Sing, Sing a Song, Sing Out Loud, Sing Out Strong: Daily Thoughts from 1 Samuel (1 Samuel 16:14-23)

I believe I have properly worshiped God only when I get emotional about it. I know, I know, there are plenty of people who get emotional during worship who don’t seem to follow through with obedient living. I’m not discounting that my worship must also be conformed to the truth and result in obedience. But I also know that until my emotions are engaged my whole self has not embraced God and what He has done in my life.

And that is why it is so important and universally accepted that something that means anything to you must be sung. Singing is an avenue to the emotions, expressing them and eliciting them. Saul and David, the king and the king elect, both believed that.

Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him. And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. 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. (1 Samuel 16:14-23, ESV)

As the Spirit of Yahweh came upon David to empower him toward kingship, so He left Saul and left him devoid of power to rule. Saul did not lose his salvation but his anointing to be king. And Yahweh sent a “harmful” or evil spirit to torment Saul. The authors of Scripture do not hesitate to acknowledge Yahweh as absolutely sovereign and behind everything that happens in our lives, good and bad. They do not hold God accountable for evil but know that, as the book of Job testifies, Satan himself does God’s bidding though he thinks it is his own idea. This is the mystery Paul addresses in Romans 9 where though Pharaoh hardened his heart it was God who hardened it and yet God finds fault with Pharaoh. No one resists God’s will but God still holds individuals accountable for their decisions, good and bad.

God uses this situation to bring David to Saul’s court. As Samuel was told to warn Israel of a king’s ways, so here Saul demands of Jesse that his son come to Saul’s court and Jesse must comply. David has earned a reputation with the man who recommends him as a skillful lyre player, a four-, seven-, or ten-stringed instrument plucked with a pick in one hand and the other hand silencing the strings as needed. David is also said to be a “man of war, prudent in speech, and of good presence” and as having Yahweh “with him.” This does not mean David was experienced in war but that he had the aptitude and that he was quite intelligent and wise.

We know from Scripture that David composed many songs (psalms) to Yahweh and was a brilliant musician. The power of music, especially spiritual music, to affect our souls is evident here when Saul experienced the harmful spirit upon him. It even drove the demon aback and gave Saul relief. So Saul made David his armor bearer, a kind of personal servant who helped Saul dress in his armor and be responsible for the care of his weapons, and who, thus, could be with him almost all the time. He would also be expected then, to go to war with Saul.

God is exalting David over Saul, though the steps may seem small and slow. Trust in God’s plan for your life and do not despise the time it takes to accomplish His purposes.  And by all means, sing your faith.  Sing, sing a song, sing out loud, sing out strong.