1 Samuel 16:14-23: The Spirit of the Lord Departs from Saul
Introduction
In 1 Samuel 16:14-23, we find a significant moment in the life of King Saul, the first king of Israel. This passage marks a turning point in Saul's reign, as the Spirit of the Lord departs from him, and the atmosphere in the palace becomes one of fear and anxiety.
The Context
After rejecting the Lord's command to completely destroy the Amalekites, Saul's disobedience led to the Lord's rejection of him as king (1 Samuel 15:10-31). Despite this, Saul remained on the throne, but the Lord had already chosen a new king, David, to succeed him (1 Samuel 16:1-13).
The Passage
1 Samuel 16:14
Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord terrorized him.
1 Samuel 16:15-16
15 Saul's servants said to him, "Behold, an evil spirit from God is afflicting you. 16 Let our lord command his servants who attend you to search for someone who can skillfully play the lyre. When the evil spirit from God is upon you, the one who plays will play his lyre, and you will be well."
1 Samuel 16:17-18
17 So Saul said to his servants, "Find me a man who can play well and bring him to me." 18 One of the young men answered, "I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skillful in playing, a brave warrior, a man of war with wise words, and handsome; and the Lord is with him."
1 Samuel 16:19-23
19 Therefore, Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the flock." 20 So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a wineskin, and a young goat, and sent them to Saul through his son David. 21 And David came to Saul and attended him; and Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor bearer. 22 Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight." 23 So it came about whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the lyre and play, and Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would depart from him.
Explanation
In this passage, we see the consequences of Saul's disobedience. The Spirit of the Lord, which had empowered him to be king, departs from him, and an evil spirit from the Lord begins to terrorize him. This evil spirit is not a demon, but rather a spirit of fear, anxiety, and torment that God allows to afflict Saul as a consequence of his disobedience.
Saul's servants recognize that the evil spirit is from God and advise him to find a skilled musician to play the lyre, hoping to soothe his troubled spirit. This leads to the introduction of David, a young shepherd from Bethlehem, who is not only skilled in music but also brave, wise, and handsome. The Lord is with David, and Saul, unaware of David's future as king, takes him as his armor bearer.
The passage highlights the contrast between Saul and David. Saul, once anointed by God, has rejected God's command, and God has rejected him. David, on the other hand, is a man after God's own heart, who will one day succeed Saul as king.
Conclusion
In 1 Samuel 16:14-23, we see the consequences of disobedience and the sovereignty of God. God's rejection of Saul is a reminder that obedience is essential to maintaining a right relationship with Him. The passage also foreshadows the rise of David, a man who will become a great king and a type of Christ.
