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Page 35
And Samuel said:
"Send for him; for we will not sit down until he comes." So after a time
the youngest son was brought in. His name was David, a word that means
"darling," and he was a beautiful boy, perhaps fifteen years old, with
fresh cheeks and bright eyes.
As soon as the young David came, the Lord said to Samuel:
"Arise, anoint him, for this is the one whom I have chosen."
Then Samuel poured oil on David's head, in the presence of all his
brothers. But no one knew at that time the anointing to mean that David
was to be the king. Perhaps they thought that David was chosen to be a
prophet like Samuel.
From that time the Spirit of God came upon David, and he began to show
signs of coming greatness. He went back to his sheep on the hillsides
around Bethlehem, but God was with him.
David grew up strong and brave, not afraid of the wild beasts which
prowled around and tried to carry away his sheep. More than once he
fought with lions, and bears, and killed them, when they seized the
lambs of his flock. And David, alone all day, practiced throwing stones
in a sling, until he could strike exactly the place for which he aimed.
When he swung his sling, he knew that the stone would go to the very
spot at which he was throwing it.
[Illustration: _Then Samuel poured oil on David's head_]
And young as he was, David thought of God, and talked with God, and God
talked with David, and showed to David His will.
After Saul had disobeyed the voice of the Lord, the Spirit of the Lord
left Saul, and no longer spoke to him. And Saul became very sad of
heart. At times a madness would come upon him, and at all times he was
very unhappy. The servants of Saul noticed that when some one played on
the harp and sang, Saul's spirit was made more cheerful; and the sadness
of soul left him. At one time Saul said: "Find some one who can play
well, and bring him to me. Let me listen to music; for it drives away my
sadness."
One of the young men said: "I have seen a young man, a son of Jesse in
Bethlehem, who can play well. He is handsome in his looks, and agreeable
in talking. I have also heard that he is a brave young man, who can
fight as well as he can play, and the Lord is with him."
Then Saul sent a message to Jesse, David's father. He said: "Send me
your son David, who is with the sheep. Let him come and play before me."
Then David came to Saul, bringing with him a present for the king from
Jesse. When Saul saw him, he loved him, as did everybody who saw the
young David. And David played on the harp, and sang before Saul. And
David's music cheered Saul's heart, and drove away his sad feelings.
Saul liked David so well that he made him his armorbearer; and David
carried the shield and spear, and sword for Saul, when the king was
before his army. But Saul did not know that David had been anointed by
Samuel.
After a time, Saul seemed well; and David returned to Bethlehem and was
once more among his sheep in the field. Perhaps it was at this time that
David sang his shepherd song, or it may have been long afterward, when
David looked back in thought to those days when he was leading his
sheep. This is the song, which you have heard often:
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;
He leadeth me beside the still waters,
He restoreth my soul;
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; for thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
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