David’s Music Soothes Saul

David’s Music Soothes Saul

Q: What instrument did David play?

• a. flute
• b. harp
• c. horn

Have you ever heard the expression “Music soothes the savage beast”? That is actually a misquote from a play written in the 1600s, but the misquote is what is most well known. The saying means that music can soothe a person’s emotions or soul, and that is something King Saul badly needed.

Today, if you accept Jesus as your Savior, his Spirit is always with you. This wasn’t true in Old Testament times. In those times, the Spirit of God would come upon someone, but it would also leave when he stopped following God. When the Lord rejected Saul as king, his Spirit left Saul, and Saul became very troubled.

Harps were popular musical instruments in Saul’s time. Not only was David a brave and wise shepherd, but he was also a musician. Others knew of David’s talent, and messengers were sent to bring him to Saul. David had already been appointed king in Saul’s place, but Saul didn’t know that yet. Being invited to the palace to play music for Saul gave David a chance to watch life in the palace firsthand. David’s music soothed Saul’s troubled spirit, so David returned to the palace many times to play his harp for Saul.

God was orchestrating events in David’s life to prepare him to be a wise and godly king. God’s Spirit was on David, unlike Saul, preparing him to be used in a mighty way.

For You

David would one day be king. In the meantime God was preparing him through everyday circumstances. Look around you and ask God what he wants you to learn today that will help you in the future.

Answer: b

One of the servants said to Saul, “One of Jesse’s sons from Bethlehem is a talented harp player. Not only that—he is a brave warrior, a man of war, and has good judgment. He is also a fine-looking young man, and the LORD is with him.” So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, “Send me your son David, the shepherd.”   1 Samuel 16:18-19

(The Whole Story: 1 Samuel 16:14-23)