1 Samuel 16:17 Commentary and Bible Study

‘And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.’ And what happens? One of them knows about David, and David is found. David, the neighbour, who will supplant him. David, the one who if he only knew it, is the one who is going to receive the kingdom. His greatest enemy is brought into the court. The overriding will of God! He is described as ‘cunning in playing’, which means very adept, at playing the harp. His musical skill must have been phenomenal. Now we know Bethlehem is a prominent place, five miles south of Jerusalem, and somehow David’s skill was known and his prowess and courage, and he is described in verse 18 in the most extravagant way, though he must only have been about nineteen years of age. Now some liberals say, ‘Clearly he wasn't all that; he was only a boy. So here is an example of how this is an edited record, and somebody has plucked out something with hindsight, and stuck it in early on.’ What nonsense that is. That is just because they mistakenly think he is a mere boy. He may be a very young man but he is a very big boy, and he is out there looking after the sheep, and surely as he says himself later on, defending them from lions and from bears. He has already established himself in the neighbourhood as being very bold in these exercises, and as having been credited with some extraordinary escapades. That is already standing to his credit. So he is a mighty valiant man, and a man-of-war which is a very loose translation. It means a man of conflict in his defending. Perhaps the Canaanites, the Arab tribes in the vicinity had had to be beaten off many times. They were making constant incursions into the land. So here it is: David has a reputation for looking after himself, and perhaps being involved in driving off invaders. So at this stage when he is anointed, though he is by far the youngest of the sons and shepherding the sheep, he has a reputation.Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and asked to have David sent to him. Jesse takes a very liberal offering, gifts for Saul. Maybe that is what they did in those days, or maybe Jesse was afraid that Saul had learned somehow, that David had been anointed to be king was going to execute him, so he wants to placate him. That is speculation. But anyway David came to Saul, stood before him, and Saul loved him greatly. That was going to be a rather remarkable affection that would blow hot and cold: murder one moment, and affection the next. ‘And he became his armour bearer’, his aid de camp. ‘And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.’ So the strange advice which the servant gave to King Saul, did actually work. It didn't make it right; it never worked for long. It had to be administered repeatedly, but it brought relief to Saul. The world’s remedies very often work, maybe for a time. But that doesn't make them right; they do not cure the problem; they do not bring people to the Lord in repentance and faith and trust. There is Saul seeking just temporary transient relief, but David is being trained for the kingdom.