1 Samuel 16: 14-18…Saul meets David.

Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him. And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.” So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me.” One of the young men answered, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valour, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the LORD is with him.”

Comment: Saul is still the King of Israel, but he is no longer God’s choice. Maybe Saul never was God’s choice as the one to lead His dynasty through the ages. Maybe Saul was given the position to show the Israelites what a mistake they had made in having a human king rather than a divine King – Just a thought. The phrase’ a harmful spirit from God’ if nothing else lets us know that God is still in control of the situation, and it works out very well for God’s plan, for it brings David into the royal palace, and into the vision of not only Saul but the whole of the leaders of Israel. He doesn’t come in as the freshly ‘anointed king’ but as an excellent guitarist (lyre player). His manful character is not hidden from Saul, but he comes as a musician not a soldier.

Prayer: You give us all abilities, Father. Help us to use them in Your service.