Saul's three sons, and he was saddened. Then archers took him down, and he was in pain and misery.

This was all because of his jealousy, which began when he disobeyed God.

Can you think of a worse way to go?

Because of the pain and misery, he tried to get his armorbearer to finish him off, but he wouldn't. He was too afraid. So Saul fell upon his own sword and killed himself.

Conclusion:

Do you see where the "Spirit of Saul" can bring you? It can take your family, it can take your position, it can destroy your happiness, and it can bring you spiritual and physical death. We must take heed to this message if we want to encounter God more closely.

If you should recognize this spirit upon you, remember the you have the POWER of the HOLY GHOST! Remember you have the power to overcome in JESUS NAME! Remember that you have the power to overcome, and you CAN overcome.

Revelation 12:11 - And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

You see, we have the BLOOD OF JESUS applied to our lives, so we can overcome anything. Even the "Spirit of Saul".