FAITH CAPSULE: Pride is what prepares an angry man for self-destruction.
1 Samuel 18
Anger is rooted in pride. Pride is what prepares angry man for self-destruction. In life, if there is any spirit which needs to be constantly prayed against, it is the spirit of anger. It is impossible not to have anger when pride is in place in the life of man. Anger is not of God neither is pride of God. Anger is a silent killer and it will not spare the life of any man that open door for pride. King Saul was chosen by God to be the King over the children of Israel yet, anger and pride refused to spare his life.
After David had killed Goliath, women came “out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. So the women sang as they danced, and said: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”” (1 Samuel 18:7) The song does not settle well inside of Saul as a result, the spirit of anger was activated in Saul. The Bible recorded, “Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” (1 Samuel 18:8) Clearly, Saul’s response to the song of the women said it all about the combination of anger and pride. Pride was the source of his anger. He was angry about how David was celebrated after killing Goliath.
Are you in a position to celebrate what the Lord has done or what He is doing in the life of anyone that you know directly or indirectly? What the Lord did through David reduced Saul and the spirit of pride took over Saul’s life. With pride over Saul, anger rounded him up for his personal destruction. Saul became threatened about what will become of his position as David’s popularity increased all over the land. Are you harboring any threat as a result of others elevation? The spirit of anger in Saul was not of God, it is meant to kill and to destroy Saul. The anger in Saul gave a place to the distressing spirit in Saul. It is written, “And it happened on the next day that the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul…” (1 Samuel 18:10) Distressing spirit that came upon Saul provoked him to attempt David’s life. Despite all, David was supposed to be afraid but instead, Saul was the one who was afraid. The Bible states it, “…Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul” (1 Samuel 18:13) Pride took Saul for a ride as anger took over the driver seat.
Prayer for today: Ask God to permanently terminate all that is not of God in your life.