Having been anointed by Samuel as
King Saul was a troubled man. The bible says that “…an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.” Many people find this disturbing, as if God were the source of Saul’s torment. But if we read his story a little more carefully we will see that the roots of his distress lay in his disobedience to the will of God, and his attempt to do things his own way.
Jim Harnish writes, “The Bible does not say that God is the source of evil; but the Bible does say that when God’s goodness is rejected, evil is all that is left. The Bible says that we are created to live with the Spirit of God within us. Take the Spirit away, and the soul is empty. When God is no longer the organizing centre of human experience, we are destined for confusion, darkness, and despair.”
That’s where David enters the scene in service of King Saul. David was gifted at playing the harp, and the beautiful music he made help to soothe the king’s troubled soul.
David’s soothing music is a beautiful metaphor for the healing power that comes through a life that is in harmony with the perfect pitch of God’s will for us. While we can never know God’s will completely, we can know enough to take the next step of obedience. When we do so there is a healing harmony, a restoring resonance that flows from us not just into our own lives, but also into the lives of others.
The best way to discover God’s will for our lives is to look at the example of Jesus and to listen to his words, for as we seek to become more like him we will be becoming more and more the people God created us to be. And through us healing and harmony can flow into the world.
PRAY AS YOU GO
Reflect on these words by Leonard Sweet, and let them prompt a spontaneous prayer of your own to God:
“Jesus acts as a tuning fork to the Creator, the Eternal. If we would seek to get our own lives back in tune with God, it must be through listening to Christ’s frequencies and matching the resonance of our actions and attitudes to Jesus’ pitch.”
FOCUS SCRIPTURE
1 Samuel 16:14-23
Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.
Saul's attendants said to him, "See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the harp. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes upon you, and you will feel better."
So Saul said to his attendants, "Find someone who plays well and bring him to me."
One of the servants answered, "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the LORD is with him."
So David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armour-bearers. Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, "Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him."
Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.
Psalm 57:1-2, 7-11
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me,
for in you my soul takes refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
until the disaster has passed.
I cry out to God Most High,
to God, who fulfills his purpose for me.
My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and make music.
Awake, my soul!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.
