2. (1 Sam 16:15-17) A solution suggested
Saul's servants then said to him, "Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrorizing you. Let our lord now command your servants who are before you. Let them seek a man who is a skillful player on the harp; and it shall come about when the evil spirit from God is on you, that he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will be well. So Saul said to his servants, "Provide for me now a man who can play well and bring him to me."
Saul's servants: It is interesting to note that Saul did not seek refuge from his evil spirit, but Saul's servants seem to be acutely aware of the change in Saul's countenance. This is a great example of how our spiritual condition is far more apparent to those around us than to the one afflicted.
An evil spirit from God: The form in which the evil spirit manifested itself in Saul was apparently an incurable melancholy, which, at times, burst forth in fits of uncontrollable rage and jealous anger. When Saul's attendants and his officers perceived the mental anguish under which the king was evidently suffering, they suggested perhaps the evil influence which troubled the king might be alleviated by the playing of music.
Seek a man who is a skillful player: In today's language, Saul's servants are asking Saul if they can seek out a worship leader. They want to find a man who can, using music, bring the love, peace and power of God to Saul. Saul was often disobedient. Having a worship leader could help Saul seek the LORD and find rest for his soul. God created music and gave it the capacity to touch people with profound power. Like so many things, music can be used for tremendous good or it can be used for great evil. Music powerfully communicates with our inner being.
You will be well: It had been a well-known fact that music exerts a powerful influence on the mind. In ancient Greek literature, music is recommended to heal mental disease. In the past, Saul received the Spirit of the LORD in the presence of music (see 1 Samuel 10:10). His servants thought, perhaps, music could help restore the Holy Spirit back to Saul.
3. (1 Sam 16:18) A man is nominated
Then one of the young men said, "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the LORD is with him.
Then one of the young men: The Hebrew here is very specific in stating that the servant who suggests David is a young man. This young man very likely was a contemporary of David and thus may have had several interactions with David or may have even been his friend.
A skillful musician: As a boy, David possessed rare gifts in poetry and music. It is probable that some of David's early Psalms were originally composed while watching his father's sheep around the hills near Bethlehem. Many centuries later, while shepherds were watching over their sheep by night, the angel host appeared to them to tell them of the birth of a child in Bethlehem.
A mighty man of valor, a warrior: the description of David being a mighty valiant man can be explained from what is related in 1 Samuel 17:34-35: "But David said to Saul, 'Your servant was tending his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I went out after him and attacked him, and rescued from his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I seized him by his beard and struck him and killed him.'"
A question has been raised respecting the word "warrior". It seems from the narrative in 1 Samuel 17 that the combat with the giant Philistine was David's first great military exploit. However, it has been suggested that in addition to the combat with the wild beasts, which were common in the hills of Israel and were a terror to the shepherds, David had been most likely engaged in repelling one of more or the Philistine marauding expeditions, very common in those days. Bethlehem was a strong garrison where the Philistine often congregated.
Prudent in speech: Rather, a better translation would be "skilled in word" or eloquent. This refers back to David's tremendous gifts in poetry and music. David's skillful way with words can be seen over and over again in his Psalms.
The LORD is with him: That is, the LORD directs and prospers all David's undertakings. Seeing the LORD was with David, it might be expected that the evil spirit would depart from Saul when David was in his presence.
4. (1 Sam 16:19-23) David enters Saul's court
So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David who is with the flock." Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread and a jug of wine and a young goat, and sent them to Saul by David his son. Then David came to Saul and attended him; and Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor bearer. Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David now stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight." So it came about whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would depart from him.
Send me your son David who is with the flock: Since this happened after Samuel anointed David, this means that David simply returned back to being a shepherd after his anointing. Perhaps David did not yet understand the significance of Samuel's anointing. Or if he did, he understood that it was God's job to bring him to the throne. In the meantime, David continued on watching his father's sheep.
Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread: It was and still is customary in the East to acknowledge obedience and subjugation with a gift. Jesse would be expected to send his son to Saul's court with some token of homage. The simply of Jesse's gifts shows how most gifts given were from the natural produce of the ground--vines (wine), fields (bread) and pasture lands (a young goat).
David came to Saul and attended him: David ministered unto Saul just like the rest of Saul's servants. This shows that Saul had no knowledge of David's anointing. Otherwise, it cannot be supposed that Saul would have brought David into his court.
He became his armor bearer: The armor bearer was a very dangerous position. The armor bearer had to carry his master's weapons of war and often traveled in front of his master. If a battle broke out, it was the armor bearer who would be the first person in the line of fire. Moreover, the armor bearer had to be a highly trusted servant because his master's life depended on the bravery of his armor bearer. If the armor bearer decided to flee, his master would be left open to attacks on all sides and would be completely defenseless without his weapons.
It is very likely that David only served Saul a short time as armor bearer. For in 1 Samuel 17:55, after David defeats Goliath, Saul asks, "Whose son is this youth?" There is no mention of time, so we are not able to discern how long it might have been between David's service to Saul and David's defeat of Goliath. It is likely, however, that the evil spirit afflicting King Saul was making rapid progress. Saul's mind may have been affected and prevented the king from recalling to mind memories from the past.
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 had to learn the customs and manners he needed to know in order to be a king later in life.
David would take the harp and play: A harp is a lyre. It is the ancient version of the guitar. Unlike the large harps you find in orchestras, a lyre was small and easy to handle.
Saul would be refreshed and be well: God used David to minister to Saul. David was happy to be used. What seemed like a great arrangement would not last for long. God was at work in ways no one could see. We can easily see from a perspective of time, how God was laying the foundation for David to become a great king. But at the time, perhaps only Samuel knew God's intentions.
The evil spirit would depart from him: There are many instances which might be quoted of the beneficial effects of music and singing upon a disturbed spirit. The prophet Elisha would often call for a minstrel, and after listening to the music, would utter his prophecies. "Elisha said, 'As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look at you nor see you. But now bring me a minstrel.' And it came about, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him" (2 Kings 3:14-15). When the evil spirit would depart from Saul, it would only be for a short time. Eventually, the evil spirit would return, and David would once again have to soothe Saul with his musical abilities.
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