Jun 28, 2020. I Samuel 22:6-8

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PARANOIA IN THE PALACE. I Samuel 22:6-8. 6/28/20. #70

I Samuel 22:6-8 [New King James Version (NKJV)]

6 When Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been discovered—now Saul was staying in Gibeah under a tamarisk tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants standing about him— 7 then Saul said to his servants who stood about him, “Hear now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds? 8 All of you have conspired against me, and there is no one who reveals to me that my son has made a covenant with the son of Jesse; and there is not one of you who is sorry for me or reveals to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as it is this day.”

  • Obsession
    • Saul is sitting on his throne under a terebinth (a variety of pistachio) tree on a hill outside Gibeah
      • He has a spear in his hand, ready for action
      • Saul is not ready to move against the Philistines or other enemies, but his son-in-law David, who has greatly aided him and Israel
    • Saul has an effective internal intelligence network
      • He knows where David is so he can capture him
      • Several times in Saul’s pursuit of David he is able to track him down
    • Obsessions are always destructive
      • The pursuit of wealth, a person, fame…always ends up in disappointment (empty)
      • Obsessions make us neglect the important matters
    • Obsession ruins potential
      • Genesis 4 all Cain could think about was his jealousy against his brother, Abel
      • Genesis 47 after all of Jacob’s manipulation and striving to become great, he says his days were troubled
      • Samson sought power and dominance, but is destroyed by lust and revenge
      • Solomon sought self-glory and ended up bitter
    • Saul’s obsession ate at him like a cancer
      • Saul thought that killing David would end his pain
      • Gaining the object of one’s obsession never meets one’s core needs
  • Paranoia
    • Saul thought that all his servants were against him
      • When Saul looked at his captains, courtiers, and cabinet, all he saw was plotting enemies
      • No one could convince him that this was not true
    • Saul was losing support because he lost his way
      • Saul was king by God’s selection to serve God for the benefit of the nation of Israel
      • Israel was not Saul’s personal property
      • Everything we have is from God and not ours alone
    • Saul felt both the kingdom and his men slipping way
      • The more self-centered Saul became, the more uncomfortable his men felt around him
      • Saul tries to fortify his position by reminding his men that he and not David gave them captaincies, positions, and vineyards (Benjamin = core support)
    • Proverbs 28:1 the guilty flee when no man pursues (Genesis 29-50) Joseph’s brothers expected him to take his vengeance
    • hen one rebels against God, forces align against you (Korah, Abiram, Dathan, Jeroboam, Ahab, Judas,…)
    • None can enjoy power while looking over his shoulder
    • Saul does not take the avenue of repentance
  • Self-absorbed
    • Saul feels sorry for himself (self-pity is miserable)
      • He wants others to commiserate with him
      • A self-pitying king loses respect of subjects
    • Saul imagines Jonathan stirring up rebellion against him
    • Jonathan merely sought to do God’s will
      • Jonathan had no design on the throne
      • Jonathan had chosen God’s side rather than father’s
    • Jonathan was not against Saul, but opposed evil
      • Luke 12:53-55 believers must choose between family and God
      • Jonathan loved his father, but God more (Saul wanted all for self)