In the King’s Service

14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.

15 Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the lyre. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes on you, and you will feel better.”

17 So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.”

18 One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.”

19 Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” 20 So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.

21 David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. 22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”

23 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.

The Spirit of God had departed from King Saul, leaving him to go his own way. Saul had built his world with lies, arrogance, and ambition. He had done everything in his power to build a world where he was king. So there was little room for God’s way and a life of holiness, obedience, and community. Israel was supposed to be a light to other nations, pointing the way to God. But with Saul as king, that did not happen.

The writer of 1 Samuel does not want us to miss these important words: “David came to Saul and entered his service.” David’s transition to leadership in Israel included entering the service of a mad and corrupt king. This would shape David’s life in profound ways. It meant that David would serve at the pleasure of King Saul, and he did not have a choice. Still, as he served Saul, David could honor and serve the Lord, the true King.

Today we can see that David entered into Saul’s service so that God could show his people that he knew how to pick a leader after his own heart (see 1 Samuel 13:14; 16:7).

There’s always more going on in life than what we can see in front of us. David and ­others may not have seen it, but God was working in the background to make his purposes known.

Lord God, being in service to you requires my whole heart. Help me to see your ever-working power behind the scenes of my life. Guide me to live faithfully for you, in Jesus’ name. Amen.