14 Now the spirit of the Lord had gone from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord was troubling him. 15 And Saul's servants said to him, See now, an evil spirit from God is troubling you. 16 Now give orders to your servants who are here before you to go in search of a man who is an expert player on a corded instrument: and it will be that when the evil spirit from God is on you, he will make music for you on his instrument, and you will get well. 17 And Saul said to his servants, Then get me a man who is an expert player, and make him come to me. 18 Then one of the servants in answer said, I have seen a son of Jesse, the Beth-lehemite, who is expert at playing, and a strong man and a man of war; and he is wise in his words, and pleasing in looks, and the Lord is with him. 19 So Saul sent his servants to Jesse and said, Send me your son David who is with the sheep. 20 And Jesse took five cakes of bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them to Saul by David. 21 And David came to Saul, waiting before him: and he became very dear to Saul, who made him his servant, giving him the care of his arms. 22 And Saul sent to Jesse saying, Let David be with me, for he is pleasing to me. 23 And whenever the evil spirit from God came on Saul, David took his instrument and made music: so new life came to Saul, and he got well, and the evil spirit went away from him.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 16:14-23
Commentary on 1 Samuel 16:14-23
(Read 1 Samuel 16:14-23)
Saul is made a terror to himself. The Spirit of the Lord departed from him. If God and his grace do not rule us, sin and Satan will have possession of us. The devil, by the Divine permission, troubled and terrified Saul, by the corrupt humours of his body, and passions of his mind. He grew fretful, peevish, and discontented, and at times a madman. It is a pity that music, which may be serviceable to the good temper of the mind, should ever be abused, to support vanity and luxury, and made an occasion of drawing the heart from God and serious things. That is driving away the good Spirit, not the evil spirit. Music, diversions, company, or business, have for a time often been employed to quiet the wounded conscience; but nothing can effect a real cure but the blood of Christ, applied in faith, and the sanctifying Spirit sealing the pardon, by his holy comforts. All other plans to dispel religious melancholy are sure to add to distress, either in this world or the next.