1 Samuel 16:23 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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.

NIV: Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

NASB: So it came about whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would feel relieved and become well, and the evil spirit would leave him.

CSB: Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would pick up his lyre and play, and Saul would then be relieved, feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

NLT: And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.

This describes the exact result Saul's servants had hoped for when suggesting a skilled musician to play for the king (1 Samuel 16:15–17). God rejected Saul as king due to rebellion (1 Samuel 13:11–14; 15:17–29). God also removed His Spirit from Saul and allowed a harmful spirit to torment the sitting king (1 Samuel 16:14). This spirit is not necessarily evil in the moral sense—the Hebrew word used here can also refer to sadness, adversity, or affliction.

God chose David as Israel's next king; Samuel had anointed the young man (1 Samuel 16:1–13). David may not have known the exact reason for this anointing. Saul seems completely unaware of the entire encounter. But the reader can clearly see God at work. One of Saul's servants suggested David as the musician who could ease Saul's torment (1 Samuel 16:18). David quickly gained favor with Saul, thus giving the young man many opportunities to learn about being king (1 Samuel 16:19–22).

Here we learn that when David would play the lyre—a stringed, harp-like instrument—Saul would become refreshed in his spirit. Not only this, but also the harmful spirit would leave him for a time. Whether because the Spirit of God was on David or God told the evil spirit to leave, He surely allowed David's music to provide the relief Saul sought. That the spirit's influence was affected by Saul's mood indicates he was never "possessed," but being influenced.

Perhaps the harmful spirit left Saul briefly because of David's skillful playing and the content of David's songs of praise and worship to the Lord. In addition to everything else David accomplished, he became famous for godly music. He wrote and played songs (2 Samuel 1:17–19; 1 Chronicles 16:8; Psalm 105:1), including many of the Psalms. He invented instruments (Amos 6:5). David established the temple musicians who were "in charge of the service of song in the house of the Lord" (1 Chronicles 6:31).

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.