How does Saul's anger in 1 Samuel 20:33 reveal his heart's condition?

◄ What does Saul's anger in 1 Sam 20:33 show? ►

A Moment That Speaks Volumes

1 Samuel 20:33: “Then Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan to kill him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to kill David.”

Anger on the Surface, Corruption Beneath

• A violent outburst against his own son exposes more than a temper issue; it puts Saul’s inner life on full display.

• Scripture treats the scene as literal history, so the spear was not a figure of speech—it was a genuine attempt at murder.

• Jonathan’s shock (“knew that his father was determined to kill David”) shows that Saul’s heart had crossed a point of no return.

What the Spear Throw Tells Us About Saul’s Heart

• Jealousy has matured into murderous hatred (cf. 1 Samuel 18:7-11).

• Pride refuses to yield to God’s announced choice of David as king (1 Samuel 15:28; 16:1).

• Fear of losing power outweighs fatherly love; Saul would rather kill his heir than surrender the throne.

• Hardness toward God’s Word—he had already rejected prophetic correction (1 Samuel 15:23-26).

• Unchecked anger blinds him to reason (Proverbs 14:30; 29:22).

• A seared conscience allows him to call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20).

• The presence of “an evil spirit from the LORD” that tormented Saul (1 Samuel 16:14-15) finds fertile soil in a rebellious heart.

Roots Beneath the Rage

1. Pride: Saul clings to a throne God has removed (1 Samuel 13:13-14).

2. Insecurity: Comparison with David feeds fear (1 Samuel 18:8-9).

3. Bitterness: Repeated spear-throwing episodes show bitterness taking deeper hold each time (1 Samuel 18:11; 19:9-10).

4. Disobedience: Ongoing sin invites deeper darkness (James 1:15).

Spiritual Fallout Already in Motion

• Relationship breakdown—Jonathon is now alienated from his father.

• Isolation—people begin to fear Saul more than respect him.

• Loss of discernment—unable to recognize the Lord’s anointed, he fights God Himself (Acts 5:39 principle).

• Progressive judgment—each act hardens him further (Romans 1:21-24).

• Inevitable downfall—his reign ends on Mount Gilboa (1 Samuel 31:4-6).

Lessons for Today

• Anger reveals what rules the heart (Matthew 15:18-19).

• Jealousy, if not confessed, evolves into destructive rage (James 3:14-16).

• Ignoring God’s Word always has compounding consequences.

• A moment of uncontrolled fury can expose years of private rebellion.