With

1 Samuel 18:2-12,29 – From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well. When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David. The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul…Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.

Judges 9:23 – God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek.

Joshua 1:5 – No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

1 Samuel 17:37 – The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”

Judges 16:20 – Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.

Application:

• ·         The Hebrew for “animosity” is frequently rendered “evil spirit” or harmful spirit”; perhaps a “spirit” of distrust and bitterness. The Hebrew for “spirit” is often used to describe an attitude or disposition.
• ·         Saul’s perception that God’s hand was on David led him not to repentance and acceptance of his own lot but to greater fear and jealousy toward David.
• ·         “I will be with you” means to direct, sustain and assure success.
• ·         Reliance on the Lord was essential for the true theocratic king.
• ·         “He did not know” was one of the most tragic statements in the Old Testament.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV