Devotions for Week 2: David: Finding Peace When We Are Troubled (WATCH HERE)
1 Samuel 16:15 Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the lyre. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes on you, and you will feel better.”
17 So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.”
18 One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.”
Here in 1 Samuel 16, we are given a quiet yet profound glimpse into the power God has placed within music. Saul is tormented in his inner soul. Scripture describes his distress as a troubling spirit, and his attendants recognize that the turmoil of his soul needs more than advice or command. They discern that music can bring relief. Their solution is simple: Find someone who can play the lyre so that peace may return to the king’s heart.
This moment reminds us that God often uses gentle means to accomplish deep healing. Music does not argue with the soul. It does not demand explanations. It reaches places words cannot touch. When David plays, Saul feels better. The sound of strings becomes a channel of grace. Though Saul’s problems are far from resolved, the music brings a pause in the torment. In that pause, mercy is felt.
Music throughout Scripture carries spiritual weight. In 2 Kings 3:15, Elisha asks for a musician, and as the music plays, the hand of the Lord comes upon the prophet. Many of the psalms were sung prayers, shaping faith through melody. Music has always been a companion to God’s people in moments of fear, sorrow, and praise.
David is not chosen only because of skill. The servant describes him as brave, articulate, and favored by the Lord. The presence of God in David’s life is as important as the music he plays. The power of music is not merely technical. When it flows from a heart aligned with God, it brings greater blessing to the ones listening. In fact, Colossians 3:16 urges believers to let the word of Christ dwell richly among them as they sing psalms and spiritual songs. Music becomes a vessel for truth when it is rooted in God’s word.
We can picture Saul sitting in his palace, the noise of anxiety filling his mind. Then David begins to play. The room changes. Breathing slows. Thoughts settle. This is a picture many of us recognize. We live in a loud and restless world. Our souls are often troubled by fear, regret, or uncertainty. God still today uses music to bring calm. A worship song in a hospital room, a hymn remembered in grief, or a quiet melody during prayer can open space for the peace of God which surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7).
Use music intentionally. Choose songs that point your heart toward God when anxiety rises. Sing even when you do not feel strong. And like David, allow your life to be shaped by God’s presence so that what flows from you brings peace to others. Music offered to God becomes ministry to wounded hearts.
Reflect: Where do you see your soul needing calm and how might worshipful music invite God’s peace into that space? How can you use music to encourage and bring healing to someone else this week?
Prayer: Lord God, you know the places where our hearts feel troubled and restless. Thank you for the gift of music and for the way it carries your comfort into our lives. Teach us to turn toward you in song and to let your truth dwell richly within us. Use our worship to calm our souls and to bless those around us. May your peace reign in our hearts today. Amen