Our Struggle is Not Against Flesh and Blood

1 Samuel 18: 6-12
6 When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. 7 As they danced, they sang:
“Saul has slain his thousands,
    and David his tens of thousands.”
8 Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” 9 And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.
10 The next day a distressing spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was babbling in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand 11 and he hurled it, saying to himself,“I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.
12 Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul. 

Prior to these passages in 1 Samuel Chapter 18, David was able to soothe Saul's troubled spirit with his gentle, anointed music on the harp. What has changed now? Why isn't that working anymore and why did Saul get so enraged that he actually tried to kill David?  

We know, of course, that jealousy fueled the rage in Saul; but we also note that God permitted a distressing spirit to come on Saul, since the Spirit of the Lord had already departed from him.  This "distressing spirit" could also be called a demonic spirit, and the voice of demons here is overpowering the sweet Holy Spirit in David.  Saul succumbs to the demonic voice and tries to murder David; but David is protected and he evades the attack.  In fact, he evades it not only physically but spiritually! He does not take on the offense against Saul. David finds forgiveness in his heart and continues to serve Saul.  How was he able to do this?  The Lord showed me, as I studied this chapter, that David understood that flesh and blood had not tried to murder him; but rather a murderous spirit.  

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Eph. 6:12).

Suddenly it became clear to me why we are a people so offended all the time, so wounded and angry. We have the tendency to stay angry at the human person who greatly hurt us; and if we persist in unforgiveness and hold onto those wounds, it will eventually make us sick.  We give up hope of ever having restoration with that person - and hope deferred makes the heart sick.  (Proverbs 13:12)

Let's get before the Lord and ask Him to reveal the unforgiveness that is stuck in our hearts, stopping up the wells of healing and restoration, remembering that it was not Saul who tried to kill David; it was a distressing spirit, a power of this dark world. That is who we should be warring with, beloved brothers and sisters - not one another!