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Saul now began to hate
David. Why? Because he was jealous of him, for he thought the
people loved David more than they loved himself. After the battle
and the victory, when Saul and all his people were going home, the women
came out to meet them; and they sang, and played, and danced, and shouted
for joy. They sang, "Saul has slain his thousands, but David
his ten thousands." This made the king very angry. He
thought they gave very little honor to him, and a great deal of honor to
David, and that they loved David best, and would make him king. So
Saul grew very jealous, and looked unkindly at David; though David had
done no wrong. Jealousy is a very great sin. We ought to be
glad to see good people honored and loved. It is very wrong to want
to have all the praise ourselves, and to feel angry when others are
praised. We ought to ask God to take jealousy and selfishness out of
our hearts. The next day,
the evil spirit came into Saul again; and David took his harp and began to
play, and tried to quiet him. But David's harp did not take away
Saul's passion now. Saul had a spear in his hand, and he tried to
throw it at David while he played: but David turned away, and the
spear passed without hurting him. When Saul saw that God was David's
friend, he was afraid; he could not kill David, but he sent him away,
because he did not like to see him. He made David captain over the
soldiers; and they all loved him, and the people loved him; and God loved
him too, and kept him wherever he went. David conquered and killed
many of the Philistines. Saul hoped he would be slain in battle; but
God brought him back safely. David
married Michal, Saul's daughter, and she loved him; but Saul hated him
more and more, and tried again to kill him, and commanded Jonathan and all
his servants to put David to death. Jonathan was much frightened to
hear this command, and he went to David, and said, "My father seeketh
to kill thee; go now and hide, and I will talk to my father about thee,
and tell thee what he says." So David went and hid himself, and
Jonathan went home to Saul, and began to talk to him. Jonathan spoke
very gently and respectfully to his father, for he honored him, as his
father and his king. He said, "Do not sin against David; do not
slay him; for he is very good, and never hurt nor disobeyed thee.
Remember how bravely he fought the Philistines, and conquered the great
giant. Thou didst rejoice in what he did then, why wilt thou slay
him now?" Saul attended to Jonathan, and promised not to slay
David, so Jonathan called his friend, and brought him back. Jonathan
did great good, because he was kind and gentle. Solomon says,
"A soft answer turneth away wrath." Proverbs 25:1.
Jonathan turned away his father's wrath by so softness and
gentleness. When people are angry and passionate, we should try to
speak kindly and affectionately to them; we ought to tell them that anger
and passion are very sinful, but we must tell them so gently, not
angrily. And we should pray God to turn away their wrath, because He
along has power to quiet sinful passions. Try to be like Jonathan;
kind, and affectionate, and humble, as he was.
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