1 Samuel 16:14-23

David is introduced to Saul

¹⁴ Now the Lord’s spirit had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him. ¹⁵ Saul’s servants said to him, “Look, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. ¹⁶ If our master just says the word, your servants will search for someone who knows how to play the lyre. The musician can play whenever the evil spirit from God is affecting you, and then you’ll feel better.”

¹⁷ Saul said to his servants, “Find me a good musician and bring him to me.”

¹⁸ One of the servants responded, “I know that one of Jesse’s sons from Bethlehem is a good musician. He’s a strong man and heroic, a warrior who speaks well and is good-looking too. The Lord is with him.”

¹⁹ So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, “Send me your son David, the one who keeps the sheep.”

²⁰ Jesse then took a donkey and loaded it with a homer of bread, a jar of wine, and a young goat, and he sent it along with his son David to Saul. ²¹ That is how David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked David very much, and David became his armor-bearer. ²² Saul sent a message to Jesse: “Please allow David to remain in my service because I am pleased with him.” ²³ Whenever the evil spirit from God affected Saul, David would take the lyre and play it. Then Saul would relax and feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him alone.