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1 Samuel 16:14-23

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

14. But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. 15. And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. 16. Let our lord now command thy servants, [which are] before thee, to seek out a man, [who is] a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. 17. And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring [him] to me. 18. Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, [that is] cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD [is] with him. 19. Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which [is] with the sheep. 20. And Jesse took an ass [laden] with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent [them] by David his son unto Saul. 21. And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer. 22. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight. 23. And it came to pass, when the [evil] spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

1 Samuel 16:14-23 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on 1 Samuel 16:14

Theological / Devotional

Spirit of the Lord departed. Saul had rejected the Spirit of God — committed the unpardonable sin — and there was nothing more God could do for him (see on ch. 15:35). It was not that the Spirit of Jehovah withdrew from Saul arbitrarily; but rather that Saul rebelled against His guidance, and deliberately withdrew himself from the influence of the Spirit. This must be understood in harmony with Ps. 139:7 and with the fundamental principle of free choice. If God through His Holy Spirit forced Himself upon Saul contrary to his desires, God would be making of the king a mere machine.

From the Lord. The Scriptures sometimes represent God as doing that which He does not specifically prevent. In giving Satan an opportunity to demonstrate his principles, God, in effect, would limit His own power. Of course, there were limits beyond which Satan could not go (see Job 1:12; 2:6), but within his limited sphere he did have divine permission to act. Thus, although his acts are contrary to the divine will, he can do nothing except what God permits him to do, and whatever he and his evil spirits may do, is done with God’s permission. Therefore when God withdrew His own Spirit from Saul (see on 1 Sam. 16:13, 14), Satan was free to have his way.

Troubled him. Josephus describes the malady thus: “As for Saul, some strange and demoniacal disorders came upon him, and brought upon him such suffocations as were ready to choke him” (, Antiquities vi. 8. 2). Evidently a severe melancholia developed as he brooded over the prophet’s announcement that he had forfeited the crown to a man “better” than he was (ch. 15:28). Intermittent possession by the evil spirit led Saul to feel and act something like a demented man.

By SdaBc