Jealousy in Leadership - Saul and David
God was the sole Ruler over Israel but the people were desirous of having a king like the nations around them. The Prophet Samuel entreated the people not to reject God but they were adamant that they wanted an earthly ruler like the other nations. God decided to give them a king. The first king He selected was Saul because his physique would please the people.
God asked Samuel to install Saul although He knew that Saul was not a man after His own heart, He really needed someone after His own heart and that person was David. So, when David came into the picture as a young man, Saul was very unhappy, he didn't know that David would replace him but he was angered by David's popularity and the reason for David’s popularity.
David was popular because he trusted in the God of heaven. He was also popular because while the other Israelites were running up and down like scared rabbits because of the Philistines and especially Goliath, the little boy, David had confidence that God would deliver Goliath in his hands. 1 Samuel 17:4-11 tells us, “ And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.
6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.
7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.
10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
David went to Saul and asked that he be allowed to fight Goliath. There were much mocking and jeering but David confidently went against Goliath. He was going to fight Goliath not by his own power and might but because of the grace that God had bestowed upon him and the faith he had in God. Due to their dsperation they accepted David's proposal to fight Goliath and tried to dress David in their own war gears. David didn't accept this gear because he had no confidence in them.
He was confident in God, his sling and stones; so he took five stones and a sling.
Why did he take five? He took five because Goliath had four brothers. He had one for every brother. When Goliath saw David, he ridiculed him and asked if he was a dog that somebody should send this little boy against him. Goliath told David that he was going to give his flesh to the birds and wild beasts. David told him that while he was coming against him with a sword, spear and shield he, David, coming against him in the name of the Lord. David knew that instead of his body, in the name of the Lord he would take off the head of Goliath and the carcasses of the Philistines would be given to the fowl of the air and the wild beast of the earth. Then everyone would know that there is a True God in Israel. The Philistines were defeated because the power of God through David was working against them.
At the time of the battle Saul was somewhere cowering in fear while David was standing up as a little boy with a giant spirit before a human giant. When David sent forth the stone from the sling it went into the forehead of Goliath and he fell to the ground. David, who having no sword in his hands ran and stood upon the body of Goliath and took out his own sword and took off his head. Yes, Goliath’s sword was used to take off his own head. When the other Philistines saw this, they ran away in fear and there was rejoicing in the camp of Israel. The people of Israel began to laud and to cheer David and Saul didn't like it. 1st Samuel 18:6-9 tells us, “And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.
And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, they have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
Their words incited Saul’s anger because they were giving more honour to David. It was not good that Saul was angry because when he should have been leading from the front he was in the back shaking in fear. He was unjust not remembering that honour must be given where it is due because his heart was bitter and evil a familiar spirit began to dwell with him since the spirit of the Lord began to depart from him. God will not abide with anyone who is behaving contrary to holiness.
Not every leader is called by God but if one assumes leadership attitude is what determines the mode of leadership. If a leader, is not doing what God has called you to do, you have no right to be upset or displeased when another is doing what you should have been doing. All you have to do is watch the doer get the glory that you should have been getting and amend your ways and your doings. Leaders are called to lead from the front. Once it is God has given unto you a mission, God will give you the tool to do the work properly. Sadly not everyone who assume leadership was given leadership by God and that is why they are unable to lead
properly. Even though Saul was called because of the necessity placed upon God place by the people, he fail in leadership.
Leaders are not in place for status, or authority, but are there to be servants to the people. Leaders are in place to protect, guide and lead and to do all that is ascribed unto a leader. Leaders ought not to be jealous of the other person or persons who see their lapse
because God used them to fill in the void that was made empty because of poor leadership. If you see that somebody is doing better than you, it is needful for you to examine yourself, see where you have fallen and ask the Lord to help you to repair that breach. Ask the Lord to help you to do His will. You cannot stop that which God has put in place and if you are a hindrance to what God has put in place God will move you. Whatever, God wants will always be done.
So, a message to all leaders, you lead from the front and you don't leave the people to be scattered or else if you do so, God will send someone to gather them together just as He sent David.
Leaders don't know everything neither can a leader do everything but a leader can do a good job if the leader abides in the presence of God and is being led by God. Let’s abide by the will of God doing what God wants us to do, not what we choose to do. By doing this we will avoid the demons that are called jealousy, anger, bitterness, injustice, greed, unthankfulness, hatred, malice, evil thoughts, hypocrisy and other evil. God bless you as you try to become godlier each day.
Writer - A. E. Fisher
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