Spear Throwers

SYNOPSIS: One of the common experiences we all share in life is dealing with chronically angry people. Sometimes, those angry people can become a danger to us—emotionally and even physically. They become spear throwers, like King Saul was to David. Preserving your health and well-being with a spear thrower takes wisdom and skill, and God has provided the example for both in David. Learn from him—you’re going to need it.

Going Deep // Focus: 1 Samuel 19:9-10

One day when Saul was sitting at home, with spear in hand, the tormenting spirit from the Lord suddenly came upon him again. As David played his harp, Saul hurled his spear at David. But David dodged out of the way, and leaving the spear stuck in the wall, he fled and escaped into the night.

King Saul became a spear thrower—and David was his favorite target. The king had become increasingly paranoid about David, and uncontrollably angry. His downward spiral into emotional illness is well documented in the previous chapters of 1 Samuel, and it’s a sad story—a cautionary tale of the potential devastation of unconfessed sin.

For David, it wasn’t a cautionary tale; it was a living hell. The king’s uncontrollable anger didn’t come in the form of verbal abuse; it was physical. On several occasions, Saul tried to kill his loyal associate, literally attempting to pin him to the wall with his spear as David played the harp to soothe the king’s manic-depressive mood swings. In order to preserve his own health and well-being, David had to quickly deal with Saul—which he did. And the wise approach he took is incredibly instructive for us today as we deal with spear throwers in our own lives. We can find several things David did to survive his spear-throwing boss:

1. First, David established rules. He knew Saul’s destructive capabilities, so wisely set boundaries to limit the damage. 1 Samuel 19:10 says, “While David was playing the harp, Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David made good his escape.” David didn’t continue to give Saul the opportunity to nail him to the wall. Being a peacemaker doesn’t mean being a whipping boy. If another’s anger is endangering you physically or emotionally, you have to draw the line. You will probably need to get some advice from your pastor or a professional counselor on this if your spear thrower is extreme, but do it nonetheless.
2. Second, David exhibited respect. A few chapters later in 1 Samuel 24, David had escaped Saul, and he and his men hid from the king in a cave. As Saul was hunting David, he happened into the very same cave—to relieve himself—unaware that David was hiding in the shadows, watching every move. David had a chance to kill him, but instead, he quietly came up behind Saul and cut off the edge of his robe. “Then, as Saul was leaving, David shouted, ‘My lord the king!’ As Saul looked back, David had prostrated himself with his face to the ground.” (1 Samuel 24:8) He never spoke disrespectfully to or about Saul. And therein is an important lesson for us: another’s anger rarely, if ever, justifies yours.
3. Third, David eliminated retaliation. He refused to seek revenge on the king, even though Saul deserved it, and even while David’s men were urging him to do it: “This day you’ve seen how the Lord delivered you into my hands. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay a hand on my master since he’s God’s anointed.’” (1 Samuel 24:10) David had plenty of justification to retaliate: the circumstances were right, his men were encouraging him, the Lord had already anointed him to replace Saul. But he refused to do what only God can do: To pass judgment on another person!
4. Fourth, David expected redemption. He entrusted himself to God: “May the Lord be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.” (1 Samuel 24:15) David drew boundaries, but he never lacked respect, nor retaliated, because he knew that if he entrusted himself to God, he would be okay—especially with God. Proverbs 16:7 says, “When people’s ways please the Lord, He makes even their enemies to be at peace with them.” That is a promise you and I can lean into, especially if you have a spear thrower in your life.

Today, when someone throws a barb your way, or worse, remember the wonderful model that God has provided for you in David for dealing with that person. When you deal with the spear thrower in a God honoring way, it may just very well be the thing that releases God’s peace in that relationship.

At the very least, and most importantly, your ways will please the Lord.