NEGATIVE REACTIONS

1 Samuel 18:6-10

This afternoon I would like to preach a message from the life of Saul and one of the great lessons that his poor example gives to us nevertheless. We are always needing all of God’s Word and there are lessons throughout. If we we will be tender hearted, focused, and patient, there is something in there for us.

Of course, Saul was the first king of Israel, we just looked at his life a few weeks ago in our studies on the kings of Israel on Wednesday nights.

How we react in life matters.

If you think about interrelation problems you have observed or you have been a part of - they were usually involving miscommunications or the wrong kind of reaction.

Obviously there are times when there is wicked intent involved, but usually it is a misunderstanding and even over reaction.

So we, as mature believers and as people seeking to grow as mature believers, we are shooting to not react negatively. Saul failed greatly in this area.

What set him off is found in

1 Samuel 18:6–7 AV

And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

I. The Danger of Recognition

People have a way of becoming what you encourage them to be—not what you nag them to be.

Nobody has ever been bored by someone paying them a compliment.

It's amazing how much can be accomplished when we quit worrying about who gets the credit.

— Complete Book of Zingers, The

Praise is a real danger for people.

Not when given, but when received.

We have a temptation of allowing the recognition and appreciation of people ultimately – praise, turn into a self-centered and self-

II. The Danger of Resentment

Sin, in however obscure a form, is absolute hindrance to prayer. One cherished evil habit can make it impossible for the soul to see God. A spirit of jealousy or of un-forgiveness will completely shut out the Power and Presence of God.

A grudge, a bitterness, a desire for retaliation—will break the wings of faith and hush the cry of real prayer.

A callous conscience concerning some unpaid bill, or act of restitution, has turned aside the incoming tide of blessing and grace from many a soul.

It is pathetic to hear poured forth on all sides, hundreds of prayers to which God is unable, by the very nature of things, to respond—prayers full of agony, of desire, prayers for the choicest gifts of God to bestow, prayers offered in the Name of Jesus and based upon His own Word, but which God cannot answer—because the way is blocked in the soul of the man who prays.

Of what use would is faith be to a soul which is concerned and focused with how someone has slighted them and their grievances?

If our chief thought was is always about self, our rights, our position, or our recognition, we have a problem.

The common prayer-cry is, "Fill me, and lift me up!"

The Divine answer is very often: "Be emptied and go down!"

—Thomas Hogben Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations: Signs of the Times.

1 Samuel 18:9 AV

And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

Proverbs 23:6 AV

Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:

· This is what we call the evil eye. Not just anger towards someone, but a continued selfwill of hatred and resentment to someone a felling of rancor.

When one can be happy and pleased in life with whatever they are doing until the one who is the object of their grief, discouragement, or anger comes in.

It can be the result of some error committed; some offense committed against them; it can be because of a misinterpreted gesture, or a misjudgment of motive.

But the results are the same:

o The person cannot control their attitude

o They cannot concentrate on their tasks

o They stew in their depression

o They often hurt other relationships as well

A. We never have a right to hold grudges

Saul certainly felt that he had a right and excuse, but he didn’t and we never do either.

James 5:9 AV

Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

B. We always hurt ourselves when we harbor bitterness

Hebrews 12:15 AV

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

The bitterness that

C. We become forgetful of our purposes

Whatever the hardship, hurt, or problem, when it becomes resentful or bitter, that is our focus and not what God wants for our lives.

Saul certainly was consumed with his bitterness for David rather than leading his country. He chased David around the wilderness rather than preparing for the Philistines.

Job 23:2 AV

Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

Psalm 31:9 AV

Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.

D. We war against God, not the person which we are embittered toward

Bitterness casts aside our care for God and settles upon ourselves, and our will and rights.

The person we are embittered towards doesn’t often know it. We fight a battle that is hurting God along with us.

Acts 8:23 AV

For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

III. The Danger of Retribution

The retribution I am talking about is the retribution from the Lord. He is a just God and will work on our behalf for good. I am talking about our retribution.

A. Conviction

In this case, Saul, received and evil spirit from the Lord.

Now this evil spirit from the Lord should not be confused with the devil nor with a sinful spirit.

The best way to show it is to say it is a spirit to afflict him to turn him back to God in repentance and faith.

It is a spirit of conviction that should cause you to draw closer to God.

But for Saul, because of his hard heart, because of his bitterness, because of his resentment, this evil spirit from God caused him to go even farther from God.

What does God’s punishment cause you to do?

B. Confusion

When the Bible says that he “prophesied in the house” it means he was speaking in way that no one else was understanding.

Perhaps Saul was complaining and mumbling to himself. He was so irate, that no one could even understand him. He was likely ashamed to share with anyone else at this point the reason for his displeasure.

Jonah 4:4 AV

Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?

Jonah 4:9 AV

And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.

Anger makes more fools out of us than we know. We think that it makes us tough, it makes us intimidating, it makes us strong, but it usually makes us a fool.

C. Chastisement

Let’s look at Hebrews 12:5-8

Hebrews 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Hebrews 12:11 AV

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

God will do what is necessary to get you right, it is best just not hold grudges.

IV. The Dangerous Results

One can end up doing something they never imagined. Something that was seemingly impossible is not real.

In 1 Samuel 18:10-11 Saul decided to cast a Javelin at David.

It says that David fled the presence of Saul twice

David went through what many of us have gone through. He went from being royally recruited by a happy king and others who seemed to love him because of what he had to offer to, to being hated and mistreated by those who recruited him in the first place.

A man that was once the hero of Israel, the humblest of men who had been anointed the 1st king of Israel - now as a result of all the wrong reactions in life is brought down to having a testimony of poor character.

Think about this - Saul did not commit adultery! Saul did not murder someone to save face like David did. Saul is not shown to have worshipped false idols.

No - instead, due to his negative reactions ended up make poor decisions and ended up in a desperate situation of no hope.

Next week we will look at positive reactions and contrast these things and see how to respond to respond in these areas and more in God honoring way!