And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.
The sending of Jesse's son from his father's house to Saul was the means by which, in God's providence, David was brought before the king and entered his service as attendant. Saul had been rejected from the throne, and his bitter rebellion, despair, and brooding over that rejection had left him melancholy, distracted under an evil spirit, with a gloomy and excited mind on the verge of losing his reason. At times humbled, he was anxious for one who knew from the Lord how to act according to His will to take charge of the government, and on the advice of his counselors that music would soothe his troubled mind he sent for David in a favorable state of mind.
David came as a shepherd lad who trusted God's promise of the throne, while Saul stood as the established monarch seeking to keep his power. He had been commended as a skillful musician on the harp, a valiant man of war, and prudent and faithful in all matters because guided by the Lord. Saul soon loved him and expressed delight in him and his music, making him his armor-bearer and attendant. He thought that one favored by God would be a safeguard to him and might even save his life from enemies.
David's skillful, lofty, and heaven-inspired playing upon the harp soothed Saul's troubled spirit, charmed away the dark cloud and gloom that settled upon him, and brought his excited mind into a more rational and happy state until the evil spirit departed. His service at court was intermittent, for when not required there he returned to his flocks among the hills and kept his simplicity of spirit and demeanor. He was recalled when necessary to minister, and he went from the king's house back to the fields with relief and gladness.
The sending of Jesse's son from his father's house to Saul was the means by which, in God's providence, David was brought before the king and entered his service as attendant. Saul had been rejected from the throne, and his bitter rebellion, despair, and brooding over that rejection had left him melancholy, distracted under an evil spirit, with a gloomy and excited mind on the verge of losing his reason. At times humbled, he was anxious for one who knew from the Lord how to act according to His will to take charge of the government, and on the advice of his counselors that music would soothe his troubled mind he sent for David in a favorable state of mind.
David came as a shepherd lad who trusted God's promise of the throne, while Saul stood as the established monarch seeking to keep his power. He had been commended as a skillful musician on the harp, a valiant man of war, and prudent and faithful in all matters because guided by the Lord. Saul soon loved him and expressed delight in him and his music, making him his armor-bearer and attendant. He thought that one favored by God would be a safeguard to him and might even save his life from enemies.
David's skillful, lofty, and heaven-inspired playing upon the harp soothed Saul's troubled spirit, charmed away the dark cloud and gloom that settled upon him, and brought his excited mind into a more rational and happy state until the evil spirit departed. His service at court was intermittent, for when not required there he returned to his flocks among the hills and kept his simplicity of spirit and demeanor. He was recalled when necessary to minister, and he went from the king's house back to the fields with relief and gladness.