Today, we will watch David using his gift of music. Remember how he practiced his harp on the hillside, making up songs of praise to God, and soothing the temperament of his sheep after longs days of movement and grazing?

God was ready to use that gift to soothe the troubled soul of King Saul. You may remember that as God anointed David with His spirit, He removed His Spirit from Saul. As a result, Saul had fits of great depression and anxiety.

No doubt, Saul remembered how he had deliberately disobeyed God. Oh, he found justification for his actions, even holy-sounding justification, but he knew he had disobeyed. The words of Samuel echoed over and over in his mind.

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice…” I Samuel 15:22

“…Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.” I Samuel 15:23

Some of Saul’s servants had the idea that if Saul would bring someone in to play music for him when he got in these bad moods, it might calm his soul. Saul liked the idea and asked them to find someone. One servant popped up to say,

“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.” I Samuel 16:18

Wow, that’s quite a detailed recommendation! Wouldn’t you love to know who that servant was and how he knew so much about David? In the midst of all these admirable qualities, he concluded that “the Lord is with him.” There was a spiritual nature about this harp player.

The king accepted the recommendation and told them to send for David. Sure enough, when Saul became troubled, he called David to come in and play.

Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him. I Samuel 16:23b

So, David began using one of the gifts God had given him, and sure enough, the Lord was with him. In addition, David gained entrance into the palace. He learned the ways and thoughts of palace living. Little did Saul realize that he had invited the next king to be his servant. God works in amazing ways.

For many years I had a wonderful solo voice and enjoyed compliments galore. One day, I had a glitch. Something didn’t go well. I hung my head before God in shame, realizing I had taken all the glory for myself. From that point on, I prayed every time before I got up to sing, that the Lord would intervene and use the music and text to speak to people.

The comments turned from “You have such a beautiful voice” to “Oh, how the Lord blessed me with that song.” I merely became the vessel.

David’s talent became a spiritual, soothing  gift because “the Lord was with him.” How does the Lord want to use your gifts today? 

~ Joyce ~