May 16- The Green Monster

May 16, 2011

Scripture Readings:
I Samuel 18:5-19:24; John 8:31-59;
Psalm 112:1-10; Proverbs 15:12-14

Jealousy is a tiger that tears not only its prey, but also its own raging heart.
~Anonymous

I Samuel 18:5-19:24

Jealousy is a toxic thing in a person's life.  To be jealous of another is to covet what that person has or who that person is.  Coveting someone's looks, position, or possessions is forbidden in the Ten Commandments.  Today, we see that King Saul is overtaken with jealousy when David succeeds in defeating Goliath and becoming a national hero.  When the women of Israel sing and dance that Saul has killed his thousands and David his ten thousands, it is more than the prideful king can bare. His rage explodes.

With a jealous eye on David, Saul is tormented once more with an evil spirit and begins raving like a madman.  David plays his harp in order to calm Saul down.  Saul hurls a spear at David in order to pin him to the wall in death.  David escapes. The people of Israel grow in their admiration of David as he succeeds in all that he does.  Saul attempts to cause his death by requiring 100 Philistine foreskins as a bride price for his daughter.  In humility David declines Saul's first offer to become his son-in-law with Saul's first daughter, but eventually agrees to marry Michal, Saul's younger daughter.  The bride price is the same. David has no problem with this.  He once again succeeds in battle against the Philistines, acquires the necessary foreskins, and ends up marrying Saul's daughter, Michal.

Saul tries to convince his son, Jonathan, and his servant to assassinate David.  Jonathan warns David.  Jonathan attempts to talk his father out of trying to kill David. But the story reveals that Saul attempts several more assassinations against David.

These passages give us new insight into the psalms that David composed in the book of Psalms.  You can see how justified David was in crying out to the Lord for the help.  David was fighting the green monster.  David was fighting Saul's jealousy. We see that in his trials, David humbly seeks God's help.  He never lashes out at God in anger over his trials and suffering.  David is a man after God's own heart.  It is no wonder that God chooses David to be the man from whom Jesus Christ will descend.

David has the heart of a musician and his music reflects his zeal for the Lord.  He is quite the Renaissance man.  He is a warrior, leader, musician, shepherd, and athlete.  He is also a loyal servant to Saul.  The tragic life situation that causes constant conflict and fear for his own life creates great sorrow and misery for David. David is a man of sorrows.  No wonder he wrote a song that states, "The Lord is close to those whose hearts are breaking."

God allowed David to go through this horrible suffering.  Why do you think the Lord allowed this?  Do you see David's need to rely solely on God to survive?  Name some evidence of David's strong faith as seen in the book of 1 Samuel and in the book of Psalms. How can you be like David in your own life?

John 8:31-59

"You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  Have you experienced the reality of this famous statement by Jesus?  The truth in our lives about Christ brings us eternal life, but further yet, truth in all things is the first step to learning to cope with reality in your life.  We must be honest with ourselves and with God about the good, the bad, and the ugly in our lives. 

If we can handle the truth in our lives, we can rely on God to make it through.  Avoiding truth, whether that truth is about abuse, betrayal, our own sin and shortcomings, or our pain, leads to a mountain of trouble.  Facing the truth is the first step to freedom.  Jesus had it right!

Jesus emphasizes that if the Son has not set you free from your sin, you are still a slave to sin.  Slaves are not part of a family.  They are outside the circle of inheritance.  If Jesus has saved you from being a slave to sin, then you have become part of God's family.  You are in line to inherit His Kingdom!

Jesus accuses the religious leaders of being children of the Devil, rather than children of God.  They are in a different family. Jesus' argument is that if they were truly children of God, like Abraham was, then they would believe in Jesus.   They then accuse Jesus of being a Samaritan Devil.  He rebukes them and reminds them that whoever obeys him (Jesus) will never die. 

This angers them further.  Jesus claims that Abraham looked forward to Jesus' coming to earth and when he saw it, he was glad.  They retort that Jesus is not even fifty years old, so how could Abraham see him?  Jesus says that the truth is that he (Jesus) existed before Abraham was even born.  At this point, they try to stone him, but Jesus eludes them.

Are you surprised at Jesus' bold and radical teaching?  He is firm about his deity.  He is firm that only he can give eternal life to people.  He is firm that Abraham is alive.  What do you think of this?

Psalm 112:1-10

This psalm indicates that if you fear the Lord, you will experience happiness.  Fearing the Lord leads to living in His truth.  Jesus indicated that His truth sets you free from sin, so this psalm makes perfect sense.

Proverbs 15:12-14

Mockers don't like to be rebuked.  A broken heart crushes the spirit.  A wise person is hungry for truth, but fools like to feed on trash.

What did you notice?  And, what do you think?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal

Kathy Fullerton
© 2011