Thursday, July 8, 2004
Great-Martyr Prokopios of Caesarea in Palestine
Kellia: 1 Samuel 18:1-9 Epistle: 1 Corinthians 3:18-23 Gospel: St. Matthew 13:36-43
1 Samuel 18:1-9, especially vs. 8: "And Saul was very angry, and this saying
displeased him; he said, 'They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands; and what
more can he have but the kingdom?' And Saul eyed David from that day on." When King Saul called the young David
before him, having heard of his outspoken rage at Goliath, the exchange between them disclosed a real warmth and paternal
care on Saul's part and a respectful deference on the part of the youthful shepherd (1 Sam. 17:31-39). David consistently
presented himself to the king as "your servant" (1 Sam. 17:32,34,36), while Saul gave the youth a real chance to withdraw
his offer (1 Sam. 17:32,33). Even after hearing David's confidence and determination, the king still sought to equip the
young man with suitable armor for the fight, which David tried but found too cumbersome.
Today's reading is a sad sequel to the initial warmth in David's and Saul's relationship. How terrible a thing jealousy is, or
as John Dryden called it, "jaundice of the soul." Of course, jealousy may not be the only cause for Saul's change of heart.
In an undernourished heart and soul the natural virtue of faithfulness may be destroyed by threat, fear, instability of spirit,
or by contrary burning desires. There were followers who turned away from the Lord when they found His words too hard
to bear (Jn. 6:60,66), and even His Disciples fled from the Lord at His arrest in the garden (Mt. 26:56). How often the
Prophet Micah's cry has been repeated: "The faithful man has perished from the earth, and there is no one upright among
men. They all lie in wait for blood; every man hunts his brother with a net" (Mic. 7:2)! Man spawns a history of fickle
hearts.
Observe: on the day this account begins, the soul of the crown prince Jonathan, the son of Saul, "was knit to the soul of
David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul" (1 Sam. 18:1). Clearly, King Saul himself greatly desired to have David
in his service, for he "would not let him return to his father's house" (1 Sam. 18:2). Notice, as these words suggest, the
king did more than "urge" David to enter his service. He actually "restrained" him from returning home. In the light of
Saul's later change, the question naturally arises, "What really was the king's motivation in keeping David in his service?
Was it, as in the case of Jonathan, a real affection and bonding (vs. 3)?" The evidence favors another conclusion: that Saul
initially perceived David as a worthy servant useful in furthering his own reign; and this proved true, for "David went out
and was successful wherever Saul sent him" (vs. 5). However, it seems that a deeper, jealous protection of his throne
predominated in Saul's personal makeup. This more sinister passion manifest itself in Saul's own words, as he began to
see in David a potential threat to his throne: "what more can he have but the kingdom?" (vs. 8).
As the history of the relationship between David and Saul unfolds in the subsequent chapters of First Samuel, the character
difference between the two becomes more and more obvious. At the same time, the bond of friendship between David and
Jonathan deepens to form a sharp contrast to the constant suspicion that drives King Saul. Jonathan appears to have
perceived in David a kindred spirit, another valiant, honorable warrior of God's People (vs. 4). How applicable is the
admonition of St. James for us: "submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will
draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded" (Jas. 4:7,8)! Let us learn
from the Apostle and not be found unprofitable to God, but keep the holy Covenant of the Son of David. O Jesus our
Lord, make straight our path, establish us all in Thy fear; guard our life; make firm our steps, through the prayers of the
righteous David and of all Thy Saints.