When God withdrew His Spirit from Saul, a tormenting spirit took over. Here is proof that there is no vacuum either in nature or in the spirit realm. Jesus spoke a parable about a man from whom a devil was exorcised. The devil roamed the dry places until he chose to check back with his former abode. When he returned, he found that the house was neat but empty. He went and invited seven more devils fiercer than himself to invade his victim. One way to keep devils at bay is to be filled with the Spirit at all times. Once you are filled, there is no room left for the devil to occupy.
Turning back to our text, we see the pragmatic step that Saul’s men took. They decided to bring a skillful instrumentalist for Saul. David was the pick. Every time the evil spirit troubled Saul, David would play some music on the harp. Anointed music drove away the tormenting spirit that troubled Saul. There is no better testimony to the power of music than this. Music is a knob that controls spiritual activities. Elisha once needed a word for the people going to battle. He asked for a minstrel to play. As soon as the minstrel began to play, the Spirit of the Lord came on him and he got a word for the people. The highlight of our meditation today is this: If music could drive out a spirit, it certainly can attract a spirit. How people draw tormenting spirits into their lives by their choice of music!