2010 – April 1 – If Jealousy Could Kill

Blogger's Note: I move into April, 2010, appropriately with a discussion of one of the ultimate April Fools of the Old Testament, ... King Saul; but I will continue on in this place journaling my daily thoughts as F. LaGard Smith, pastors me through God's word in a year, using The Daily Bible in Chronological Order. With that in mind, I move on >>>

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Study from God’s Word…1st Samuel: 18 – 19: 18; Psalm 59; 1st Samuel 19: 20 - 42 … Passage for Reflection: 1st Samuel 18: 8 – 9 … NIV 8 Saul was very angry; this refrain [the song of victory about David] galled him. "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?" 9 And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

My Journal for Today: Somehow, though I’m not sure Dr. Smith planned it this way, April 1st seems to be the perfect day to be teaching about how Israel’s first King, Saul, became an absolute fool in his jealousy toward David, who intended nothing but good for his King. But the King went absolutely bonkers into a ballistic foolhardiness, trying to undo David and even to have the young servant killed – by his own hand or that of others.

And it shows us how, when we let the flesh rule over the Spirit of God in our lives [and we do have that choice, given to us by God through free-will], such feelings as jealousy can empower the evil side of our flesh to become April fools of the highest order. King Saul became THE April Fool of all time; and so could we if we try to pursue any feeling or attitude which feeds the flesh rather than God’s Spirit, Who is in the heart of anyone who truly believes in Christ as his/her Lord and Savior.

When we allow our sin nature to be fed by our flesh, it will become an absolute “April Fool” in our soul; and if we try to feed such attitudes as jealousy or covetousness by pursuing idols in our lives, we can become fools of the order of a King Saul. Like Saul, we have an evil spirit in us; and it is the spirit of fear. And it was this spirit, the one which was released in Saul to overcome him with jealousy, which can become strong and express itself in bazaar and foolish ways – yes, even in the lives of Christians - just like it did in the life of Saul.

I would assume – or at least, hope - that this is not what is desired by any who read me here today. I’m praying that all who read this desire to have this “spirit of fear” denounced and defeated in their lives; and that can – and will – be the case if we believe in and live by 2nd Tim. 1: 7, which says, this time in the NKJV, For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. So, my friend, we don’t have to become April Fools, as did Saul, when he gave in to the spirit of fear in his soul, letting jealously loose to overwhelm his life. No, we, as Christians, can surrender to God, the Holy Spirit, Who resides in us, and receive the Spirit’s grace-released power to love ourselves and others as God, Himself, would have us release His power in our lives.

So, on this April Fool’s Day, I pray that all of us will become warriors for God, like David, and reject becoming fools for Satan, like Saul.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, release Your wisdom in and through me so that I may never be a fool, working for Satan; rather release me to be a wise warrior in Your Name. Amen