For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Saul sent soldiers to watch David’s house in order to kill him. To be sung to the tune “Do Not Destroy!”
This is the introduction to Psalm 59. I recommend to read it as a prayer this morning.
A Psalm of praise to God in the midst of being hunted down and being in fear of even life itself.
David knew that his best defensive weapon was to pour out his heart before the Lord and look to Him for strength, and, to even sing praise when in danger.
But what of King Saul?
At the end of Saul's life David was to cry "How are the mighty fallen"! 2 Samuel 1:27
Saul was indeed anointed and chosen by God to be Israel's first king 1 Samuel 10:1. So what had sneaked into his heart that turned him into a murdering mad man, possessed by jealousy?
The beginning of Saul's decline came when he only partly obeyed God's command to destroy the enemy. He kept some of the spoils of battle, thinking he knew better.
1 Samuel 15:13-14 So Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you of the Lord. I have carried out the command of the Lord.” But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?”
Then when David came heroically on the scene and the women sang "Saul has killed thousands but David tens of thousands in battle"[1 Samuel 18:7], jealousy sprang up in his heart. It grew and grew until it became a murderous desire to destroy David.
We have to guard our own hearts against jealousy and envy lest it poison our walk with Jesus.
There will always be people who are better than we are at our jobs or more gifted in some talent and the trap is to become envious of each other.
If satan can't get you to turn away from Jesus, he will seek to destroy you from the inside with petty jealousies.
Often a family, set of friends or a local fellowship can be a place where subtle seeds of envy thrive. Then relationships are demolished and huge chasms appear that separate and alienate.
What's the answer? Be like David, look to the Lord for strength. Put those kinds of conflict into His Hands.
Psalm 59:9-10 AMPC
O my Strength, I will watch and give heed to You and sing praises; for God is my Defence, my Protector and High Tower. My God in His mercy and steadfast love will meet me; God will let me look triumphantly on my enemies, those who lie in wait for me.
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