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Throughout it all, God worked negatively with Saul
and positively with David. " ... The Lord had sent a
tormentíng spirit that filled him [Saul) with depression
and fear. Sorne of Saul's aides suggested a cure. 'We' ll
tind a good barpist to play for you whenever the tor–
menting spirit is bothering you,' they said.... One of
them said he knew a young fellow in Bethlehem, the son
of a man named Jesse, who was not only a talented harp
player, but was handsome, brave, and strong, and had
good, solid judgment. 'What's more,' he added, 'the
Lord is with him' "(verses 14-18).
God, through His Spirit and busy angels, had in–
ftuenced a decision by Saul necessary to place David
where God wanted him. And David's own efforts were
not missing from the scene. In his short life he had
managed to build a reputation for talent, bravery and
judgment- and, most important of all, to show by his
example that he was close to God!
Remember, the king's talent scouts were ever on the
lookout for this type of manto conscript into the army or
into the staff at court. Saul should have sensed a prob–
lem here.
He would certainly eventually rue the day David
carne into his life!
lnstant Success
rom the instant he saw David,
Saul admired and loved him; and
David became bis bodyguard.
...... Then Saul wrote to Jesse, 'Please
Jet David join my staff, for I am
very fond ofllim' "(verses 2 1-22).
When Saul was tormented by the evil spirit from God,
David would besummoned toplaythe harpand Saul would
feel better. God was very clever. The spirit which troubled
Saul could be sent to distress him anytime God so chose.
Whenever, or for however long God wanted David to be
present with the king; whatever affairs ofstate or personal
problems God wanted David to observe-aH could be
a rranged by God by this simple method!
Ta lent as a musician was only one of the quali–
fications David brought with him to Saul's court. As
every student of politics in government or industry
knows, proximity to power breeds power! Saul was fond
of David. As yet he had not begun to fear hím as a rival.
David was young, innocent. Surely Saul's guard was
completely down in David's presence. As it were, David
was King Saul's private physician/psychiatrist, treating
his ailments. Saul felt free to discuss in David's presence
whatever problems might occur.
Surely, since he carne with the qualification and repu–
tation of "good, solid judgment," David must have been
consulted for an opinion on the problems of state, and
even the personal problems facing Saul. Saul was king.
He could accept or reject any advice. It never burts to
ask ... at first!
And, what songs did David play? Later he was to
write tbe majority of the psalms. Were not the themes of
his songs sown in the seeds of bis chiJdhood and young
adulthood? Remember his reputation: "The Lord is with
him!" The psalms range from bitter laments (always
with a positive ending) to paeans of joy. Surely the
36
beginning concepts of Psalm 119 (the longest of the
psalms) were present in David's music for Saul. The
deep awe, respect, fear, !ove and utter dependence on
God must have blossomed in the words David chose to
accompany the music he played for Saul to banish his
evil spirit.
Armorbearer for the Klng
avid was also recommended for
his bravery. His position at court
was officially "armorbearer," or as
sorne translations bave it, "body–
guard." He, who was ordained by
God to the office ofking to replace Saul, was given as bis
official responsibility the trusted position of the king's
armorbearer and protector! Could this be one of the
reasons why,
in
following years, David would be so
reluctant to lift bis hand against Sau l, even when bis
men advised him to kili him, and circumstances allowed
the possibility?
The king's armorbearer, intimate confidant, personal
servant to his most important needs, must have had the
king's ear on military strategy- tirst learning, then offer–
ing plans of bis own. David had a firsthand opportunity
to observe King Saul's mind in act ion on military mat–
ters. Surely this provided him with excellent intelligence
when later he would be fteeing from the same man as a
hunted outlaw, a guerrilla leader hiding in the bilis to
save bis life.
And "handsome, good-looking," was also a descrip–
tion of David given to Saul. Saul had a family, and in
that family was a daughter, Micha!, later to become
David's wife. This entertain ing, multitalented youth, a
fresh face in court, must have caught the eye of more
than one of the feminine gender during bis stay so close
to the king.
Yet, until the episode with Goliath, David's stay at
court was intermittent, mostly in the prívate chambers of
the king. His Jaunching into public notice, with its atten–
dant problems, was precipitated by bis encounter with
that famous Philist ine, Goliath! Next issue, read how the
experience changed David from friend, to riva l, to
enemy of King Saul, and how he became a public figure
in all of Israel.
D
(To Be Continued)
MUSESANOJESUS-
What Did They Have in Common?
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A Tale of Two
Prophets
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