1 Samuel 16:14-23. King Saul was often tormented by an evil spirit. His servants suggest that he find someone to play music for him when this happens, and one of the servants says he had seen a son of Jesse who is skilled in playing, a man of valor and war, and good in speech and presence. Saul sends for David, and Jesse sends him to Saul with "an ass laden with bread, a skin of wine, and a kid." Saul comes to love David greatly and sends to Jesse saying "Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight." "And whenever the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it... so Saul was refreshed and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him."

The evil spirit from God that torments Saul sounds a lot like what we today would call a form of mental illness. I have seen many people I love tormented like this - falling into depression, anxiety, or some other place in their minds that causes them to not act like themselves. They sometimes become quite angry and mean-spirited. Many other people have described to me the same behavior in those they love, especially lately with all the fear and anxiety being encouraged in us. (This is why therapists and psychologists are all overloaded right now!) Note, though, that the evil spirit is from God - it is a trial, a cross that Saul must bear - something that he should strive to overcome and learn from. Saul's servants wisely recommend music (it really does have the power to calm and drive away these feelings!!)

Eventually, Saul will utterly turn on David and hunt him down as a threat to his kingship. But right now Saul loves David very much. I have learned that it is only this deep love that can be so corrupted as to become such a driving hatred. People with this mental illness that I see so much of do not hurt those whom they do not love deeply. They are able to keep the mask up and act fairly normal around most others. They do not adopt the meanness that they do with those they love. But if they love you, watch out! They direct the full force of their pain and torment onto their loved ones. I think it is because subconsciously they blame us a bit for not seeing and understanding and helping them with their pain and torment. That is what loved ones are for, right? But we cannot, it is bigger than us.

In fact, only God can love them and help them the way they need - that is why the evil spirit is from God - to make them turn to him and rely on him. If they do not do this, they become like Saul, bitterly pursuing the ones they used to love to punish them for perceived wrongs. Those of us they love are called to nonetheless behave like David. We must protect ourselves, yes, but we also need to find what God wants from us in these situations. We must continue loving the people who are treating us this way, never being vengeful or hateful back to them.

David had several opportunities to kill Saul when he was being pursued by him, but never did. David (almost:) always trusted God and followed his rules. We are called to do the same when faced with being hurt by those we love.