1 Samuel 16:14-23
I found verse 14 very interesting, and if
one was untrained in the Scripture it could mess with your theology.
Shall we spend a few moments of this fleeting life exploring what is being
stated in verse 14, “Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful
spirit from the Lord tormented
him.” First and foremost it is important to understand, God
is Creator, and we can look to Colossians 1:16, “For
by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created
through him and for him.” God did not create evil, but one of
His ark angels named Lucifer set his heart on being a god, and evil entered
into him, and he is the fallen angel who rebelled and took one-third of the
angels with him in the fall. God has many names for him the devil, Satan,
the thief, are some of the more used names.
I am in agreement with many of the men who
have addressed this scripture, when God’s Spirit is removed from a man, or a
nation, sin will have free access. Do you recall that Samuel prophesied
about the Spirit of the LORD rushing upon Saul and how he prophesies and turns
into another man, found in I Samuel 10:6. But God has now withdrawn that
Spirit of wisdom and prudence with a spirit of fortitude and courage, and God
has allowed an evil spirit to enter Saul. This is from Matthew Henry’s
Commentary: The devil, by the Divine permission,
troubled and terrified Saul, by the corrupt humor of his body, and passions of
his mind. He grew fretful, peevish, and discontented, and at times a madman.
He introduces God’s Word into the
picture. This stuff cannot be made up and it’s not the way you or I would
have placed our new King. He is coming in as King Saul’s musical person,
not as the chosen of God but as ruler over His chosen people. David is going to
the school of being a servant, and hard knocks and David’s skill set is not
just playing a great harp, but also as a warrior and he won the heart of Saul.
Let’s look at verses 16-23, “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 valor, a man of war, prudent
in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord
is with him.” 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.”
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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