David Plays for Saul

Saul had rejected the Spirit of God—committed the unpardonable sin—and there was nothing more God could do for him (see on ch. 15:35). It was not that the Spirit of Jehovah withdrew from Saul arbitrarily but rather that Saul rebelled against His guidance, and deliberately withdrew himself from the influence of the Spirit. This must be understood in harmony with Ps. 139:7 and with the fundamental principle of free choice. If God through His Holy Spirit forced Himself upon Saul contrary to his desires, God would be making of the king a mere machine.

Saul was advised to seek relief through musical therapy. The sound of David's lyre and his chanting of lofty hymns afforded Saul temporary release from the evil spirit that haunted him. As Saul listened to David's music his wicked feelings of self—pity and jealousy left him for a time, only to return with double power as time went on. With his continued rejection of God's guidance, he became like the man in Christ's parable of demon possession (Luke 11:24—26), where "the last state" of such a soul proves to be far "worse than the first."

Apparently David's reputation as a musician and a man of bravery, sound judgment, and tact was already established before his appearance at court and his victory over Goliath. David was probably a youth on the verge of manhood, for a little later, at the time of his encounter with Goliath, he is described both as a "boy," Heb. na'ar ("young man," ch. 17:58), and as a "young man," Heb. 'elem ("stripling," v. 56).

Though it was not generally known that David had been anointed king, nothing could hide the fact that the Holy Spirit, who had taken control of his life in a special way at the time of his anointing (see on v. 13), was successfully preparing him for the important tasks that lay ahead. Even Saul came to honor and respect the naturally attractive personality of David, and to esteem in him those qualities implanted there by the Holy Spirit. Saul recognized the obvious superiority of this promising young man, tacitly admitting the wisdom of God's choice of a successor to the throne.