1 Samuel 16:19-23 When David Played!

 ”Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.” And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul. And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.” And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.“

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭19‬-‭23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

a. Send me your son David, who is with the sheep: Since this happened after Samuel anointed David, this means he simply returned to the sheepafter his anointing. Perhaps David didn’t yet understand the significance of what Samuel did. Or if he did, he understood that it was God’s job to bring him to the throne. In the meantime, David would simply go back to the sheep.

b. Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight”: David did not have to manipulate his way into the palace or into Saul’s favor. He allowed the LORD to open the doors for him. David didn’t have to wonder, “Is this of the LORD or is this of me?” because he let the LORD open the doors for him.

i. “Wonder not that David was so suddenly advanced, from a poor contemptible shepherd, to so great a reputation; for these were the effects of that Spirit of the Lord, which he received when he was anointed.” (Poole)

c. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armor bearer: David was an outstanding young man who was worthy of his name (“Beloved” or “Loved One”). Saul took to him immediately and gave him the important and trusted position of armor bearer, his chief assistant in battle. A soldier’s life often depended on the courage and faithfulness of his armor bearer, and Saul knew David was worthy of this position.

i. This was an important time in David’s life, and training for God’s destiny for him. For the first time he lived in a royal court and began to learn the customs and manners he needed to know to be a good king later in life.

d. David would take a harp and play it: A harp is a lyre, the ancient version of the guitar. This isn’t one of the big harps you might find in an orchestra.

e. Then Saul would become refreshed and well: God used David to minister to Saul. David was happy to be used. What seemed like a great arrangement would not stay great for very long.

(Guzik)

i. God was at work in ways no one could see. It seems plain to us from our distant perspective, but at the time perhaps only Samuel knew what was going on. “Unwittingly, Saul was becoming dependent on the one designated to succeed him.” (Baldwin)

When David Played The Harmful Spirit Departed!

How interesting that the Lord sent them both! 

One was troublesome and the other soothing!

Let this be a lesson for us, when you are troubled seek the Lord! 

Can’t sleep because your mind is troubled, read the Bible until you are soothed!

Blessings