Rumor had spread throughout Jerusalem that the king was in a very bad state of mind. As Saul sat upon his throne, he spent most of his time silently brooding. It was evident to all who saw him that deep depression had seized and clouded his mind.

Just a short time earlier, Saul had victoriously led the armies of Israel in battle against their enemies, the Amalekites. But he felt defeated now, for he had disobeyed the Lord's command to "UTTERLY destroy" all that belonged to the wicked Amalekites, and had taken it upon himself to spare their king, Agag, and the best of their sheep, oxen and other animals. (1Samuel 15:1-9) When God's Prophet, Samuel, discovered Saul's flagrant disobedience, he delivered a message from the Lord to Saul that signalled his downfall: "Because you rejected the Word of the Lord, the Lord has rejected YOU from being King over Israel! The Lord has TAKEN the kingdom AWAY from you this day and given it to a neighbour of yours who is better than you are!" (1Samuel 15:11-29)

It was after receiving this ominous message that the Bible tells us, "The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an EVIL SPIRIT troubled him." (1Samuel 16:14)

His depression and melancholy were so severe that the servants who waited on the King grew increasingly alarmed over his mental condition. After conferring together, Saul's cupbearer, Jabez, was chosen to approach the King to suggest a means to hopefully help their depressed and despondent master:

Jabez slowly entered the lavishly-decorated throne room. "My Lord," he respectfully addressed the King.

"What do you want?" Saul sharply challenged. "Why do you trouble me? Can't you see that I do not wish to be disturbed?"

"Sire," Jabez explained, "please be assured that your humble servant--and all of your servants here--are loyal and devoted to your service. Be it far from any of us to displease you! But we have seen how the King is troubled by an evil spirit, and we wanted to offer our help...."

"How DARE you speak to your King regarding such matters!" Saul raged as he hastily rose from his throne and reached for his javelin.

"Have MERCY, Sire!" Jabez cried out, trembling and falling to his knees. "Your servants only wished to request that you give us the order to search out someone who can skillfully play the HARP!--For when the harp is played, the evil spirit will DEPART and you will be relieved!"

Realising that his cupbearer had not intended to insult him, but was merely trying to be of assistance, Saul sunk wearily back down onto his throne, pondering what Jabez had just said. "Hmmmm," he thought to himself, "I wonder... I HAVE heard that evil spirits depart when music to the Lord is played. Perhaps it's worth a try?"

"Very well, then, Jabez, GO and find now a minstrel who can play skillfully, and bring him to me!"

Another one of Saul's servants ventured to step forward and say, "My Lord, last year, when visiting my mother in Bethlehem, I saw a lad there named David, the son of Jesse, and heard him playing his harp and singing to the Lord as he watched over his father's flocks of sheep. He played and sang beautifully, and I'm sure the Lord is with him."

Hoping that perhaps this lowly shepherd boy's music might be able to somehow help him, Saul immediately sent messengers to Bethlehem, to Jesse, requesting, "Send me your son, David, who is with the sheep!" Jesse obliged without hesitation, for it was a great honor to have one of his sons serving in the King's courts.

Upon meeting him, Saul immediately took a liking to David. He then instructed his cupbearer, "Bring the lad into the royal chamber and have him play for me!"

So Jabez took David aside and briefly explained to him why he had been brought to the king's court. Upon hearing about Saul's problem, David thought to himself, "Who am I to play before the King of Israel?"

"Come now," Jabez told him, "the King is waiting for you. I will escort you into the King's presence and show you where to sit." As they entered the dimly lit throne room, David silently and earnestly prayed, asking the Lord to help him and to have His way.

Saul did not greet David, but sat staring at him in silence. Feeling uncomfortable and unsure what to do, David looked at Jabez, who motioned him to begin playing. Taking his harp, David closed his eyes and began plucking its strings, picturing himself back on the peaceful hillside watching over his father's flocks. Soon the entire chamber was filled with the beautiful, soothing and melodic sounds of David's music, with which he sang, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not lack. He causes me to lie down in green pastures...." (Psalm 23)

As the King attentively listened to this humble musician from Bethlehem, his emotions were stirred, and he began tapping his feet in rhythm to the music. Suddenly Saul realised that he felt something that he hadn't experienced for what seemed like ages--PEACE!--Peace of mind and peace of heart!--And he knew that the evil spirit had LEFT him!

The Bible says, "And it came to pass, that when the evil spirit came upon Saul, that David took his harp and played: And Saul was REFRESHED and felt better, and the evil spirit DEPARTED from him!" (1Samuel 16:23)

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What an amazing story and demonstration of the spiritual POWER of inspired music! Music that is INSPIRED by the Spirit of God CARRIES the Spirit of God.--And the Devil hates it and cannot stand it, as Saul's case demonstrates. The evil spirit fled from Saul as soon as he tuned in and listened to God's inspired musician, David, who played and sang the Lord's song!

"O sing unto the LORD a NEW song, for He has done MARVELLOUS things! He brought me up also OUT of an HORRIBLE PIT, and OUT of the MIRY CLAY, and set my feet upon a ROCK! (JESUS!) And He has put a NEW SONG in my mouth, even PRAISE unto our GOD!" Amen? (Psalm 98:1; 40:2,3) Listen to lovely music that glorifies GOD!--Not the Devil!--WILL you?