Jealousy

1As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. 3Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.

Probably not what you're expecting from the young man who's a mighty warrior in his own right, from the young man that's always done good things so far, but who now is losing his shot at kingship because of what his father has done. Jonathan is being replaced by David. And the text tells us that he actually loved him. As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David.

There's a great Hebrew word there for knit together. Think of taking string and winding it together, threads woven into an unbreakable cord. Instead of choosing to fear or reject or hate David, Jonathan binds himself to David. Because Jonathan recognizes and realizes that David is the one that God has chosen. And so he wants to choose what God has chosen, so he knits himself to David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Loved him as his own soul.

Great Hebrew word for love here. It's the same word that's actually used by Saul towards David back in chapter 16. We saw this a few weeks ago, but let me remind you. David came to Saul and entered his service and Saul loved him greatly and he became his armor bearer. So he loved him. So obviously there's a difference between the way that Saul loved him and the way that Jonathan loved him, even though the same word is used. Because language is complex, right? I mean, the word love in the English language is so ridiculously convoluted and twisted. The way we use it to mean such an absolute variety, a large spectrum of things. We say things like, I love my wife and children, and I love brisket. And they're both true. But it's not the same thing. And I'll leave it to you to decide which one is higher on the spectrum than the other.

Love is a nuanced word. There's a large spectrum of meaning for the word love. This Hebrew word for love is also complex. It's a word that focuses on covenantal obligations and volitional choices. This is a word that means choosing. I choose to love you. I choose to knit my life together with you and share this journey of life together. It's actually used in the scriptures over and over and over again in this sense of choosing. In fact, it's used of God too, many, many times to describe how God chooses people to be a part of his plan.

So let's go to Malachi chapter 1, end of verse 2, beginning of chapter 3.

2“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob's brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob 3but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.”

Now, if we just read this through the lens of English love and hate, this is problematic. This is challenging. Many people read this and go, oh, you're saying God's playing favorites. God loves one person and hates another. And if we interpret that as love is emotional warm fuzzies, and hate is emotional dark fuzzies? I don't know. If we read it that way and superimpose our understanding of love and hate on this text, this text is really troubling. When we understand what is being said here in this, Jacob have I loved. It's Jacob have I chosen. Jacob and Esau were brothers, descendants of Abraham. Only one of them could be the heir of promise that would ultimately bring about the seed that would set things right. So Jacob was chosen. Esau wasn't.

So this idea of loving, it's not just, I like you, I feel good about you, you make me feel good about myself. No, if I'm going to love you, it means I'm choosing you. I'm choosing to be with you. And man, Saul and David, Jonathan and Saul both choose David. They both love him. It's the exact same word that's used. But they certainly love him in different ways.

Look again at what the text says. It says, Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. So remember, David had been serving in Saul's court, but he'd also been going home to help out his dad. And Saul says, after he defeats Goliath, he's like, you're not going back to the fields. You're not watching sheep anymore. I'm going to use you in the ways that I want to use you.

But Jonathan, Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as his own soul. And covenants were made in all sorts of ways in the ancient Near East, and we've seen lots of them in our study through the Scriptures. They're usually accompanied by some sort of sign, some sort of symbol, some sort of almost transaction that symbolizes what's happened. So Jonathan makes this covenant with David, and it says, Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.

You're like, well, that seems odd. But understand, Jonathan would have been dressed as the son of the king. Jonathan would have been dressed as the next king of Israel. He would have been dressed as the heir, as the one that was going to ascend to the throne. So when Jonathan covenants with David here and says, here, you have to wear this. You wear my robe. You wear my belt. You have my sword. You're the one that God has chosen. And because God has chosen you, I'm going to choose to be with you to the end. Unbelievable contrast between Saul and Jonathan here. The humility of Jonathan and the arrogance of Saul once again shows up.

And we continue in verse 5.

5And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

He was successful wherever Saul sent him. So then Saul sent him over the men of war, and this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the eyes of Saul's servants. Whatever David touched turned to gold. He had this unbelievable blessing upon his life, and he was successful, whatever Saul asked him to do.

Now, the Hebrew word that's used here is an important and significant theological word. Some of your translations might say prosper. It's a word that's used in the covenant between Yahweh and Israel. It has this deep, rich theological and historical meaning. When the author chooses to say that David was successful, he's got a lot of words that he can choose to use, he uses this word that comes straight from the covenant.

So in Deuteronomy chapter 29 verse 9, God says this, if you keep the words of the covenant and do them, you may prosper, be successful in all that you do (Deuteronomy 29:9). So if you were living in the time that this was written and you were reading it in Hebrew and you read through this and you saw this where David prospered, David was successful in everything that he did, you realize it's describing David as a man that is faithful to the covenant between God and Israel. And the reason he's successful is because he's faithful to the covenant. In fact, that's going to be explicitly stated in the text a couple of times coming up.

So it says, as they were coming home from a battle, from a war, when David returning from striking down the Philistines, the women came out of all the cities of Israel singing and dancing to meet King Saul with tambourine, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. I can't help but see Kevin Bacon in Footloose at this moment. But so here they're coming back from war. The men are coming back from war. The women come out of the city to greet them. And they're dancing and they're playing music and they're singing songs. And we get a little glimpse of part of the song that they sing about the victory. And this is a very common practice. Every ancient Near Eastern culture did this after a victory. The women would put together a song and celebrate the victory.

And we get a little bit of it. It says this.

6As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. 7And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”

In the Hebrew, it's literally only five words. Only five words that destroyed Saul. So they're coming back. Saul's there. David's there. God's blessing them because God's blessing David. And the people recognize this. The people recognize and see the blessing of God upon David. Now, they're not really trying to diss Saul. Like, Saul's done some good stuff. Saul's killed a thousand. Let's give him his due. But David! And it does not go well with Saul.

8And 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?” 9And Saul eyed David from that day on.

So Saul was very angry. And this saying displeased him. He said, they've ascribed to David 10,000. I just have to say it in a pouty tone. And to me, they've only ascribed thousands. What more can he have but the kingdom? Oh, what a beautiful, ironic statement from the lips of Saul. No, David has the kingdom. You just don't know it yet. But that's exactly what's going on. David's not doing anything to irritate or antagonize Saul. He's serving Saul. But ultimately, he's serving Yahweh. Because he's serving Yahweh as he served Saul, he's being blessed. David's doing everything right. And it's acknowledged by others. And all of a sudden, Saul is angry, displeased, furious, jealous, envious. What more can he have but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day on.

What a great phrase. The stink eye. You've been eyed like that. You've been eyed like that before. Now there's actually a double entendre in the Hebrew text because the word that's used here for eyed is identical to the word for transgression. One of the words for sin. And again, this is so intentional in the text. Saul eyed David. Saul is transgressing against David. He's descending further and further away from God and into sin. And again, did David do anything wrong? Was David unfaithful? Was David arrogant? Was David provoking him? David was doing all the right things. That sometimes when you do all the right things, you're hated.

Makes me think of Proverbs 14, 30.

30A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.

Oh, I like that. That's such a profound, concise reality that we've all experienced in our lives. When we're at peace, when we're satisfied with what we have, when we can rejoice at the blessing of others, man, there's peace and joy and life is good. But when we allow envy to enter into our heart, when our eyes become jealous and covetous of what others have or the blessing that God is giving somebody else and we want that for ourselves, when that comes in, man, it rots you from the inside out. And the crazy thing is the other person might not even know it.

So I was thinking about this. When I was in junior high and high school, I was really into choir. Our junior high and our high school had this very competitive choral choir and jazz choir, and it was a big deal, and I was there because that's where all the ladies were. And I loved it. And when I was going into high school, the end of my junior high, I had to audition for the jazz choir. And, man, I wanted to be in that so badly because they got to travel and do all this sort of stuff. Here was the challenge. It happened right when my voice was really changing. And so I remember going into the audition, and I was at that season of life where every time I opened my mouth, I didn't know what was coming out. And the audition went okay, but the choir conductor kind of knew what was going on.

And it came down between me and one other guy to get on this really competitive choir. And he chose the other guy. And he told me. He flat out told me. He's like, I don't know what's going to come out of your mouth. We've got to wait until this whole... And in that year, I went from having the highest voice in the choir, I was like a boy soprano, to the lowest voice in the choir, I went from that to bass. He was right not to put me on that choir that year, for sure. But I didn't want to accept the reality that that was a right call. And so being young and dumb, I blamed this other guy, Scott. I mean, I didn't know him. We came from different, like, feeder school. I didn't know him. I hated him. Like, he was the enemy. You know what I mean?

Now, he had no idea that I felt this about him. And he was one of the nicest people I've ever met in my life. And so I'd be around him, and inside, I'm just like, and he'd be like, hey, how's it going? We're talking, and like, he was so nice to me. And that actually broke through that envy. And I was able to see him as a person. We actually became very good friends. In fact, he played a pivotal role in me returning back to Jesus. And we actually were roommates for a time in college. And God did amazing things. And I think about that transformation from like, I wanted to kill him to how much I loved him. God does that. But envy, man, envy will kill you. And it makes us miss the opportunities. If I would have let that envy control me, I would have missed out on one of the best friends I've ever had in my life, right? Envy just kills us.

So it says, the next day, a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul. And he raved within his house.

10The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. 11And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.

So we've known that when God removed the spirit from him, God actually sent a member of his divine council as an act of judgment and punishment upon Saul to torment him. So this is happening. And David comes in to play the lyre. Because this would calm Saul down. So this is happening as he did day by day. And Saul had a spear in his hand. Dan Shutton asked if we could create a new policy here of no spears allowed in the service. Probably wise. Saul had a spear in his hand. So he's mad. He's going crazy. He's being tormented. And he chooses to play with a weapon of destruction. And David's just there playing his lyre, singing, worshiping God. And Saul hurled the spear for he thought, I'll pin David to the wall. But David evaded him. David evaded him. But that's not all it says. It says David evaded him twice.

Now, David evading him, I get. Twice? Think about what that means. That means after the first time, Saul threw a spear at David while he's playing. It's like, season coming. Moves out of the way. Keeps playing. Yeah. Saul goes over, pulls the spear out of the wall, gets back David's plan, probably a little aware the second time, does it again. The contrast between Saul and David, the author wants you to see, there's difference between them, and it's significant.

12Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. 13So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. 14And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. 15And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. 16But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

Saul was afraid of David because Yahweh was with him and had departed from him. From Saul. The author just lays it out for us. This is what's going on. Saul is envious. He's jealous. And that jealousy turns into anger. That anger turns into fear. And he fears him because God is with him. Because David's doing everything right. Because David exposes the inadequacies within him. It says, so Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. So he demotes him. Up until that time, he'd been in charge of everything, and he's doing all sorts of great stuff. He's been in the presence of Saul, and Saul's like, I don't want to see you anymore. Go take a thousand warriors and do your thing. And he went out and came in before the people. He went out and came in before the people, and David had success in all his undertakings, for Yahweh was with him.

Over and over again, the author wants us to understand, David is being blessed, David is successful, because he's with Yahweh, and Yahweh is with him. And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. Literally in the Hebrew it says, he stood in trembling fear of his face. Every time he saw David's face, he was reminded of what he had lost and what God had given to David. And it caused him to tremble. And he stood in fearful awe of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them. Which, in our English context, we're like, they all loved him because he went out and came in. Cool. Let's just keep reading.

Now, this is an idiom. It's a Hebrew idiom for quality leadership. It's used especially in military. It's also used in shepherding. If you want to describe somebody as competent, if you want to describe somebody that can get the job done, that's the idiom. He went out and he came back in. Got the job done. So all Israel is looking at Saul. Saul's going crazy. And David is going out. And every time he goes out, he comes back in. And God's presence is with him. He's successful because he's faithful to God. This is a Hebrew idiom. It's used all throughout the Old Testament. It was used to describe Moses in Deuteronomy 31.

2And he said to them, “I am 120 years old today. I am no longer able to go out and come in. The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not go over this Jordan.’”

Moses said to them, I'm 120 years old today. I'm no longer able to go out and come in. After 120 years, Moses is like, I'm tapped. Can't do it anymore and then like he prays for his successor Numbers 27 verse 17 Moses prays he says God give them someone who shall go before them and come in before them who shall lead them out and bring them in that the congregation of Yahweh may not be as sheep that have no shepherd (Numbers 27:17). I love that I love that because here's David who was really good at going out and coming in with the sheep. But now he's going out and coming in with the army of Israel. He's a competent, courageous, wonderful leader. And the people recognize it.

So it's interesting. Saul demotes him, tries to demean him, cast him out of his presence, which would have been, you know, he's trying to cancel him in our language. Yeah. And what David does is he just keeps trusting God. And God keeps blessing him. And so the people respond. It makes me think of Genesis 50, 20.

20As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Remember this verse? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good. To bring about that many people would be kept alive as they are today. When the brothers sold their little baby brother into slavery and he was taken to Egypt, they thought they were doing evil, but God was working it to good. Saul thinks he's going to get David by demoting him, by putting him out of his favor, out of his court. And instead, all it does is elevate David. Which reminds me of another proverb”

Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.

That's the reality that Saul's living right now. No matter what he does, the gap between David and him just becomes more pronounced. No matter what he does, David looks better and better, and he looks worse and worse. And yet he keeps doubling down. He keeps going after it.

17Then Saul said to David, “Here is my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me and fight the Lord's battles.” For Saul thought, “Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 18And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father's clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?” 19But at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.

If you remember in the story of David and Goliath, when nobody would go out and fight Goliath, and Saul was afraid to go out and do it, he's like, hey, whoever goes out, remember, I'm going to give you a bunch of money. I'm going to give you my daughter and you'll never have to pay taxes. Yeah, you remember that one. Remember that one. Now, he went out and killed Goliath. So this is something that is owed to David. So Saul comes to David and said, well, here's my elder daughter Merab. I'll give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me and fight Yahweh's battles. So now Saul's putting a condition on it. David's already earned it. It's already his by right. But now Saul says, well, I guess I'll give you my eldest daughter. But you've got to keep fighting, and you've got to keep doing what you do. For Saul thought, let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him. So this is what I'll do. I'll give him my daughter, which is kind of bringing him back into my good graces. But he's got to keep fighting, and he keeps dodging my spears. But maybe the Philistines will get him.

And David said to Saul, who am I and who are my relatives, my father's clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king? It's beautiful humility here of David. What right do I have to that? So David doesn't take the bait. Saul's trying to get some control over David. Like, I'll give you something that you want. But like, Saul doesn't really have anything that David wants. Because what David really wants is God. And so David responds, like, who am I?

But at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.

And you're like, I would love some more information about that. David's supposed to marry her, and then all of a sudden, day of the wedding comes, and Saul throws this other guy in there.

We don't get any more information about it, really, except if you want to keep digging. I'm not going to do it with you this morning, but if you want to dig into the Scriptures and look at what happened to Merab and Adriel and their children and their descendants, spoilers, no bueno. It does not go well, okay? Just pulls the rug out. And so this contrast between Saul's manipulation, David's humility, it continues.

20Now Saul's daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 21Saul thought, “Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall now be my son-in-law.” 22And Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in private and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king's son-in-law.’” 23And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, “Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law? For I am a poor man and have no reputation.” 24And the servants of Saul told him, “Thus and so did David speak.” 25Then Saul said, “Thus shall you say to David, ‘The king desires no bride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged of the king's enemies.’” Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. Before the time had expired, 27David arose and went, along with his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines. And David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife. 28But when Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him, 29Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David's enemy continually. 30Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.

Now Saul's daughter, Michal, loved David. Same word. Jonathan loved David. Saul loved David. Again. Here's a younger daughter, and she sees in David what everybody else sees, that he's faithful to Yahweh, and Yahweh's with him, and he's prospering. She chooses David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him, which might seem surprising until you keep reading, because Saul thought, let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him. Oh, that's what every daughter wants to hear from their father. Oh, he loves me. Let me give her to him that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Therefore, Saul said to David a second time, you shall now be my son-in-law. Like, fool me once, fool me twice, but...

Saul commanded his servants, speak to David in private. Here's this manipulative campaign to convince David to yoke himself up to Saul's family and marry his daughter. Speak to David in private and say, behold, the king has delight in you. We know that's not true. And all his servants love you. That's probably true. Now then, become the king's son-in-law. And Saul's servant spoke these words in the ears of David. And David said, does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation? Now again, David had earned the right to marry her by defeating Goliath. Saul already owed him that. What the text is intimating here is that Saul is actually saying, I'll let you marry her, but you're going to have to pay the bride price, which is how things worked in ancient Near Eastern cultures. And you may like it or not like it, whatever. It's how it was.

So David's like, yeah, I don't come from that kind of wealth. I can't buy my way into the king's court. I can't do that. And the servants of Saul told him thus, and so did David speak. So Saul hears what David said, and Saul said, well, go back to David and say this. The king desires no bride price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged of the king's enemies. Oh, no, no, I don't want your gold. Go get me a hundred foreskins. Now, there's so much symbolism and irony and all that sort of stuff. I'm not going to dive into that right now. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. Asking them to go kill a hundred Philistines and bring their foreskins... One of them is going to take David out.

And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. Before the time had expired, David arose and went along with his men and killed 200 of the Philistines. And David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might be the king's son-in-law. That's not an ordinary day in court. You know what I mean? Saul's sitting on the throne. He looks to his guy like, hey, what do we got on? All of a sudden, the doors open. In comes David, fresh off the battlefield. He's got some of his dudes with him. Throws down 200 foreskins. Give me your daughter. Like, this is crazy. And Saul gave him his daughter, Michal, for a wife. Oh, the story of Michal, as we're going to keep walking through this, this gets tragic and...

But it says, when Saul saw and knew that Yahweh was with David and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him, Saul was even more afraid of David. You dig a pit, you're going to probably fall into it. Saul's making his bed, now he's got to lie in it. Right? He's even more afraid. So Saul was David's enemy continually. Continually. I ask you again, what did David do wrong? What did David do to Saul? What did David do against Saul? The answer is nothing. He served him well. He was faithful, not just to Saul, but especially to Yahweh. And everything that David did was blessed because God was with him. And Saul was the beneficiary of that. And instead of loving David, there's that thin line between love and hate. Now Saul makes another choice to continually be the enemy of David. But when you think about that, who does that mean Saul is really fighting? I don't know about you. I don't want God as my enemy. He always wins. He always wins. So Saul was David's enemy continually.

The commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out, David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed. And that's how the chapter ends. Saul does his best to take out David. And at the end of it, David is being praised by everyone because they see his faithfulness to God.

Now, the story of 1 Samuel 18 doesn't just end with David's improbable rise and Saul's escalating fear. It points us to God's plan and God's provision to set things right and make the world anew. It points us straight to the ultimate anointed one, the true Son of God, the Son of David, Jesus the King. Think about it. David, the humble shepherd chosen by God, prospers amid jealousy and plots. His success, a divine reversal of human schemes. He's the beloved underdog, knit in covenant love with Jonathan, dodging spears while Yahweh turns every trap into a triumph. This isn't random drama. It's a shadow. A preview of what the Messiah who would come from David's line would be like.

Just as David's anointing provoked Saul's rage, Jesus stepped into history. He wasn't just a man after God's own heart. He was God's heart encased in flesh. And they crucified him. His very presence exposes the envy, the hatred, the murder, the jealousy, the vanity of the human heart. The parallels are too strong to miss. David's story whispers, this is what God's king looks like. Jesus shouts, here I am, fulfilling it all. Fulfillment follows the same path of jealousy, anger, and rejection. Once again, Jesus knew no sin. Jesus didn't do anything wrong. And yet over and over and over again, his very goodness, his very presence is received with jealousy, anger, and rejection.

Remember three weeks ago, when I was talking about the anointing of David and the anointing of Jesus, I went to Luke chapter 4, where Jesus went to his hometown on a Sabbath day, and he went into the synagogue, and he was given a place of honor, and they handed him the scroll to read from the Torah, and he opened it and read from Isaiah 61, saying, the Spirit of the Lord has anointed me to proclaim the good news, the gospel. And he read, and he read through it. Well, I want to continue that passage in Luke 4 this morning. It says he rolled up the scroll. So when he's done, he rolls up the scroll, he gives it back to the attendant, and he sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. So he didn't just read it. He said, today this is fulfilled in your presence. And they're fixed on him.

21And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph's son?” 23And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself.’ What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.” 24And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” 28When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might throw him down the cliff. 30But passing through their midst, he went away.

And he began to say to them, today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. And all spoke well of him. And they marveled at the words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, is this not Joseph's son? Well, isn't that little Jesus? Now he's all grown up and going off to boot camp. And it's like... That's impressive. They said, is this not Joseph's son? But they're marveling. They're amazed. They're like, oh, this is so awesome. And then he said to them, doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, physician, heal yourself. What we have heard you did in Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well, because Jesus has been doing miracles like crazy.

So Jesus is there. Everybody's like, oh, this is awesome. He's great. And Jesus is like, do you really think I'm great? Do you really think I'm great? He says, truly I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. He says, in truth I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the heavens were shut up three years and six months and a great famine came over the land and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath in the land of Sidon to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them were cleansed but only Naaman the Syrian. When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath.

Now what Jesus said was true. What Jesus said was from the sacred scriptures themselves. What Jesus said was their history. And instead of responding with humble acceptance and and and their marvel turned to rage in an instant they were filled with wrath and they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built so that they could throw him down the cliff. One minute they're like, oh, Jesus, you're awesome. And the next minute they're trying to throw him off a cliff. Of course, it takes you to the end of Jesus' life and ministry, right? One day he's riding in on a colt and they're waving their leaves and saying, Hosanna, Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the son of David. And then less than a week later, they're shouting, crucify him, crucify him.

Verse 30, but passing through their midst, he went away. I'm like, Luke, a little more detail, dude. Like, I'd like to know how that worked, right? And Jesus is like, not today. Not today. He just, he walks away. Like, Jesus' miracles and teachings, his undeniable success in drawing crowds, transforming lives, speaking the word of God, didn't win universal applause. In fact, it often ignited hatred from those clinging to power, often in the name of God. As John records, the world hated him without cause because his light exposed their darkness and they couldn't stand it.

In John 15, Jesus says this:

18“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. Welcome to the club. Welcome to the team. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own, but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, a servant is not greater than his master? They persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, I would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen and hated both me and my father. The word that is written in their law must be fulfilled. They hated me without a cause. It's like Saul hated David without a cause. Jesus was hated and rejected without a cause. All he ever did was seek the good of humanity. All he ever did. He didn't come to be served, but to serve. To seek and to save the lost. He fed the hungry. He cleansed the lepers. He raised some from the dead. Jesus loved sinners. Which is good news, because I'm talking to a group of sinners this morning.

Jesus always did what was right in the eyes of God and what was good for humanity. And they killed him. I need you to hold on to that this morning. I think that the church has lost sight of that reality to our detriment and to the detriment of the world. If that's what they did to Jesus, how can we expect any less? Think about all of the apostles, all martyred for their faith in Jesus. And somehow we think that if we follow Jesus and do the right things, everything should go our way. We should be rock stars. Everybody should love us. We've lost sight.

Of all the things that have come out of the murder and assassination of Charlie Kirk, this is the thing that has really gripped me the most. Like you, some of you got to be there last week. I watched so many of the speakers, the music, the moment. I marveled at how the gospel was proclaimed to millions. And I'm still praying every day, God bless that. Let the word go forth. Let it prosper. Let people come to faith. But here's what scares me. Is that we think that that moment of celebration, that moment of approval is the norm and is supposed to last forever. And I just want to tell you, men, take advantage of every opportunity. Share the gospel right now like you never have before, because there is an openness right now. There is. Take advantage of it. And I don't have to be a prophet, and I'm not claiming to be one, when I say, that will not last.

There's patterns and cycles in the scriptures and in history. And the day is going to come where evil is going to return and rise and there will be persecution. They killed Jesus. And Jesus says, welcome to the club. This is why he says, hey, if you want to be on team Jesus, you're welcome. Everybody is welcome. But you've got to deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow. Because anyone who desires to live a godly life in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). In this world you will have trials (John 16:33). Do not be surprised at the fiery trials you are experiencing (1 Peter 4:12). This is what happens to the people of God in a world that has rejected God.

This text just screamed at me this week. Sometimes when you do everything right, you'll be hated and persecuted for it. And I want to say to you this morning, church, stay true. Stay true in the good times and in the bad times. Because Jesus also said this in John 16, 33.

33I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

He says, I've said these things to you that in me you may have peace. Where's our peace? Is it in our political system? Is it in our constitution? Is it in our economics? Is it in Bitcoin? Is it in a political party? No. Our peace is found in one place and one place only, in Jesus. I tell you these things so that in me you might have peace. In the world you'll have, what's it say? I didn't say it. Don't be mad at me. Jesus said it. In this world you'll have tribulation. Take heart, for I've overcome the world. These are the death throes of the world. It doesn't make them any less painful. It doesn't make persecution and pain and suffering in Jesus' name and for Jesus' sake any less hard or difficult. But Jesus says, you can do it because the end is already guaranteed.

Trials will come. Evil is real. And the cost of following Jesus just might be your life. But your life is hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:3). So don't be afraid. Fear not. What man, what the enemy, what the world intends for evil, God intends for good (Genesis 50:20). Remember, church, I'll say it again. We know the ending. Good wins. God wins. So I say again, fear not. Trust in Jesus. He is your peace. Do good. Seek righteousness. Be the light that Jesus has empowered you to be. Sometimes it will be received with joy and gladness. Sometimes you will be hated. When that happens, church, find your peace in him. We don't fight evil with evil. We trust in the one who has destroyed the power of evil and who will one day make all things new.

I want to end this morning with Paul's words in Romans 8, so well known to so many of you, and I just want you to be encouraged. Paul was a guy that knew what it meant to suffer, whipped multiple times, shipwrecked, beaten, probably killed at least once, if not twice, and God's like, I'm not done with you yet. Come on back. And this is what he says.

35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And to that the saints say, Amen.