Take Every Thought Captive

         This morning as I was renewing my mind with Scriptures, I found the Holy Spirit's guidance immediately locked my attention on 1 Samuel 18.  I still had three other passages to read, but before proceeding, I found myself reading and re-reading this chapter, three possibly four more times.  What stood out to me in my first pass was words that expressed emotion.  I began to circle those words.  What emotions did I find in this passage?  I circled words like, "love, fear, joy, anger, awe, displeased, pleased, and even more afraid."  I would encourage you, if you are interested, to take a look for yourself with a pen in hand.  After I marked emotions, I then decided to mark initials beside each of them (who was experiencing each one?).  In this pass, I identified five different people or groups.  I marked "J" for Jonathan, the son of king Saul.  I marked "P" for the people of Israel (servants of the king, and women who came out of the cities of Israel).  I marked "S" for Saul, "M" for Michael, the daughter of king Saul, and "D" for David. 

     Looking at the emotions for each of these characters, we find that actions would follow the experience of these emotions.  For Jonathan, his love created a permanent friendship, a loyalty and several gifts.  From the people, their love produced joyful singing and praise.  For Michael, the daughter of the king, her love created passion that caused her to desire marriage.  For David, the emotion of pleasure in the king’s decision was followed by the action of obedience to all that the king asked and more.  His actions exceeded the requirement made of him to receive Michael as a wife.  Now Saul's emotions moved him in an entirely different direction.

     The first emotion identified in verse 8 indicate that Saul was 'very angry,' and the saying displeased him.  Why?  Because David was receiving more praise from the people than he was.  His anger was more than likely rooted in Jealousy, even though that emotion is not specifically identified in God's Word.  The reader must have some experience with anger rooted in jealousy to draw that conclusion, one cannot assume that it is a universal principle for all, but it might possibly be.  It did not hurt that the caption in my English Standard Bible provided this guidance "Saul's Jealousy of David."  Our thoughts can be influenced by what we read in commentaries and captions that have been added to help us understand Scripture, but how do you see this?  For me experience rules over a bold typed captions.

     Scriptures reveal that Saul 'raved' within hiw house.  If you look up words as I do, I came across two definitions.  The first is 'to talk wildly or incoherently, as if one were delirious or insane,' and the second is 'to speak or write about someone or something with great enthusiasm or admiration.'  I have raved in both manners, have you?  It is clear to see that the first definition more clearly defines what Saul is experiencing in this passage.  In verse 11, we see the first or four thoughts that are identified in this passage.  The proceeding thoughts are recorded in 1 Samuel 18:11a, 17b, 21a, and 25b as follows:

• Thought #1 - "I will pin David to the wall." (v. 11a)
• Thought #2 - "Let not my hand be against him but let the hand of the Philistines (their enemy) be against him. (v. 17b)
• Thought #3 - "Let me give her (Michal) to him (David), that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." (v. 21a)
• Thought #4 - Let David fall by the hand of the Philistines. (v. 25b)

Not one of Saul's thoughts would lead to anything good in his actions toward David. 

     

     When the apostle Paul speaks of thoughts in 2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV), he says, "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ."    We see in 1 Samuel 18 that Saul was well aware that the LORD had departed him and was with David (see verse. 12).  This caused fear.  Do you think it was anger or fear that caused Saul to allow his thoughts to plague him?  I'm not sure which is a stronger emotion, but we see multiple references to fear in this passage (see v. 12, v. 15, and v.29).  If you read these verses, it gives the appearance that fear was growing, not diminishing.

     Observing the nature of Saul's actions to conspire against David, we see lying in verse 22 which reads, "Speak to David in private and say, 'Behold, the king has delight in you' and all his servants love you." A half-truth regarding the people's affections, but a lie in Saul's heart.  His gift of his daughter Michal was not intended to bless David, but "snare" him.  Because the Philistine's were a 'stronghold' against Israel, Saul wished to use this power against his servant who willfully fought on his behalf.  The apostle Paul testifies that the war we face is not against the flesh.  In 2 Corinthians 10:3–4 (ESV), we read, "For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds."  Saul did not understand that the enemy that was fighting against Israel represented much more than a physical battle of fleshly strength.  The power to win or lose was totally in God's hands, not mans.

     Today, as believers we should clearly see from this passage that emotions that drive thoughts can lead to both good and bad actions.  In Jonathan's case, his emotions led to acts of kindness.  In the people's case their emotions led them to joy and praise for their hero.  In Saul's cause, his actions were intended for harm.  We are in a very precarious time right now where the authorities of our nation and of our state are requiring us to experience unprecedented inconvenience.  If we allow our emotions to rule our thoughts, it is easy to see how our actions may produce a very unfavorable result.  We can observe through media and news that protests are beginning to take shape.  I hope this article will help us win this spiritual warfare.  Our enemy can use emotions as the foothold to overtake our thoughts.  When emotions rule our thoughts, our thoughts will begin to influence our actions.  It is now very important that we use Scriptures to renew our thinking.  If we take our thoughts captive, we have the ability to influence our actions.  

     Keep these verses at the forefront of your mind, allow them to influence your thinking. 

Romans 12:1–2 (ESV)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.  

Psalm 11:7 (ESV)

For the Lord is righteous;

he loves righteous deeds;

the upright shall behold his face.