1 Samuel 16:14–23

God had graciously given Saul His Spirit so that he could work as a king should. But Saul had rebelled against God's word. He thought he had every right to act on his own, apart from God. Therefore God removed His Spirit from him, to allow him to go ahead and act in his independent way.

Evil as well as good has its commission from God — not its existence, but its liberty to act, and the limits of its action. So we see with Job in early times, and in Ahab's case later; and it is a real comfort to know this. This is how the wrath of man is made to praise Him, and the rest of it He restrains. Nothing can escape from the divine government by the fact of being evil, or by admitting that it is. How could it? Only on this basis can we be at peace, sure that no waves can rise higher than the footstool of His throne.

God did more than let Saul take his own headstrong way. Saul had refused the Spirit of God, so he lay open to the opposite of this — an evil spirit. God allowed the evil spirit to trouble Saul to wake him to the folly of his own self-will. Disobedience to God does not leave us in a merely negative state, but in a state of positive evil. This sobering fact should have driven Saul to seek the grace of God. He should have handed his kingdom over willingly to the man God had chosen. Instead he kept stubbornly on in his evil course until his tragic death.

This seems to be a clearly marked case of demon possession. One who has rejected the word of God is given over to the power of Satan… Of the nature of that affliction, we cannot speak in detail. Without question, there was a sense of being forsaken by God, no longer having His approval. No one could fully describe the utter hopelessness and despair of this. Along with it there was likely some clouding of the mind, or at least an oppression that left him unfit for any duty. Some have said that King Saul was suffering from insanity. That is not the truth. It was not insanity, but the demon of evil to which he had yielded himself, and which now asserts itself as his master.

As soon as David is called to the throne, Saul's moral condition changes completely. Until that day the Spirit of God had been with the king according to the flesh. That is what explains each of Saul's successes against the enemies of Israel. Now the Spirit of the Lord comes upon David (v. 13) and departs from Saul, who is left in the power of "a harmful spirit from the LORD" (v. 14). This is a judgment from God, a chastisement on the king… At the same time God shows that His Spirit alone can lift up and drive away the evil spirit. We see it when David takes a harp and plays it before Saul.

Needless to say, the Holy Spirit comes to a believer once and once only. He comes, as our Lord said near the end of His life on earth, "to be with you forever" (John 14:16). Old Testament times were different. Then the Spirit might come and go — for instance, when "the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul" (1 Sam. 16:14). Ephesians 4:30 agrees. It tells believers, "you were sealed for the day of redemption."

Hardly is David called to the throne when Saul's moral condition changes completely. Until that day the Spirit of God had been with the king according to the flesh, and this explains each of Saul's successes against the enemies of Israel. Now the Spirit of the Lord comes upon David (v. 13) and departs from Saul, who is left in the power of "an harmful spirit from the LORD" (v. 14). This is a judgment from God, a chastisement upon the king.

Evil as well as good has its commission from God — not its existence, but its liberty to act, and the limits of its action. So we see with Job in early times, and in Ahab's case later; and it is a real comfort to know this. This is how the wrath of man is made to praise Him, and the remainder of it He restrains. Nothing can escape from the divine government by the fact or the claim of being evil. How could it? Only in this way can we be at peace, sure that no waves can rise higher than the footstool of His throne.

A "messenger of Satan" may be sent out from the presence of God upon either the flesh or the heart of man. An evil spirit from the Lord came upon Saul, and a lying spirit came upon the prophets of Ahab. The Lord was beginning solemn acts of judgment, and so these messengers of Satan were sent out upon the heart of those who were rightly under judgment. But other messengers of Satan reach only the body or the circumstances, as with Paul and our patriarch. And this is discipline only, and not judgment.

God allowed Saul to take his own headstrong way. More than that: since Saul had refused the Spirit of God, he lay open to the opposite, an evil spirit. God let that evil spirit trouble Saul, to wake him up to the folly of his own self-will. Disobedience to God does not leave us in a merely negative state, but in a state of positive evil.

It has sometimes been said that king Saul was afflicted with insanity. This is not the truth. Sadly, it was not insanity, but the demon of evil to which he had yielded himself and which now asserts itself as his master.

The desire of Saul, the rejected king, was not a godly one; he should have looked in his own conduct for the cause of his trouble.

David's harp does not act directly on Satan, but on Saul. It has a strange power to soften and subdue the savage temper of the rejected king, though only for a time. By that means it drives back the power attacking him and shuts it out. For the time, he is set free.

There is a solemn thought here. Some ministry of Christ is so soothing that it can partly relieve a soul's fears and distress without working any real cure. David is clearly a type of Christ here. By His Spirit, Christ ministers His word in the ordinary way — its sweet story of God's love and care, of His power over evil, of the comfort He brings to His own. That word gives relief even to those whose hearts are estranged from God.

His servants discerned that it was God who had allowed this evil spirit to trouble Saul. Their solution is not to go to the root of the matter, but to treat its symptoms. This is characteristic of men's governments everywhere. A skilled musician could play the harp in a way that calmed the troubled king's spirit.

Evil as well as good has its commission from God — not its existence, but its liberty to act, and the limits of its action... The evil spirit's work with Saul carried out a penalty. Had it led him to judge himself, it would have proved mercy too. They knew where the relief came from, and it was that goodness of God which leads to repentance. The way it worked shows that Saul's own stormy spirit gave the evil one his opening — and brought Saul inside the limit God had set for him. David's harp does not act directly on Satan, but on Saul. Its strange power softens and calms the savage temper of the rejected king, though only for a time. So it drives back and shuts out the power that attacks him, and for a while he is free.

God let Saul take his own headstrong way. And since Saul had refused the Spirit of God, he lay open to the opposite of this, an evil spirit. God allowed the evil spirit to trouble Saul to wake him up to the folly of his own self-will. Disobedience to God does not leave us in a merely negative state, but in a state of positive evil.

Now the Spirit of the Lord comes upon David (v. 13) and leaves Saul, who falls into the power of "an evil spirit from Jehovah" (v. 14). This is a judgment from God, a discipline for the king... At the same time, when David takes a harp and plays with his hand before Saul, God shows that His Spirit alone can stir up the evil spirit and drive it away.

The servants' idea of relief is that a sweet singer should soothe the poor king in his hours of despair. With his approval, they suggest a man just right for the job. It is none other than David. See how the providence of God brings him to the king! There is a solemn thought here. A ministry of Christ can be so soothing that it eases the fears and distress of a soul to some degree, while no real cure takes place.

David had not yet shown men a single sign of what God had chosen him for when He set him apart from his brothers. Still, he is put forward for a remarkable service... This is the first circumstance which brings the anointed of Jehovah into the company of Saul. It appears to have been only the most passing acquaintance that was formed with the king.

The true David, even Christ, has played on His harp to the refreshing of many a troubled soul. He has played to many a sinner on the harp of His great salvation, and refreshed him with His grace. Wonderfully sweet to Legion, to Mary of Magdala, when the evil spirits departed from them... But here David drives the evil spirit away from Saul — only for a season — and that is a picture of Christ, before Whom demons flee.

His servants realised that God had allowed this evil spirit to trouble Saul. Their solution is not to go to the root of the matter, but to treat its symptoms. This is characteristic of men's governments everywhere. A skilled harp player could play in a way that calmed the troubled king's spirit.

The desire of Saul, the rejected king, was not a godly one. He should have looked at his own conduct for the cause of his trouble.

The Spirit of Jehovah came upon David and left Saul. At the same time, an evil spirit troubles Saul. The providence of God brings in David by means of one of Saul's servants who knew him, and presents him to Saul. Saul loves him and keeps him close. David becomes his armour-bearer, and plays the harp when the evil spirit troubles Saul. David, in God's sight, is the anointed king, but he must suffer before he reigns, however great his energy may be.

God had set David apart from among his brothers. David had not yet shown one sign of it before people. Still, he is put forward for a remarkable service... David did not seek this change himself... Had he tried to become a courtier, he could hardly have managed it. But without one thought on his part, the Lord brings him into the king's presence in a simple and fitting way.

His credentials were of a high order. First, he was a skillful musician. Second, a brave man. Third, a man of war. Fourth, skilled in speech. Fifth, of pleasing appearance. And last, but most important, the Lord was with him. How clearly he is a picture of Christ.

One of Saul's young men knew the very man who met these requirements. His testimony to David is remarkable. It shows that he had watched David closely and knew his outstanding features well. His description was accurate. It made clear that the future king of Israel had shown early the traits that fitted the high office God was preparing him for.

The work of the evil spirit with Saul carried out a penalty. Had it led him to judge himself, it would have proved to be mercy as well. The relief was granted, and its source was known. It was that goodness of God which leads to repentance... David's harp does not act directly upon Satan, but upon Saul. The harp has a strange power to soften and subdue the savage temper of the rejected king, though only for a time. By doing so it drives back the power that assails him and shuts it off. For a time he is set free.

When the Spirit came upon David, he had little idea what his first work as God's man would be. It was to calm the violence — the spiritual violence — of the head of the kingdom... What an apparently humble service for God's anointed king, one might be ready to say! But what moral greatness!

The true David, even Christ, has played on His harp to the refreshing of many a troubled soul. He has played to many a sinner on the harp of His great salvation, and refreshed him with His grace... Here David makes the evil spirit leave Saul, and only for a season. That is a picture of Christ, before Whom demons flee.

His credentials were of a high order. First, he was a skillful musician. Then a valiant man, a man of war, skilled in speech, and presentable in his person. Last, and most important of all, the Lord was with him. How clearly he is a picture of Christ.

This is a striking testimony from one of Saul's servants, at a time when Saul and nearly all the rest ignored the youth — and a youth is what he was then. But it is only one ray of light on a life that was otherwise hidden. That life was spent alone in the wilderness, keeping his father's flock, but spent with God.

The skill he had gained in the obscurity of Bethlehem was now to be shown in the presence of the king. Later David came to the throne and set up the service of song in the house of Jehovah. Then "the sons of Asaph, under the direction of Asaph... prophesied under the direction of the king" (1 Chr. 25:2, 6). All was under the chief musicians, but the king controlled them — "the sweet psalmist of Israel."

Indeed the description given of him by one of Saul's servants seems to have been almost prophetic, viewed in the light of his subsequent history. May we not say that the Spirit of God was prompting that servant to the utterance of thoughts beyond his own?

When Moses and the people of Israel celebrated the defeat of Pharaoh, they sang, "The LORD is a man of war." That they had seen with their own eyes. Our Lord Jesus met and defeated Satan and all his armies. The day is coming fast when He will come out of heaven on a white horse, "and in righteousness He judges and makes war" (Rev. 19:11).

There is another beauty. It can go with outward beauty in men of faith, but God values it as the reflection of character. It is the beauty of a pure soul, or of simple faith. It is the shining out of a heart that shuts out evil and sin, a heart with no deceit in it... And last of all, this is the beauty of David, formed in the wilderness by the sheep pastures, where in secret he experienced the strength and the glory of His God.

This was David's greatest asset. All his natural ability and charm would have availed him little without the presence of Jehovah. We see this in Saul, who had so much that was naturally attractive, but when he lost the Spirit of the Lord, all his personal greatness was without avail.

David was near to Saul, and Saul had heard so much about him. Even so, it does not seem to have occurred to Saul that this "man of valor" was in fact "a man of war" — the very man to overthrow the giant.

The Spirit of Jehovah came upon David and left Saul, and at the same time an evil spirit troubles Saul. God's providence brings David in through one of Saul's servants who knew him, and presents him to Saul.

When the eye is fixed on doing the will of God — the only thing worth anything in this world — how happy it is to leave everything with God! We see this in David's history. If David had set out to win a place at court, he could hardly have gained it. But he never gave it a thought, and the Lord brought him before the king in a simple, fitting way. This is the first move.

At Saul's court David played. When he was no longer needed there, he went back to his first job, keeping his father's sheep in the wilderness. He knew his place and kept it. In that place he learned about God in a way others had not, and that lesson fitted him for future usefulness.

He had been preparing for public service in the secret school of Him who does not look on the outward appearance, and who does not see as man sees. It must be the same with us. We must live before the Lord. Unless our souls are exercised before Him, He will not use us as instruments in His service. God will always deal in secret with the soul that He intends to serve Him in public.

When Saul asked for such a musician, one of his servants suggested a son of Jesse — none other than David, whom Samuel had anointed without Saul's knowledge. His credentials were of a high order. First, he was a skillful musician. Second, a brave man. Third, a man of war. Fourth, skilled in speech. Fifth, well presented in person. And last, but most important, the Lord was with him.

David, however, did not hesitate to take his place as a servant, even in the house of the man who would later prove his most bitter enemy. It made no difference to him where he served or what he did. He would protect his father's flocks from lions and bears, or drive an evil spirit away from Saul. In fact, from the moment David's history opens, he appears as a servant, ready for any work.

Saul seems to have had little idea who was standing in front of him, whose music refreshed his troubled spirit. He did not know that the future king of Israel was there with him. "Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer." Selfish Saul was happy to use David's services in his hour of need, though he was ready to shed his blood once he understood who and what he was.

But God does not set David at once in the height of power, as He did in the case of Saul. He must make his way through all kinds of difficulties by grace and faith. Though he is filled with the Holy Spirit, he must act in front of a power that has no Spirit, and that God has not yet set aside. He must submit and be humbled. He must feel how completely he depends on God, and that God is enough in every circumstance. A beautiful picture of One who, without sin, walked through far more painful circumstances!

As soon as David is called to the throne, Saul's moral condition changes completely. Until that day the Spirit of God had been with the king according to the flesh. This explains each of Saul's successes against the enemies of Israel. Now the Spirit of the Lord comes upon David (v. 13) and departs from Saul, who is left in the power of "an evil spirit from Jehovah" (v. 14). This is a judgment from God, a chastisement on the king... At the same time God shows that His Spirit alone can raise up the evil spirit and drive it away. We see this when David takes a harp and plays with his hand before Saul.

1 Samuel 16:14-23 shows the state of the Jewish political and religious system, which God had rejected. It shows our Lord's connection with that system as such. And it shows the character of His ministry to it, as the one anointed to take its place.

It must have been to Jesse and to David a striking sign of God's leading that Saul should require his service. In his coming he brings a present to Saul of bread, wine and a young goat, all typical of Christ and His sacrifice. David's character made Saul love him greatly, and Saul made him his armour-bearer. Later, however, that love turned to something close to hatred. Saul realised David was better qualified to be king than he was.

One feature in David's character marks him in every scene he passes through. It is there when we first see him as the shepherd in Bethlehem. It is still there when he hands the throne of Israel over to his son Solomon. He was at all times and in all scenes the servant. At the start of his history he is slighted and forgotten, and even his father thinks little of him. He was the youngest son, and his father tells Samuel that David is out keeping the sheep. From this place of scorn and neglect, however, God in clear favour draws him out and anoints him to the throne of Israel. Yet this anointing worked in everything to keep him the servant.

The servants' idea of relief is that a sweet singer should soothe the poor king in his hours of despair. With Saul's approval they suggest just the man for it. It is none other than David; and how the providence of God brings him into the king's presence! Here is a solemn thought. Some ministry of Christ is so soothing that it eases a soul's fears and distress to some degree, yet works no real cure. David here is clearly a picture of Christ. By His Spirit, Christ ministers His word in ordinary ways. That word tells of God's love and care, of His power over evil, and of the comfort He gives His own. It brings comfort even to those whose hearts are still far from God.

God might use David's ministry and music to relieve Saul, and perhaps to profit him too. Still, it did not advance things at all. David leaves Saul's house and is forgotten by those he had benefited. He went back simply and naturally to keep his father's sheep... From the very first it was important that David should owe nothing to the king on the throne. God had rejected Saul, and the two houses had to stay distinct and separate.

The providence of God brings in David by means of one of Saul's servants who knew him, and presents him to Saul. Saul loves him and keeps him close. David becomes his armour-bearer, and he plays the harp when the evil spirit troubles Saul. David, in God's sight, is the anointed king, but he must suffer before he reigns, however great his energy may be.

An attendant on a warrior, filling a place of trust and honour. When Saul loved David he made him his armourbearer.

David did not hesitate to take his place as a servant, even in the house of a man who would later prove his most bitter enemy. It made no difference to him where he served or what he did. He would guard his father's flocks from lions and bears, or drive an evil spirit away from Saul.

Saul never imagined that the young harp player was taking his first step towards the throne. He never imagined that, when he sent for David, he was sending for the man whom God had anointed to be king. David knew as little. He was soothing with his beautiful music the spirit of the man who would soon become his bitterest enemy, and all the while he was entering a path where he must be disciplined for his high calling. At first Saul loved him greatly; but when he learned, as he soon did, that David was the chosen of God, he hated him to the death.

Saul is attracted to David. The melody has its effect, and he is for the time relieved. He greatly loves him too, and makes him his armour-bearer, but it goes no further. He is still the proud man, though God has rejected him. He has no thought of giving David the place which God had given him. Had he only known it, that place would have meant lasting peace for Saul himself.

Even Saul, at a given moment (1 Sam. 16:21), "loved [David] greatly," because of the relief that he brings him in his sufferings. Michal loves David in a natural way — which does not stop her from despising him later on (2 Sam. 6:16). Last of all, Jonathan loves him with the only love that is true, good, and lasting. He loves him as his own soul. He values him for what David is in himself.

Beauty, ability and power counted for much in Saul's view of David. But his love for David was soon tested and found wanting… Saul might be great, but David was greater. His love for David was forgotten; his indebtedness to David was forgotten. In his envious mind David became a dangerous enemy who was after his throne… Jesus, God's anointed Man, went through the same thing in a far greater measure. In prophecy it could be said of the Lord Jesus, "So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love" (Ps. 109:5).

Here is a solemn thought. There is a ministry of Christ so soothing that a soul's fears and distress may find some relief, without any cure that reaches the root. David is plainly a picture of Christ here. By His Spirit, Christ uses the ordinary ministry of His word, with its sweet story of God's love and care, of His power over evil, and of the comfort He brings to His own. That word gives comfort even to those whose hearts are far from God.

The providence of God brings in David by means of one of Saul's servants who knew him, and presents him to Saul. Saul loves him and keeps him near. David becomes his armour-bearer, and he plays the harp when the evil spirit troubles Saul. David, in God's sight, is the anointed king, but he must suffer before he reigns, however great his energy may be.

David was unknown to Saul. Saul was told about his qualities (1 Sam. 16:18), and he loved David greatly (v. 21) for his goodness and for the care David showed him. Yet Saul forgot his origin so completely that he later asks Abner whose son he is (1 Sam. 17:55).

Even Saul, at a given moment (1 Sam. 16:21), "loved [David] greatly," because of the relief that he brings him in his sufferings. Michal loves David according to nature — which does not hinder her from despising him later on (2 Sam. 6:16). Jonathan loves him with the only love that is true, good, and lasting. He loves him as his own soul. He values him for what David is in himself.

His love for David was forgotten; his indebtedness to David was forgotten. David became in his envious mind a dangerous enemy aspiring to his throne. What a change in this poor, deranged man! Instead of love to David he expressed himself towards David in anger (1 Sam. 18:8), violence (1 Sam. 18:11), deceit (1 Sam. 18:21), and murder (1 Sam. 19:1, 10; 1 Sam. 20:33). Jesus, God's anointed Man, met the same treatment in a greater measure. In prophecy it could be said of Him, "They reward Me evil for good, and hatred for My love" (Ps. 109:5). The lesson from this tragic episode in Saul's life is that human nature by itself has no appreciation of Christ.

God prepared David for the kingdom, and He chose him for it Himself. That preparation did not happen in Saul's palace. It happened in the wilderness and in the valley of Elah. It is not that preparation is unnecessary, but that the preparation must be divine if we are to have divine suitability. God might use David's service and music to bring Saul relief, and perhaps to benefit David too. Even so, it did not move things forward at all. David leaves Saul's house and is forgotten by those whom he had benefited. There had been a false start, so there had to be a fresh beginning.

David had lived in the palace as the king's armour-bearer. Saul loved him greatly, and David had done him the most remarkable services. But he passes from this to the humble place of caring for his father's sheep in the wilderness. Out of sight, he serves with as much zeal and satisfaction as in the highest position. The easy way he moves from the one to the other proves the true metal of his soul, and the single purpose of a faithful servant in whatever he is called to do.

That Word does have an effect on people who listen — even people who are not saved. Saul was refreshed and his spirit improved when David played. In the same way, people of the world find themselves quieted and calmed when they hear the sweet strains of the Word of God from someone who knows it well. If this does not lead them by faith to receive the Lord Jesus, the effect is only temporary.

Evil as well as good has its commission from God — not its existence, but its liberty to act, and the limits of its action... Nothing can escape from the divine government by the fact or admission of its being evil. How should it? Only so can we be at peace, sure that no waves can rise higher than the footstool of His throne. The work of the evil spirit with Saul carried out a penalty. Had it led Saul to judge himself, it would have proved mercy too.

David's harp does not act directly on Satan, but on Saul. By its strange power it softens and subdues the savage temper of the rejected king, though only for a time. So the power attacking him is driven back and shut off. For that while he is free.

Here is a solemn thought. Some ministry of Christ is so soothing that it can ease a soul's fears and distress to some degree, while working no radical cure at all. David here is plainly a type of Christ. By His Spirit, in the everyday ministry of His word, Christ tells the sweet tale of God's love and care, of His power over evil, and of the comfort He brings to His own. That brings relief even to those whose hearts are estranged from God.

When the Spirit came upon him, David surely had little idea what his first work as God's man would be. It was to calm the violence — the spiritual violence — of the head of the kingdom... What an apparently humble service for God's anointed king, one might be ready to say! But what moral greatness! It seems a small thing to play on a harp. But small services done in the power of God's Spirit bring about the most remarkable results.

When he had refreshed Saul by his skill in playing, and the evil spirit had left him, he carried his harp back to the plains of Bethlehem, happy to enjoy in solitude a communion with the Lord which he could hardly have had among the distractions of the court.

This music pictures the sweet music of the ministry of the Word of God. The harp of ten strings reminds us that Scripture gives a lovely range of truth. All of it is needed to teach and guide people rightly. The lowest notes may tell us of the depths of sorrow and anguish the Lord Jesus went down into in pure love for us. The highest notes tell of the great glory He has been raised to, above all heavens.

The true David, even Christ, has played on His harp to the refreshing of many a troubled soul... It was wonderfully sweet to Legion, and to Mary of Magdala, when the evil spirits left them. It was sweet to the weeping father too. Christ did not only command the evil spirit to come out of his afflicted son; He added, "and never enter him again." ... But here David makes the evil spirit leave Saul — only for a season. It is a picture of Christ, before whom demons flee.

Saul's behaviour under David's harp has been Israel's behaviour under God's ministers... Later they rejoiced in the light of John the Baptist, but only for a season. Then the hand of the Son of God Himself was among them to heal and bless them. For a while they flocked to Him in thousands... but it all soon ended in the cross. The evil spirit had been charmed, the unclean spirit had gone out, but the house was still ready for it, and for it only.