Saul the first king of Israel fell from grace through his disobedience to God. 1 Samuel 15:3 Saul was to completely  destroy everything and anything associated with the Amalekites and he didn’t. He kept what was good and even kept their king alive. Samuel the prophet confronted Saul and told him the Lord  has rejected him as king for his disobedience. 1 Samuel 15:22-23.

God send Samuel to Bethlehem to the house of Jesse where he has chosen the one of his eight sons to be king. David a young shepherd boy was chosen by God to be Saul’s successor. Not his brothers who had looked the part, a young and ordinary but faithful son, David. For this reason God says that David is a man after his own heart, 1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22.

1Samuel 16:14 ” Now the spirit of the Lord had depart from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.” This just goes to show that God control the evil as well as the good. Saul servant suggested to him to find someone who can play the lyre when the evil spirit from God comes on him it will make him feel better. One of his servant recommended David Jesse son from Bethlehem and he sent and ask Jesse for David. David served Saul and he liked him very much, made him one of his armor-bearers. David remained with Saul and whenever the evil spirit from God come upon Saul David would play the lyre and Saul would feel relief and the evil spirit would leave him. The playing of the lyre is very important to Saul. When he was first anointed by Samuel and was on his way back home Samuel told him he was going to meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, timbrels, pipes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying and he also will prophesy with them, 1Samuel 10:5-6.

If you don’t know the story of how David and Saul began an relationship with each other this is how it all began. Saul had no idea at the time this young shepherd boy David was going to be his rival as king even before David killed the Philistines giant Goliath. David was already anointed by Samuel. It was only after David killed Goliath and began killing more enemies on the battle field than Saul, when the people sang and dancing about David’s victory, 1Samuel 18: 7-14. Jealousy and resentment toward David arose in Saul, he felt David was after his kingdom next. The spirit of God had left Saul completely only the evil spirit was left that tormented him and he got worst, not even the playing of the lyre helped. It got so bad David had to run and hide to save himself from Saul trying to kill.

I couldn’t understand why would God have allowed Saul to be tormented by an evil spirit and then to torment David, his chosen? In the book of Job God had given the devil permission to go after Job also his chosen and a man after his own heart. Then I thought about Joseph with the coat of many colours who had a dream and I remember what he also like David endured, it worked out for their good. Reason being the Lord was with these men because of their love and faith in him regardless of their circumstances they waited on and trust God for their salvation. Saul became like Adam and Eve, disobedience to God cost him everything and like Job 1:21 said, “The Lord give and the Lord has taken away.”

1Samuel 10:6-7 The spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.