I Samuel 16:15-16
“Saul’s advisors said, ‘This awful tormenting depression from God is making your life miserable. O Master, let us help. Let us look for someone who can play the harp. When the black mood from God moves in, he’ll play his music and you’ll feel better.’”
“Some of Saul’s servants said to him, ‘A tormenting spirit from God is troubling you. Let us find a good musician to play the harp whenever the tormenting spirit troubles you. He will play soothing music, and you will soon be well again.’”
Moderns would call Saul’s affliction depression, running short of neurotransmitters. Depression can be black, but this plus demonic oppression is annihilating. Biblically there are only these two spiritual forces. Saul turned from God’s goodness and evil remained.
Diversion helps us cope with mental and physical pain. (Saul’s advisors found the anointed king to heal the apparent king and just so God worked behind the scenes for his purpose.) When the wound is deep many things can divert, and intense, unrelenting, pain makes it hard to think clearly. The frantic search for diversion from haunting pain leads to addiction. All are addicted to something in various degrees. We may choose a culturally approved or a rebellious form. Regardless, addiction/diversion can only serve itself. Healing requires turning to the God who made us, sees inside us. We trust in him alone because we know he is the only hope.
Lord, you are my only hope. I walk atop this sea of illness, like Peter on the water, because you hold my hand. Only you fill the emptiness of my pain with joy and thanksgiving. You turn my affliction on its head and fill me with good things. I am amazed!