1Sa 16:19-23 | TNotes

16:21 ^a Although at first Saul loved David very much, this love soon turned to intense jealousy and hatred (see 18:8-14 ^b).

• An armor bearer in ancient Israel served as the personal attendant of a warrior chieftain (see 14:1-15 ^c; 31:4-6 ^d; Judg 9:54 ^e; 2 Sam 18:15 ^f).
16:22 ^g David’s father, Jesse (16:18 ^h), arranged for David to continue serving Saul while still fulfilling his shepherding duties at home (see 17:14-15 ⁱ).
16:23 ^j Saul would feel better: David was more than a handsome lad gifted in music; he was the anointed king. Here David illustrated what a king should be: one who brings relief. Later, David composed dozens of psalms that have brought comfort and relief through the ages.

• the tormenting spirit would go away: Even those who are disobedient and rejected can receive relief and comfort through the Lord’s servant.

Thematic note: The Spirit’s Presence
In the Old Testament, the Spirit of the Lord came upon a person or group when they were called to do a task or ordained for an office. The Spirit “came upon” the judges Othniel, Gideon, and Jephthah (Judg 3:10 ^k; 6:34 ^l; 11:29 ^m), empowering them for service. Saul and David both received the Spirit of God when they were anointed king (1 Sam 10:1 ⁿ, 9-10 ^o; 16:13 ^p). The Spirit would depart when the task had been completed or when the officeholder was removed from office. When Samuel anointed David as the next king (16:13 ^q), the Spirit left Saul (16:14 ^r), who was disobedient and had been rejected by God as king (13:7-14 ^s; 15:10-29 ^t; cp. 28:15 ^u; Judg 16:20 ^v). After David had sinned with Bathsheba, he prayed to be spared this same judgment (Ps 51:11 ^w).
In the New Testament, God’s Holy Spirit is given to all who put their faith in Christ for salvation, not just to individuals in specific roles (see Acts 2:14-21 ^x; 1 Cor 12:1-13 ^y; Eph 1:13-14 ^z). Still, the Spirit performs a similar role in equipping God’s servants to do the work that God has called them to do (see 1 Cor 12:7-10 ^aa). The Old Testament departure of the Spirit from Saul tangibly demonstrates the need for the New Testament warnings not to sin against the Spirit and not to bring sorrow to the Spirit (see Mark 3:28-29 ^ab; Eph 4:30 ^ac; Heb 6:1-8 ^ad).

Passages for Further Study
Gen 41:37-40 ^ae; Exod 31:1-6 ^af; Judg 3:9-11 ^ag; 6:34 ^ah; 11:29 ^ai; 14:5-6 ^aj; 16:20-21 ^ak; 1 Sam 10:1-10 ^al; 11:6-7 ^am; 16:13-23 ^an; 19:19-23 ^ao; 2 Chr 20:13-19 ^ap; 24:20-22 ^aq; Ps 51:11-12 ^ar; Isa 11:1-5 ^as; Jer 31:33-34 ^at; Joel 2:28-29 ^au; Mark 3:28-29 ^av; Acts 2:1-21 ^aw; 4:31 ^ax; Eph 1:13-14 ^ay; 4:30 ^az; Heb 6:4-8 ^ba