David & Jonathan & Saul

Pride and Envy

I told Janice, after Nate came to work on the car. We had spent thirty minutes doing a task that I thought would take three hours. My son said, “I could’ve done that in my driveway.” Yes, it was quick, and yes he could’ve done it in his driveway. But actually, he couldn’t.

Not to brag, but there were 2 bolts that had to come out. They had been in that car since it left the factory in 2009. They had gone through thousands of heat up/cool down cycles, they were rusted, and they were in there tight. If my son had tried to take those out on his own, he would have broken one of them off and it would have been a 4 hour job.

How do I know that? Because I was once 28, I once had more muscle than thinking power, I once was of the belief that I could do anything, and - and this is most important: I didn’t know then what I know now.

You see, I’ve broken off plenty of bolts. And spent most of a day trying to clean up the mess that that caused. But I’ve learned, in 59 years: technique, tools, and patience.

Tools: lubrication, P B blaster.

Technique: slow, small, incremental turns, time between turns.

Patience: Don’t hurry- you’ve got all day, but you don’t have to use it.

If Nate had tried that in his driveway,I guarantee he would have broken off a bolt and it would have ended up in my driveway before it was over.

Years ago, I made some unfortunate mistakes- but typical, of younger pastors. I was fortunate to have come into ministry in a time when many were not. The church was in that place where younger pastors were becoming fewer, and second career and multi career pastors were becoming the norm.

In my first appointment, it was part-time, and I give that church full credit. They treated me well, but they kept me humble. Very humble.

The next place, not so much. It was still a student pastorate, but they began to praise my preaching- and I began to believe it. If I would’ve been smart, I would have known that they were just glad to have a preacher in his 20’s because the 3 before me were in their 60’s and 70’s! But I began to believe it.

By the time I was moved to my real full time first pastorate,, this is what it looked like: 2 diverse churches. Completely different. But I was able to relate to both. And they loved that. And they told me so. I could preach, I could play piano, We were starting a family, I could do it all- and they told me so. And I believed it.

I began preaching at a holiness camp in the area, and I was invited back multiple years consecutively. And all of those people told me how great it was. I actually had a lady in one of the churches who owned a florist shop and she would send my wife flowers every year at camp time.

And I believed it.

The likelihood, in retrospect, is as follows:

I wasn’t that great of a preacher, but both churches wanted me to believe they loved it bacause actually they were competing with each other for the time and affection of a pastor they shared. There, I said it. I didn’t really relate to both- well, yeah I did- but that’s beside the point.

I didn’t play the piano well, but if I played it solved the problem of finding someone who could really play- and they didn’t have to pay me anymore so lousy music was acceptable.

Most congregations love children, and I won’t knock that, because they really did love my family. I know they did. But all of the “atta-boys” I thought were for me were probably really for my wife and 4 little kids who were cute and made everyone there feel a little younger!

The holiness camp wasn’t quite as impressed as I thought- but it solved their problem of finding a preacher because it really was a problem to find someone to come preach in the middle of nowhere every year.

But I believed it when they said what they said, and I believed it when they asked me again, and I put on my humility costume to not let them think I believed it- but under all that stuff, I actually was saying, “You know Joel, you may actually be that good.”

And the problem with that is- like the car with the rusty bolts- eventually all of your inexperience and lack of wisdom will eventually lead you to break something, and again, you’ll spend all of the day- or perhaps all of your life! trying to clean up the mess.

And so, let’s look at this scripture for a minute.

1 Samuel 18:1–11 (ESV)

1 As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

Context: David had just slain the giant. look at 1 Samuel 17 for a minute, and understand the dilemma

Goliath the philistine intimidating all of Israel.

David, the youngest son with the three oldest sons who had years of fighting training and experience; They were hand chosen by King Saul who also had years of experience!

And David, the young shepherd, walks out to the battle to deliver lunch. The war cry is being made by both armies. DAvid, in ignorance, runs to the battle line, and he hears the philistine challenge again and again.

And all of Israel’s army , including David’s older, experienced, trained brothers run. Read the story , they run!

But they speak long enough to say, in David’s hearing, that, the person who could win this battle against this Philistine giant would be given money, would be given the King’s daughter in marriage, and would have all of their family’s debts and taxes forgiven. A real deal.

But David’s response reveals that none of that mattered to him: He asks, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

And while all of you are thinking that the battle that was won was against a Philistine, actually, the battle that was won was won before a single stone was thrown. I believe.

David’s concern was God and God’s people- not enriching himself. Who is this philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?

Look at David’s statement in the story: 1 Samuel 17.44-47

1 Samuel 17:44–47 (ESV)

44 The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.”

45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,

47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.”

You see, David understood at a very early age, the very basic, necessary knowledge that is usually learned across decades of time: This battle is the Lords, not my own. Everything depends on God, not on me, my sling, my stones, my armor my whatever. This is up to God, and I can count on him.

Back to our original story.....

2 And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house.

Saul honored David.

3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.

4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.

This is so very important becauseJonathan had all of this coming to him- but he gave it to David and didn’t blink an eye.

5 And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

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?”

this verse is so very important, because it tells us a great deal about David- he didn’t hardly recognize a problem. But Saul did. He saw his kingdom slipping from his hand.

9 And Saul eyed David from that day on.

Envy, jealousy, hatred, plotting, planning.

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.

Irony. David’s playing the flute in Saul’s presence to soothe the king. And the more he played, the more unsoothing it became.

And he had a spear.

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

Envy erupts. Throw the spear. Kill the man. Destroy the problem.

David was loved by Joanthan, Saul’s son. So much so that he was given all that the king’s son would have been eligible to recieve. By the son, Jonathan!!!

We know now, that even though Jonathan had every right to the crown, David would be the next king!

And yet, their friendship stood the test of time, treachery, and intimidation by King Saul.

Honor was bestowed on David by Saul at the outset, and Jonathan didn’t blink an eye. But the minute that the people loved David- Saul’s splinter in his eye turned into a Sequoia tree.

It is worth noting three things at this time:

First, the people sang about David- not David’s God. This is very important.

Second, David put no stock in their words. He didn’t change, he didn’t ask for more, he didn’t relish it- He just remained David.

Third, and though not most important it is critical to the message of this scripture: While David put no stock in their words- King Saul did. And his soul was filled with envy , jealousy, and hatred for the praise that David was recieving.

That Brings me to my bottom line:

Godly Humility Cannot Reside With Human Pride

Proverbs 27:21 ESV

21 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise.

Think about this. David was tested. If you follow the story through, David became popular more and more across time. But he never changed.

Saul, on the other hand, went bananas with envy.

Godly Humility Cannot Reside With Human Pride