1 Samuel 16:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Saul 's servants said to him, "Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you.

NIV: Saul’s attendants said to him, "See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.

NASB: Saul’s servants then said to him, 'Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrifying you.

CSB: so Saul’s servants said to him, "You see that an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.

NLT: Some of Saul’s servants said to him, 'A tormenting spirit from God is troubling you.

KJV: And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.

NKJV: And Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you.

The Lord has sent His Spirit on Israel's next king, David, and has removed His Spirit from Israel's current king, Saul. In exchange, the Lord has sent a harmful spirit to torment Saul (1 Samuel 16:13–14). Most commentators agree this was a demon permitted by God to do its evil, afflicting work in the life of Saul. Saul, for his part, could have repented and turned back to the Lord but did not.

Those closest to Saul recognize the presence of this harmful spirit in his life. It is interesting that they recognize the spirit is "from God." In some way, the tormenting spirit sent by the Lord is causing obvious and noticeable distress for the king.

First Samuel 16:14–23 finds King Saul tormented by a harmful spirit sent by God. The Lord's Spirit has left him. Saul's servants are aware of the afflicting spirit and suggest that music would soothe the king during the times of torment. He asks them to recruit a skillful musician to play the lyre when he is affected. One of the servants suggests David, whom he knows to be skilled with the lyre and reputable in character. The servant also recognizes that the Lord is with Samuel. Saul agrees and sends messengers to Jesse. The king quickly comes to love David and even makes him his armor-bearer. When David plays, the harmful spirit leaves. David becomes a permanent servant of the king.

The Lord sends Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse's sons as king. The Lord reveals His choice to be David, Jesse's youngest son. Samuel anoints the young man. God's Spirit comes on David but departs from King Saul. When the Lord sends a harmful spirit on Saul, his servant suggests that the king recruit David to play the lyre whenever Saul is tormented. Saul does so, and he quickly bonds with David, making the young man his armor-bearer.

First Samuel 16 introduces David to the story of Israel's kings. David is the son of Jesse, who is the grandson of Ruth (Ruth 4:21–22). He will be anointed king as the Lord has rejected Saul (1 Samuel 15:26). The Lord's Spirit leaves Saul and comes to David (1 Samuel 16:13–14); this is different from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers today (John 14:26; 2 Timothy 1:14). David becomes a beloved musician and servant to Saul, but the king's heart will become violently jealous (1 Samuel 18:8, 11).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.

Accessed 12/21/2024 9:20:14 PM