David Plays for King Saul

In previous chapters, we saw how God chose Saul to be the first king of Israel. However, Saul disobeyed God's commands, and as a result, the Spirit of the Lord departed from him, and a troubling spirit came upon him. In this chapter, God directs Samuel to anoint a new king from among the sons of Jesse in Bethlehem. God chose the youngest son, David, a shepherd boy. David was known for his musical talent, and when King Saul was troubled by the bad spirit, David was brought to play the lyre for him. The music brought Saul relief, and he grew to love David.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why did God send Samuel to Jesse in Bethlehem? What does this tell us about God's plans and how He chooses people?
2. Describe David when Samuel first saw him. What qualities did God see in David that weren't immediately obvious?
3. What happened to King Saul after he disobeyed God? How did this manifest in his life?
4. How did David come to be in King Saul's service? What talent did he possess that was beneficial to Saul?
5. How did David's music affect King Saul? What does this story tell us about the power of music and its ability to soothe and comfort?
6. Even though David brought relief to Saul, the bad spirit eventually returned. What does this suggest about temporary solutions versus lasting healing?
7. Have you ever found comfort or peace through music? Share your experience.
8. How can we seek lasting peace and healing when we are troubled, rather than just temporary relief?

Prayer:

Dear Lord, we thank you for the story of David and how his musical gift brought comfort to King Saul. We see that you have unique talents and abilities for each of us. Help us to use our gifts to bring comfort and healing to others. When we face troubled times, guide us to seek your lasting peace and the presence of your Spirit in our lives. Amen.

This discussion is based on The One Year Bible Storybook by Virginia Muir.