14 At that very moment the Spirit of God left Saul and in its place a black mood sent by God settled on him. He was terrified.
15-16 Saul’s
advisors said, “This awful tormenting depression from God is making
your life miserable. O Master, let us help. Let us look for someone who
can play the harp. When the black mood from God moves in, he’ll play his
music and you’ll feel better.”
17 Saul told his servants, “Go ahead. Find me someone who can play well and bring him to me.”
18 One
of the young men spoke up, “I know someone. I’ve seen him myself: the
son of Jesse of Bethlehem, an excellent musician. He’s also courageous,
of age, well-spoken, and good-looking. And God is with him.”
19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse requesting, “Send your son David to me, the one who tends the sheep.”
20-21 Jesse
took a donkey, loaded it with a couple of loaves of bread, a flask of
wine, and a young goat, and sent his son David with it to Saul. David
came to Saul and stood before him. Saul liked him immediately and made
him his right-hand man.
22 Saul sent word back to Jesse: “Thank you. David will stay here. He’s just the one I was looking for. I’m very impressed by him.”
23 After
that, whenever the bad depression from God tormented Saul, David got
out his harp and played. That would calm Saul down, and he would feel
better as the moodiness lifted.
