David Before the King
Canon Hutchings. 1 Samuel 16:21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armor bearer. 1. This is a melancholy picture l The collapse of what gave promise of being a brilliant career is very affecting, particularly when it is the result of moral failure (1 Samuel 10:2). What contrast could be sharper than that, which is expressed by the words, "The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him" (ver 14)! 2. But to turn to the other side, how mysterious are the methods of Divine Providence! The successor of Saul is admitted into his presence on account of his musical capabilities Thus natural gifts were made to subserve Divine purposes. Little did David think, when he was playing in the tent of Jesse, that the pastime was a preparation for his future destiny; and evidently little did Jesse think that the youngest of his sons was the one who should be "taken from the sheepfolds" to feed Israel. I. SAUL'S CONDITION. 1. First he was in a state of dejection. I use the word "dejection," because it is a stronger term than "depression; depression is but a degree of dejection" (Crabb). Then dejection seems to be oftentimes measured by the height of previous exaltation, and so to be a very suitable term in the ease of Saul, Wordsworth says: — "As high as we have mounted in delight, In our dejection do we sink as low." There are those who would go further than this, and describe the king as suffering from "melancholia," and the hypochondriacal term of it. Perhaps the tendency is too common to attribute moral disease to mental. Saul was a disappointed man, and became the prey of his evil passions. 2. But this is only a part of the matter Saul's miserable condition is attributed in the Bible to the workings of an "evil spirit." It is a very unwarrantable method of dealing with the statements of holy Scripture, to assert that this is only the Jewish way of saying Saul was mad. No one can read the New Testament accounts of demoniacs, or our Lord's words as to devil-possession, and be satisfied with such an explanation. The same words describe the departure of the Spirit of God, and the arrival of an evil spirit,. 3. Again, this spirit is said to be "from the Lord," for even over evil spirits God has sovereignty. Satan could not tempt Job without Divine permission and Divine restrictions; his emissaries must therefore be allowed by God to tempt or torment man. This was a part of Saul's punishment; as, bodily and mental disorders are often the penalties of personal sin. II. DAVID'S REMEDY. 1. Saul, when these spiritual paroxysms were upon him, was soothed and calmed by the sweet strains from David's harp. Commentators say, that this power of music is well known. 2. Such an effect bears testimony to the source from which music had been said to come — the land of peace. Newman could not believe that, such effects as music wrought could be produced by that which is "unsubstantial" and transitory. Similarly, Kingsley says, "Music has been called the speech of angels." Music is a language, a universal language, which appeals to the heart of man; and as it gives expression to every feeling and emotion, so it has the power of calling every movement of the soul into play. 3. But they were the strains of David's harp alone which allayed the commotion in Saul's spirit, and drove off the evil influence. There is music and music. There is music which elevates and calms and spiritualises, and there is music which stirs evil passions and excites sensuous impulses It is music which appeals to what is Divine in man, and lifts up his thoughts and affections to the "far-off land," which has the power by its stern sweetness of pacifying the passions, and dissipating the gloom which hides the face of God. III. LESSONS. 1. To take warning from the history of Saul, lest through unfaithfulness to God we should forfeit the opportunities of service which He gives us, and so through disappointment become the prey of evil passions and evil powers. 2. To realise the need of watchfulness (Ephesians 6:12). 3. That music in the service of the sanctuary is not for purposes of entertainment, but to lift up the soul to God. 4. Finally, we may surely, with the mystical interpreter, see an image in this incident of the work of Christ, the true David, the Prince of Peace, who came to deliver mankind from the tyranny of Satan, and to restore to peace and harmony those who were distracted by divers lusts and passions; and further, inquire whether we have obtained that peace which Christ came to bring. (Canon Hutchings.) Parallel Verses KJV: And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer. WEB: David came to Saul, and stood before him. He loved him greatly; and he became his armor bearer.