So, from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.
1 Samuel 18:9
Jealousy
- resentment against a rival, a person enjoying success or advantage, etc., or against another’s success or advantage itself.
- mental uneasiness from suspicion or fear of rivalry, unfaithfulness.
- vigilance in maintaining or guarding something.
Jealous is dangerous to our entire being, mind, body, soul, and spirit. (See verses at the end of the post.)
A jealous eye:
- Misdirects our focus
So, from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.
1 Samuel 18:9 - Changes our reactions and responses
And he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice.
1 Samuel 18:11 - Leads to fear and paranoia
Saul was then afraid of David, for the LORD was with David and had turned away from Saul.
1 Samuel 18:12 - Leaves us in a constant state of tension
Saul became even more afraid of him, and he remained David’s enemy for the rest of his life.
1 Samuel 18:29
Change my focus: The right eye is contentment
- Trust the LORD who guards you with boundaries
LORD, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance!
Psalm 16:5-6 - Bless the Lord who created those boundaries
I will bless the LORD who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.
Psalm 16:7 - Seek the Lord, not the person who has something you want.
Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:31-33 (ESV) - Do the right thing and expect good things.
For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.
Psalm 84:11
Do I walk toward or away from something that is fearful.
Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him,
1 Samuel 17:41
What kind of eye do I have?
P.S.
From an earlier teaching this year.
The Bible says jealousy can cause health problems, unrest, and confusion. And that we should get rid of it.
- A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones.
Proverbs 14:30 (AMPC) - For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices.
James 3:16 (AMPC) - Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another.
Galatians 5:26 (AMPC) - So be done with every trace of wickedness (depravity, malignity) and all deceit and insincerity (pretense, hypocrisy) and grudges (envy, jealousy) and slander and evil speaking of every kind.
1 Peter 2:1 (AMPC)
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