A Person After God’s Own Heart: Session 3 – The Devil’s Wisdom

Notes:

The Devil’s Wisdom    See Session Slides Here

  • 1 Sam.18:1-4. Saul is a picture of the flesh – ‘not Your will, but mine!’
  • David was a man after God’s own heart. He wants what God wants.
  • ‘And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt’ (1 Sam.18:4), acknowledging that David would one day take his place. ‘I must decrease; He (the Spirit) must increase’. This is the prayer and desire of the spiritual Christian.
  • In contrast, Saul was happy for David to be in his army so long as he increased his fame. This is like the carnal Christian who wants God in their life so He can be used to get them what they want (flesh).

1 Sam.18:5-6. David fought Saul’s battles and greatly succeeded. He was becoming great and God was the architect of it. God made him great. He always gave glory to God for his victory. He wanted Him to be glorified.

1 Sam.18:7-9. Saul was angry that David was praised. Envy took control of him until it consumed him.

Jealousy (Gk. zelos) can be good or bad. 6 out of 9 times in NT it is good. E.g. 1 Cor.12:31. Zelos is a strong passion that admires the good it sees in others and wants that for self. So far, so good.

Envy (Gk. phthonos) is always bad. Envy resents what the other has. Envy is jealousy which has arrived at a place of hostility. It feeds upon the ruin of others. This is the devil’s wisdom. Jas.3:14-15

  • Envy was the original sin (Is.14:12-14). His counsel teaches the way to happiness is to be jealous of, and covet what another has, and devise a scheme to take it from them.
  • It is a STD (spiritually transmitted disease). The devil’s wisdom. It was the original sin on earth.

Envy is like a boomerang. It comes back to kill us. It did to Lucifer and Adam and Eve. ‘For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there’ (James 3:16). It would do the same for Saul.

  • First it led to fear (1 Sam.18:12). Then attempted murder (1 Sam.18:10-11).
  • Then he turned an unconditional promise into a conditional promise (1 Sam.18:17).
  • Then broke his word and gave Michal to another man (1 Sam.18:20-21).
  • Then tried to set him up for his own death (1 Sam.18:25).
  • Another attempt to kill him (1 Sam.19:8-10).
  • 1 Sam.19:11-17, Saul was now no longer secretive. He openly told Jonathan and his leaders his plan to kill David
  • David had no other option than to go into exile. He even pursued him in the wilderness.
  • Saul remained David’s enemy until the day he died.
  • Envy is toxic. See James 3:16; Prov.27:4; Song.8:6; Prov.14:30.

Jas.3:17-18; Phil.2:5-11. The wisdom from above seeks only the glory of God and the good of others. But how could David remain faithful and continue fighting the Lord’s battles?

  • He knew he was beloved. He knew he was anointed and called, and one day he would ascend the throne.
  • He committed his cause to God. Psalm 59. See the introduction.
  • God gave him wisdom from above.
  • The Lord was with David, and Saul wasn’t allowed to harm him (1 Sam.18:12. 1 Sam.18:14. 1 Sam.18:28).
  • David didn’t need to scheme or manipulate, just trust God. Faith is living without scheming.
  • Saul became more afraid of David because God was with him, (1 Sam.18:29).
  • Saul sent David out to battle to be killed. But David won all his battles. This made him more popular.
  • 1 Sam.19:18-24. Even Saul’s soldiers and Saul himself become prophets. God fights flesh with Spirit.
  • Every time Saul tries to get control it backfires.

Summary: David would defeat the Lord’s enemies, consolidate the kingdom and gather the materials needed for the temple. He would write the psalms for the priests and design musical instruments played in worship. It was through David that Messiah would come.