ENVY MAKES THE BONES ROT: 1 Samuel 18:6-16

DOCTRINE. Envy makes the bones rot. 

S T U D Y Q U E S T I O N S

UNDERSTANDING ENVY IN CONTEXT

1. Based on 1 Samuel 18:6-8, what specific events triggered Saul’s envy toward David? How did the praise of the women contribute to this?

2. How does Proverbs 14:30 (“A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot”) connect to Saul’s experience in 1 Samuel 18:6-16?

DEFINING ENVY

3. William Perkins describes envy as “a disease of the heart” that grieves at another’s good, especially God’s gifts in them. How does this definition align with Saul’s behavior toward David?

4. What is the key distinction between coveting and envy according to the sermon? How do Saul's actions show that envy goes further than covetousness?

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ENVY

5. The sermon lists five biblical examples or truths about envy (e.g., it’s a work of the flesh, the opposite of love, etc.). Which of these stands out most to you from 1 Samuel 18:6-16, and why?

6. How does Saul’s “envious eye” (1 Samuel 18:9) reflect a deeper spiritual problem, according to John Trapp’s commentary?

CONSEQUENCES OF ENVY

7. In 1 Samuel 18:10-11, how did Saul’s envy escalate into violent action? What does this reveal about the progression of unchecked sin?

8. Why do you think Saul feared David instead of the Lord (1 Samuel 18:12-16)? How does Joseph Hall’s observation about “hatred and fear” as companions shed light on this?

ANTIDOTES TO ENVY

9. The sermon provides four antidotes to envy (faith in the gospel, faith in God’s providence, love for neighbor, and remembrance of the wicked’s outcome). Which of these is most clearly contrasted with Saul’s actions, and how?

10. How does the gospel (Romans 5:6-10) serve as an antidote to envy, according to the two answers provided in the notes?

SCRIPTURAL CONNECTIONS

11. How do the examples of Joseph (Genesis 37:11) and Jesus (Matthew 27:18) parallel Saul’s envy of David? What common thread runs through these stories?

12. Why does Galatians 5:26 urge believers to guard against envy in the church? How might this apply to Saul’s leadership as king?

A P P L I C A T I O N Q U E S T I O N S

SELF EXAMINATION

13. The sermon asks, “How do you respond when others succeed and are even praised?” Reflect on a recent situation where someone else received recognition. Did you feel joy, indifference, or envy? Why?

14. “Do you have an envious eye toward anyone?” Consider your thoughts toward a specific person. Are there signs of begrudging their success or interpreting their actions negatively?

PEOPLE-PLEASING AND TRUST

15. Saul’s envy was fueled by his concern for others’ opinions (1 Samuel 18:8). How have you seen the “fear of man” (Proverbs 29:25) trap your soul or lead to envy in your own life?

16. Psalm 146:3 warns against trusting in princes. Where are you tempted to place your trust in people rather than God, and how might this lead to envy?

THE EFFECTS OF ENVY

17. The sermon notes that envy led Saul to “melancholic madness” and even attempted murder (1 Samuel 18:10-11). Have you ever noticed envy affecting your mood, relationships, or actions? How so?

18. Thomas Brooks calls envy “a moth that frets the garment of a man’s soul.” What comforts or joys has envy stolen from you in the past?

APPLYING THE ANTIDOTES

19. Faith in the Gospel: How can remembering that “we deserve worse” because of sin, yet receive grace through Christ, help you combat envy in a specific situation?

20. Faith in Providence: Think of a time when someone else’s gain felt like your loss. How might trusting God’s plan (e.g., Genesis 50:20) change your perspective?

21. Love for Neighbor: What practical step could you take this week to “rejoice with those who rejoice” (Romans 12:15) instead of envying them?

22. Remembering the Wicked’s Outcome: Psalm 37:1-4 urges us not to envy evildoers because their success is temporary. How can this truth encourage you when you see unjust people prosper?

Church and Community

23. Galatians 5:26 warns against envying one another in the church. Where have you seen envy create division in a group or relationship? How could the antidotes help heal this?

24. How can you encourage others in your community to guard against envy and pursue love instead?

PRAYER AND ACTION

25. Based on this sermon, write a short prayer asking God to replace any envy in your heart with a “healthy heart that gives life to the flesh.”

26. Identify one person whose success you’ve envied. What is one way you could bless or serve them this week as an act of love?