I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on 1 Samuel 18-20.

    As David’s fame grew, Saul’s insecurity and jealousy grew with it. Saul’s reaction to David was the opposite of that of a good leader or ruler. A good leader would have been pleased to see David rising in competence, skill, and fame. He would see that as validation of his own skill in finding and grooming skills among his followers. Further, a good leader would be pleased to see someone like David among his followers who could advance the whole organization to the next level. Saul was more concerned about his own position than with the good of the people he ruled over. In this same passage we see Jonathan exhibiting those characteristics of a good leader which Saul lacked. Jonathan liked David because he saw that David was good for the people of Israel. At no point was Jonathan jealous of David. Rather, Jonathan was happy to see David succeed because that meant good things for the people over whom Jonathan had authority.