1 Samuel 16:14-23: Understanding the Anointing of David
The Departure of the Spirit from Saul
In 1 Samuel 16:14-23, we find the story of the departure of the Spirit of the Lord from King Saul. This significant event marks a turning point in the reign of Saul and sets the stage for the anointing of David as the next king of Israel.
The Spirit of the Lord Departs from Saul
Verse 14: "Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord terrorized him."
The Spirit of the Lord, which had been with Saul since his anointing as king, departed from him. This departure was a direct result of Saul's disobedience to God's commands, as seen in 1 Samuel 15. The withdrawal of the Spirit's presence left Saul vulnerable to the influence of an evil spirit.
The Servants' Advice to Saul
Verse 15: "Saul's servants said to him, 'Behold, an evil spirit from God is afflicting you. Let our lord now command your servants who attend you to look for a man who is a skillful player on the lyre; and it shall come about when the evil spirit from God is upon you, that he shall play the lyre with his hand, and you shall be well.'"
Saul's servants, noticing the change in their master, advised him to find a skilled musician to play the lyre and soothe his troubled spirit. They believed that the music would bring comfort and peace to Saul.
The Selection of David
Verse 16: "Let our lord now command, and your servants will search out a man; let him come to my lord, and he shall play the lyre with his hand; so you shall be well.'"
The servants were instructed to find a skilled musician, and they soon discovered a young man named David, who was a skilled player of the lyre.
Verse 18: "One of the young men answered, 'Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, and a warrior, and prudent in speech, and a handsome man, and the Lord is with him.'"
David, a young man from Bethlehem, was identified as a skilled musician, brave warrior, and a prudent speaker. Moreover, he was said to have the Lord with him, indicating that God's presence was already upon him.
Verse 22-23: "Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, 'Send me your son David who is with the flock.' Then Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a wineskin, and a young goat, and sent them to Saul by David his son. And David came to Saul and attended him; and Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor bearer."
David was sent to Saul, and the king was immediately taken by the young man's skills and presence. David became Saul's armor bearer, a position of great trust.
In this passage, we see the beginning of David's rise to prominence, as well as the decline of Saul's reign. The anointing of David as the next king of Israel will soon follow, marking a new era in Israel's history.
