God is amazing, to say the least.
He initially united King-to-be David and King-on-the-throne Saul by means of music!
Read the Story with me, 1 Samuel 16:14-23 …
“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.”
Please do not worry about the Spirit of the Lord “departing” from you, my friend. Since the Day of Pentecost, He (the Spirit) is here to stay and to indwell every Believer in Christ. You are His Temple, in fact! HE IS NOT LEAVING YOU. Saul lived in a different age when the Holy Spirit did “come and go” as God willed.
And that “evil spirit from the Lord” is not of concern either, not any longer. And evil spirit and the Holy Spirit cannot inhabit the same body! God was punishing Saul for all his disobedience!
Saul’s servants knew that “music,” well, “godly music” … would calm the King’s heart. He needed a court musician!
Then God does His mysterious (and wonderful) work! In Verse 18 “one” of Saul’s servants knew of David! How about that?
Saul subsequently sent for David.
David came and played that Spirit-filled music for Saul.
They even became close for a time. Things would have stayed that way had David been in command. But Saul, now bereft of the Holy Spirit, was extremely erratic.
But at least now they have met!
And when David played, at those times Saul was in torment, the evil spirit “departed!”
Oh, the value of music that glorifies God!
David the musician, unknowingly being trained of God … even when he was with his sheep those long days and nights … being trained as a King’s musician and more!
Once Elisha too had to have some godly music before preaching to two Jewish Kings! “Now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.” 2 Kings 3:15
David was such a good musician that he became known (eventually) as … “the sweet psalmist of Israel.” 2 Samuel 23:1
The Prophet of Amos says this … that David even designed and built musical instruments! “They invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David.” Amos 6:5
David wrote half the Psalms anyway, probably more. And those precious Psalms are all songs, many accompanied by instruments lifting sweet and glorious melodies unto the Lord!
Thank you, David.
And one might even say God used music to launch David’s Kingdom!
I’m quite sure when Jesus reigns on this earth someday, during the Millennium, He will have around Him music and singing and melody!
All magnifying our great God!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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