1 Samuel 16:14-23

Living Bible

¹⁴ But the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul, and instead, the Lord had sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear. ^15-16 Some of Saul’s aides suggested a cure.

“We’ll find a good harpist to play for you whenever the tormenting spirit is bothering you,” they said. “The harp music will quiet you and you’ll soon be well again.”

¹⁷ “All right,” Saul said. “Find me a harpist.”

¹⁸ One of them said he knew a young fellow in Bethlehem, the son of a man named Jesse, who was not only a talented harp player, but was handsome, brave, and strong, and had good, solid judgment. “What’s more,” he added, “the Lord is with him.”

¹⁹ So Saul sent messengers to Jesse, asking that he send his son David the shepherd. ²⁰ Jesse responded by sending not only David but a young goat and a donkey carrying a load of food and wine. ²¹ From the instant he saw David, Saul admired and loved him; and David became his bodyguard.

²² Then Saul wrote to Jesse, “Please let David join my staff, for I am very fond of him.”

²³ And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp and Saul would feel better, and the evil spirit would go away.