INTRODUCTION
. .Since our last lesson from 1 Samuel 12,
much has been happening in the Biblical
narrative. Saul has reigned for two years
"when a succession of his bad ehoices led to
his rejection God. Chapter 16 tells of
Samuel’s private anointing of David to be
king. Chapter 17 tells of the life-long
friendship of David and Jonathan, Saul’s
son. Today’s lesson begins just after their
(1 Samuel 18:5-9) “David was successful
(Jn all the missions on which Saul sent him,
and so Saul made..him..30..officer.in.his
army. this pieasedall of Saul's officers and
men. As David was returning after killing
Goliath and as the soldiers were coming
back home, women /from every town in
Israel were coming out to meet king Saul.
They were singing joyful songs, dancing
and playing tambourines and lyres. In their
celebration, the women sang, ‘Saul has
killed thousands, but David tens of thou
sands.’ Saul did not like this and he became
very angry. He said, ‘For David they claim
tens of thousands, but only thousands for
me. They.will be making him king next!”’
And so he was jealous and suspicious of
David from, that day on.
I he evil result of Sauls jealousy should
— be a reminder te us. Jealousy comes from
selfishness and lack of love and respect for
another. When we are envious of the success
or good fortune of a rival, are unwilling to
give credit to someone else for his accom
plishments, are scornful of another’s rise to
prominence, we betray symptoms of
jealousy. We should so love others that we
are delighted with their progress and
grieved rather than pleased by their fail
ures. Jealousy is indeed a “green-eyed
monster” and, just as it devoured Saul, so
will it consume any who allow it to enter •
their minds or spirits.
Jealousy leads to just the opposite atti
tudes from that which the Christian virtue
of love inspires. Love expresses goodwill—
toward another, while jealousy promotes
ill will. Jealousy hopes for another’s fail
ure; love hopes for his success. Jealousy is
full of doubt - doubt about the worth of the
one we envy, and doubt about our own
resources. Else why are we so jealous?
L-we is alive with faith! Faith in God’s
goodness, faith in our fellow’s worth and use
of God’s gifts and faith in our own future
based on what God has already given us and
will yet give us in His Son.
One of the delightful stories of youth that
is appealing is "Snow White and the Seven
Dwarfs.” Walt Disney made it into an
animated cartoon classic.
m me neari oi mis tairy laie is tne wicKea
queen who does everything in her power to
destroy Snow White so she can retain her
position as “the most beautiful in the land.”
The wicked queen is a clever caricature of
mankind in our lust to retain power. The
tragedy is that we may at times be unaware
of how vulnerable we are to this tempta
tion. It can appear in many guises, in small
as well as in the large issues of life.
Saul experienced this desperate urge to
retain his power as he saw a rival in David,
and it led him to plot David’s death. Too
often we employ gossip, backbiting, and ill
will to bring down those we dislike or view
as rivals. We need to examine our minds
are tempted to sin in order to have our own
way.
(1 Samuel 18:12-16) Saul was afraid of
David because the Lord was with David but
had abandoned him. So Saul sent him away
and put him in command of a thousand men.
David led his men in battle, and was
successful in all he did, because the Lord
was with him. Saul noticed David’s success
and became even more afraid of him. But
everyone in Israel and Judah loved David
Misuse he was a successful leader.
It is most instructive to consider, while
Jonathan loved David, the soldiers honored
him, the court favored him and the people
applauded him, only Saul... hated him. The
holy songs of David had not more quieted
—his spirit before, than TlOW' The thankful
songs of the Israelitish women vexed him.
The roots of this envy and' hatred can be
traced back to a sense or pride and over
confidence that must have come to Saul as
he was picked but to be the first king of the
Hebrews. The fruits of the continued and
growing alienation from God were seen in
his oversensitivity to the praise given to
David. He took quite literally the ecstatic
exaggeration of the singing women and
allowed it to rankle in his heart. Then he
became suspicious of David and felt he was
undermining his place- and power. This
grew into a spirit of bitter hatred and fear so
he could not stand the presence of David. _
Saul wrote of the events in the Old
Testament, “These things happened unto
them from ensamples: and they are written
I for our admonition,” (1 Corinthians 10:11).
Julia Cureton
.Life member of missionaries
Walk Memorial Hoick
“Julia Cureton Day”
The Women’s Home and
Overseas Missionary De
partment of Walls Memo
rial AME Zion Church, re
cently held “Julia Cureton
Day” during their annual
Rainbow tea.
The occasion was a time
for enjoying a fine feast of
- foods displayed on tables
that represented every co
lor of the rainbow.
After the body was filled
the Washington Family
Singers of Waxhaw pro
ceeded to supply the nou
rishment for the soul by
singing some good gospel
music.
In recognition of Mrs.
Cureton, several poems
and speeches were present
ed. A third grade teacher at
Starmount Elementary
'«««.. . .vrf-‘ .
School, Mrs Cureton is the
wife of' Samuel Cureton.
They have two sons Gor
don and Shawn.
Mrs. Cureton has dedi
cated herself to doing
God’s work. She is a life
member of Missionary So
ciety, chairperson of the
Budget Committee, the
Day Care Board, the Flow
er Committee, Missionary
Circle No. 5, co-chairper
son of the Host and Hos
tess Committee, secretary
of the Centennial Steering
Committee and a member
of Class No. 1.
The affair was coordin
ated by president of the
Missionaries, Mrs. Hazel
Boyd, and was presided by
the vice president, Mrs.
Helen Gerald.
3gu Mowrey Kecognized
-For His “Achievements
Mecklenburg County Po
lice Sergeant Glen Mow
rey was recognized in a
ceremony this week at the
County Police Department
for his achievements as a
student at the Southern
Pines Police Institute of the
University of Louisville.
Sgt. Mowrey, the 1978
Meckjenburg County Em
ployee of the Year, com
pleted the Institute’s 12
week Administrative Of
ficer’s Course with a 4.0
grade point average and
was named a Dean’s Scho
lar for his academic ex
cellence. County Police
Chief Bruce C. Abercrom
bie presented Sgt. Mow
rey with an honors award
during the recent ce
remony.
A native of Dade Coun
ty, Fla., Mowrey was a
police officer in Miami be
fore joining the Mecklen
burg force in 1972. He has
been instrumental in es
tablishing the County’s
Crime Prevention Pro
gram, and he has been in
volved in a number of other
crime prevention efforts,
including these: Officer
Friendly - he is known by
this name to hundreds of
school children who have
heard him speak on police
work and safety; Operation
Mail Carrier - he has
visited every area post of
fice branch and talked with
carriers about reporting
“unusual incidents; Beware
Stranger - he has designed
and produced a 12-page
coloring book to educate
children in safety and se
curity,
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