The mind is a very strong influencer. It could make you feel like a snake is crawling up your leg, or like a very good friend has turned against you, or like an unexpected person loves or hates you. We will be reminded today of the very dangerous results of what David allowed to happen in his mind, and hopefully we will be encouraged in ways that might help us keep our minds pure. Stay with me as we study God’s Word!

DATE POSTED Thursday, 2021-10-28
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BY: Ed Algreen

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Samuel 18:6-9
TRANSLATION: Good News Translation (GNT)

BIBLE TEXT: 6 As David was returning after killing Goliath and as the soldiers were coming back home, women from every town in Israel came out to meet King Saul. They were singing joyful songs, dancing, and playing tambourines and lyres. 7 In their celebration the women sang, “Saul has killed thousands, but David tens of thousands.” 8 Saul did not like this, and he became very angry. He said, “For David they claim tens of thousands, but only thousands for me. They will be making him king next!” 9 And so he was jealous and suspicious of David from that day on.

APPLICATION: I found it interesting to read this chapter of 1 Samuel and see how Saul allowed his best warrior to become his worst enemy, at least in his mind. The first time he looked at David with jealousy and suspicion followed almost immediately after he thought that David was the best thing that ever happened to his army. In his mind, Saul let the words of a playful song from women along his path to the palace just gnaw at him into imagining things like:
a). The people prized David more than Saul – in the lyrics they sang of David killing ten times as many as Saul while in battle. This incident happened immediately after David killed Goliath, so there was absolutely no basis for Saul to get jealous. Looking in from the outside, it would appear like Saul should have been a proud king who had a very young man go out and single handedly kill what the Philistines prided as their most masterful warrior;
b). The people will soon elect David for their king – There was absolutely nothing mentioned in the story that could have cause Saul to jump to this conclusion. But because it became real to Saul in his mind, it gnawed at him and cause him to despise, and even hate David;
c). Saul feared for his life because of the success of David – There is no indication that David ever threatened Saul in any way, but in Saul’s mind the idea of David being recognized as a great warrior, caused Saul to become very frightened and he feared for his life, even without sensible basis;
Because Saul allowed all of the above to interfere with his peace of mind, he became a very angry man who started devising ways to attack, harm, destroy and just hurt David in any way possible.
So might we ever fall into the trap that Saul fell into? Of course we can. It happens all too frequently. Perhaps never to the extent that we may want to cause physical harm, but we know that mental anguish and revenge could very easily result in extreme bitterness.
But how do we protect our minds from becoming intertwined with the sort of bitterness that plagued Saul? Philippians 4:8 instructs believers to: think on those things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, and worthy of praise. If there is anything of excellence and worthy of praise, we are to think on these things. These are characteristics of our loving God, and we can develop and implement these as we feed on the Word daily. So when you start feeling like Saul, let me encourage you to dig a little deeper into the Word while yearning to be more like Jesus in everything He directs you to in His Word. Don’t leave any room for Satan to tempt you or bombard your mind with his lies and his hatred for anyone.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Greater is He that is in You, than he that is in the world. Overpower old Satan with a fresh bit of courage, wisdom and direction from God’s Holy Word! Seek God and all of His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you, child of God!

PRAYER: Thank You Lord Jesus for showing us what happens to our mind when we sit, sour and soak in the bad attitudes of Satan and his cohorts. That life is not for the child of God, but Lord we need You daily to help us stay focused on You and the many blessings that You bestow on Your children. Saul was a great warrior, but he allowed Satan to slip in and fill his mind with evil plans against a young man who respected him and fought hard for him. Lord, we desperately want others to see the love of Jesus in us, and we pray that they might hear Your call on their life. Please use us for Your good, and keep the evil one at bay at all times. AMEN!