Living with Javelin in Your Hand

“Living with a Javelin in Your Hand” was preached by Pastor Mike Ray at Hopewell Baptist Church on Sunday evening, 7/11/2021.

If you have your Bibles, we will look at one verse in Hebrews and then the rest of the story in 1 Samuel tonight. Let’s look over to the book of Hebrews Chapter 12. We’ve been in the book of Judges, talking about defeat through feelings. This story tonight actually takes place during the time of the judges. But notice the theme verse or the doctrinal verse that surrounds the whole study tonight.

Look at this in Hebrews 12. If you have it, let’s look at it verse 15. What a warning for us. He says, “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God…” So, it could happen to any of us, right? Lest any man. It’s not saying this is a sin just for men. It means mankind if you will. “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” (Hebrews 12:15). That means God is trying to give us grace, and He always gives the grace to be saved. And then, the Bible says, “the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men (Titus 2:11), but ofttimes. He gives grace when we’re hurting. So, if we succeed at grace, succeed in the grace of God, that means what He’s giving us we’re receiving. So, to “fail the grace of God” would be not to accept the grace that He’s trying to give us.

So, notice what he’s saying here, “looking diligently” — like you dropped a contact lens, like you lost your car keys. I mean, you’re looking lest any of us or “any man fail of the grace of God” Now, notice what happens when we reject his grace: “…lest any root of bitterness springing up…” Overnight it just springs up. It just breaks the ground. Just a little seedling. Notice what bitterness does. It “…trouble[s] you, and thereby many be defiled” (Hebrews 12:15b). So, bitterness brings trouble to us and many others. It’s not like it’s just my life and doesn’t affect anybody else. No, bitterness affects us, and it brings trouble to others as well.

With that in mind, let’s look back at the book of 1 Samuel, if you will, in chapter number 9. 1 Samuel chapter 9. We’re going to look at a lot of Scriptures and then give you some conclusions. So, some of this will be highlights in the story. I want to speak on this subject tonight. Here’s are the possible titles. “Living with a Javelin in Your Hand,” or we could call it “A Little Saul in Us All,” or we could call it “Victory Over Anger.” If I keep giving it titles, we will have to dismiss. We won’t have time to get to the message. But it’s one of the titles right there. So, I want to give you four thoughts tonight on the subject of overcoming anger. And it’s a study in the life of King Saul, the first king of Israel.

Notice in 1 Samuel 9:2 “And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly…” Last phrase, verse 2: “…he was higher than any of the people.” Natural man, natural leader. He was a tall, good-looking guy. Strong. Head and shoulders above everyone in his nation. So, natural leadership. He’s going to see the man of God, Samuel.

1 Samuel 9:7, the last phrase: “…what shall we bring the man?” (talking about Samuel). So, he respected the man of God. He wants to bring a gift when he meets with Samuel. So, this guy is a leader. He’s a giver.

And then in 1 Samuel 9:21, it’s time to anoint him king, and he’s hiding. So, he’s humble. “And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel?…” He’s humble. He’s got all the makings for a great leader.

And then we see in 1 Samuel 10:1 “Then Samuel took a vial of oil and poured it upon his head…” He’s now anointed to be the king. 1 Samuel 10:6: God turned him into another man. 1 Samuel 10:6, the middle phrase: “God gave him another heart.” 1 Samuel 10:22: It’s time to reveal the king, and it says, “…he hath hid himself among the stuff.” So, he pulled back from wanting to be the leader. He was not proud. He was not trying to uh throw himself into leadership. These are all things a great leader should be.

Then, the middle phrase of 1 Samuel 11:7: “Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel…” So, he identified himself with the man of God, Samuel — the prophet, Samuel.

The Subliminal

Now, keep going a little bit further. Skip over to 1 Samuel 13. Years are starting to pass. He has been sworn in. He is now the king, and it’s time to have a battle. He’s got two troops. His son, Jonathan, is leading one, and he’s leading one. Jonathan has a victory. His son, Jonathan, defeats the Philistines. But notice 1 Samuel 13:4: “And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines…” His son had the victory, but Saul took the credit. So, there are some subtle things now starting to come into the life of Saul. He doesn’t start throwing javelins the first month of his reign. But you’re going to see what I call — number one — the subliminal. It’s below the surface. There’s something’s starting to come into King Saul’s life that’s going to breed anger.

Then it’s time for the Sacrifice. 1 Samuel 13:8: “And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal…” Samuel was supposed to show up to do the sacrifice. Seven days passed. People get nervous. 1 Samuel 13:9 “And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.” That was only supposed to be done by the priest. The priest did that, not the king, not a politician. Samuel was a little bit late, so Saul said, “Give it here. I’ll do the burnt offering.” He was never to do that. He was impatient.

Not only that, but look in 1 Samuel 13:11: “And Samuel said, What hast thou done?…” Saul says, “Because you were late.” That’s basically what he said — “You were late.” So, now we see him blame-shifting. He has disobeyed the command of the Lord, but “it wasn’t his fault.” It’s somebody else’s fault. You follow me here? This king, he’s going to have anger issues. Where do these things come from?

Then notice in 1 Samuel 14:24. They are in a battle. King Saul’s in a battle with his men. They’re starving to death. And he makes the order and says, “No one’s going to eat today until I’m avenged on my enemies.” He makes this command. So, now he’s being harsh. He’s making some harsh demands on his followers. They’re starving. He says no one’s eating because I’ve got to be vengeful on my enemies.

And so, what happens after this? His son, Jonathan, sees some honey on the ground, and he sticks his staff in the honey and tastes it. He said, “Oh, I feel revived! Fellas, here’s some honey.” They said, “Your dad ordered us not to eat the honey.” But he was not there when the order was given. And notice what Jonathan says here in 1 Samuel 14:29 “…My father hath troubled the land…” So, now his dad is making some statements he shouldn’t, and now he’s losing respect from his own son.

Notice a little bit further in 1 Samuel 14:35 And Saul built an altar unto the Lord…” He had been king two years. He’s now building his first altar to the Lord. It’s his place to meet with the Lord. Somehow, his walk with the Lord was not very strong. It seemed like when he first became king, had built an altar and built an altar and built the altar and met with the Lord and given to the Lord. But now two years later, there is a spiritual weakness in this guy right here. He had no walk with the Lord.

Then about that time, he says, “So, who is it that’s eaten? God hasn’t answered my prayer. Someone ate some food today.” And he said, “Whoever it is, they’ll be killed even if it’s my own son.” So, he started making some very harsh and very, very cruel statements, driving people further and further away.

Now he’s commanded in Chapter 15 to wipe out this city, to kill everybody in the city. 1 Samuel 15:9: “But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep…” Incomplete obedience. 1 Samuel 15:17 “And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight…” He says when you were little, you could obey. Now you’re the king. You can’t obey. He starts arguing with Samuel in 1 Samuel 15:20: “And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed…” 1 Samuel 15:20: “But the people…” Now he’s blaming the people. And Samuel looks at him and he says, “Look, I’m not going to argue with you, King. You didn’t obey the Lord. You didn’t wipe out the city. You can say what you want to. And then in 1 Samuel 15:23, Samuel says, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft…” So, he’s saying, “You’re a stubborn king. You’re rebellious. You can’t obey.” Some issues are going on here. Would you not agree? There’s kind of some issues on the inside of Saul.

Notice what he says in verse 30. It is interesting this guy was so messed up in the head. 1 Samuel 15:30 “Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people…” Samuel says, “I’m just going to leave you alone,” and Saul said, “Look, make me look good in front of the people. Would you do you mind just kind of walking with me as we go back to the crowd so I look good?” He was more interested in looking good to the people than looking good to the Lord.

We must hasten. Notice what happens to him emotionally. In 1 Samuel 16:15: “And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.” 1 Samuel 16:23, “And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul…” What was this? It was not a demon. Christians can’t be demon-possessed. It was probably the spirit or the attitude of depression because the Bible says when David played the music, that spirit left him.

So, here’s a man who is now rebellious. He’s stubborn. He’s full of pride. He’s disobedient. He’s saying cruel and harsh things. Now, he’s depressed. He’s got some issues.

Notice how this turns so quickly. In Chapter 18, David has killed the giant, and the ladies are starting to write songs. I don’t know if it was rock, rap, country. I don’t know what it was, but the words were, “David’s slain his 10,000s; King Saul has slain only his thousands.” And somehow King Saul didn’t like that song. He got very jealous. 1 Samuel 18:9: “And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.” The evil eye. Every time he saw David, he was seeing something he didn’t like. He was upset with David.

By the way, if Saul would have fought the giant, everyone would have put him in that song. He was supposed to fight the giant, not the little shepherd boy. But since the shepherd boy fought the giant, David got the honor instead of the king.

And notice. Here it is. Here’s our key text in 1 Samuel 18:11. David is playing the harp, and it says, “And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.” Now, all these emotions and feelings inside of the king are starting to come out in physical action. He is now throwing javelins at the man who played the harp, took care of his armor, saved the nation, has been loyal, has been a servant. Now, he’s throwing a javelin at him. It’s a strange verse. But later on, it says it happened twice. If I had been in the story, it would have been one time! David went back and played the harp again. What are you thinking, David?

And then notice in 1 Samuel 18:29: “And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually.” It grew. It got worse. He hated David more and more. This anger, this bitterness grew.

1 Samuel 19:9” “And the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand. 10 And Saul sought to smite David…” There it is. He throws it again. 1 Samuel 19:11 — David is married to Michal, Saul’s daughter. Saul says, “Let’s kill David in his bed.” He sent enemy soldiers to wipe him out in his bed. He was just consumed with this anger. Why? He lived with the javelin in his hand. How did this happen?

Look over here, please, in 1 Samuel 22:6 (And I think this is probably as far as well go in Scripture). He’s now chasing David. He’s in the wilderness, and it said, “…having his spear in his hand…” 1 Samuel 22:8: 1 Samuel 22:8 “there is none of you that is sorry for me…” Verse 18, he finds out a priest gave a sword to David while David was traveling. The priest, Abiathar, did not know anything about the rift between David and King Saul. So, he gives David this sword. King Saul finds out about it and thinks that maybe there he was in a conspiracy against him. He killed all of the priests. He wiped out the whole city. So, now he is destroying innocent people. He’s destroying relationships. How come? He lived with a javelin in his hand. Anger. It destroys it is the destroyer.

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Hopewell Baptist Church is an Independent Baptist Church in Napa, California pastored by Mike Ray. It is Bible-based with a warm, friendly atmosphere. Hopewell is dedicated to bringing the water of life to the Napa Valley and beyond.