How to Handle Your Emotions (Counseling Through the Bible Series) (16 page)

Unfounded, euphoric mood

He presumed he had the Lord’s favor

Saul, in the midst of an elevated mood, said, “‘God has handed him [David] over to me’…Saul called up all his forces for battle…to besiege David and his men” (1 Samuel 23:7-8). But Saul’s presumption was dead wrong.

Discouragement, dismay, hopelessness

He lost hope in the face of fear

Although God had delivered Saul in many battles, when Saul’s army was challenged by the Philistine giant Goliath, “Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.” Clearly God had anointed Saul as king, yet Saul continued to battle debilitating fear and hopelessness. Later, when Saul was again challenged by the Philistines, “He was afraid; terror filled his heart” (1 Samuel 17:11; 28:5).

Diminished pleasure in usual activities

He no longer enjoyed David’s harp

Often David soothed Saul’s troubled spirit by playing the harp. On one occasion, “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” (1 Samuel 16:23; 19:9-10).

Increased irritability

He flew into angry outbursts

“He [Saul] was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did.” With no provocation whatsoever, “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” (1 Samuel 18:10-11).

Unrealistic negative evaluations

He accused his men of treason

Saul, in his attempt to find and kill David, made unjust accusations toward his son and innocent countrymen: “Will the son of Jesse [David] give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today” (1 Samuel 22:7-8).

Exaggerated frustration

He put to death one who confronted him

When Saul falsely accused a priest who innocently helped David, the priest sought to reason with Saul: “Who of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household?” But in denial, Saul said to the priest, “You will surely die…you and your father’s whole family” (1 Samuel 22:14,16).

Sad, discouraged, pessimistic

He bemoaned his fate and feared David

Saul learned that David had spared his life. With periodic, overwhelming sadness, Saul expressed his dread of the future, saying, “I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. Now swear to me by the L
ORD
that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family” (1 Samuel 24:20-21).

Loss of appetite

He refused to eat

Saul was in such a depressed state that he said, “I will not eat” (1 Samuel 28:23).

Suicidal thoughts or attempts

He took his own life