Success Breeds Jealousy
1 Samuel 18:5–9
Paul J. Bucknell
Success did not corrupt David here; it exposed Saul’s insecurity and his fear of losing praise, position, and control.
Everything seemed to be going smoothly for David. Victory. Love. Friendship. Royal approval. King Saul cared for him. His son became his closest companion. But when things are going well, stay cautious. They can turn bad just like they did for David. We need to be prepared for anything.
David’s persistent prosperity (1 Samuel 18:5-7)
So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and prospered; and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. And it happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments. And the women sang as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands (1 Samuel 18:5-7).
David was Saul’s messenger, warrior, lyre player, and faithful servant. Whatever assignment Saul sent David to do, God was with him, and he completed it in a way that impressed Saul and others. Sometimes, this meant he would even be in charge of a division in the army. Everyone was captivated by this young man, including Saul’s own staff.
One day, after returning from war, King Saul heard a new verse added to an old song. Note that they had come to meet King Saul, not David, but this made little difference. They had tambourines and were singing and dancing. They still sang, “Saul has slain his thousands.” They only added one short line, “And David his ten thousands.” Saul’s proud reaction to this line set the tense tone for the rest of his life.
From these definitions (see sidebar), it becomes clear that Saul was mainly jealous. He was afraid of losing his praise and his position. Jealousy often goes hand in hand with envy. He likely envied the praise David received.
- Are you jealous? When was the last time you experienced jealousy?
- How did you deal with the jealousy?
It is important to recognize what event or words trigger someone’s jealousy. The words, “David his ten thousands,” in this case, point us to Saul’s insecurity, something he has not fully dealt with. Saul could have rejected his jealousy by (1) acknowledging and appreciating David’s gift (David helped his kingdom) and (2) realizing that what he himself had was from God and would be protected as long as the Lord desired. This would have restored Saul to humility before God, and, even more, it could have made David a great son-in-law.