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Chapter 62
The Anointing of David
A few miles south of Jerusalem； 〃the city of the great King；〃 is Bethlehem；
where David； the son of Jesse； was born more than a thousand years before
the infant Jesus was cradled in the manger and worshiped by the Wise Men
from the East。 Centuries before the advent of the Saviour； David； in the
freshness of boyhood； kept watch of his flocks as they grazed on the hills
surrounding Bethlehem。 The simple shepherd boy sang the songs of his own
composing； and the music of his harp made a sweet accompaniment to the
melody of his fresh young voice。 The Lord had chosen David； and was
preparing him； in his solitary life with his flocks； for the work He
designed to commit to his trust in after years。
While David was thus living in the retirement of his humble shepherd's life；
the Lord God was speaking about him to the prophet Samuel。 〃And the Lord
said unto Samuel； How long wilt thou mourn for Saul； seeing I have rejected
him from reigning over Israel？ fill thine horn with oil； and go； I will send
thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite： for I have provided Me a king among his
sons。 。 。 。 Take an heifer with thee； and say； I am come to sacrifice to the
Lord。 And call Jesse to the sacrifice； and I will show thee what thou shalt
do： and thou shalt anoint unto Me him whom I name unto thee。 And Samuel did
that which the Lord spake； and came to Bethlehem。 And the elders of the town
trembled at his coming； and said； Comest thou peaceably？ And he said；
Peaceably。〃 The elders accepted an invitation to the sacrifice； and Samuel
called also Jesse and his sons。 The altar was built and the sacrifice was
ready。 All the household of Jesse were present； with the exception of David；
the youngest son； who had been left to guard the sheep； for it was not safe
to leave the flocks unprotected。
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When the sacrifice was ended； and before partaking of the offering feast；
Samuel began his prophetic inspection of the noble…appearing sons of Jesse。
Eliab was the eldest； and more nearly resembled Saul for stature and beauty
than the others。 His comely features and finely developed form attracted the
attention of the prophet。 As Samuel looked upon his princely bearing； he
thought； 〃This is indeed the man whom God has chosen as successor to Saul；〃
and he waited for the divine sanction that he might anoint him。 But Jehovah
did not look upon the outward appearance。 Eliab did not fear the Lord。 Had
he been called to the throne； he would have been a proud； exacting ruler。
The Lord's word to Samuel was； 〃Look not on his countenance； or on the
height of his stature； because I have refused him： for the Lord seeth not as
man seeth； for man looketh on the outward appearance； but the Lord looketh
on the heart。〃 No outward beauty can recommend the soul to God。 The wisdom
and excellence revealed in the character and deportment； express the true
beauty of the man； and it is the inner worth； the excellency of the heart；
that determines our acceptance with the Lord of hosts。 How deeply should we
feel this truth in the judgment of ourselves and others。 We may learn from
the mistake of Samuel how vain is the estimation that rests on beauty of
face or nobility of stature。 We may see how incapable is man's wisdom of
understanding the secrets of the heart or of comprehending the counsels of
God without special enlightenment from heaven。 The thoughts and ways of God
in relation to His creatures are above our finite minds； but we may be
assured that His children will be brought to fill the very place for which
they are qualified； and will be enabled to accomplish the very work
committed to their hands； if they will but submit their will to God； that
His beneficent plans may not be frustrated by the perversity of man。
Eliab passed from the inspection of Samuel； and the six brothers who were in
attendance at the service followed in succession to be observed by the
prophet； but the Lord did not signify His choice of any one of them。 With
painful suspense Samuel had looked upon the last of the young men； the
prophet was perplexed and bewildered。 He inquired of Jesse； 〃Are here all
thy children？〃 The father answered； 〃There remaineth yet the youngest； and
behold； he keepeth the sheep。〃 Samuel directed that he should be summoned；
saying； 〃We will not sit down till he come hither。〃
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The lonely shepherd was startled by the unexpected call of the messenger；
who announced that the prophet had come to Bethlehem and had sent for him。
With surprise he questioned why the prophet and judge of Israel should
desire to see him； but without delay he obeyed the call。 〃Now he was ruddy；
and withal of a beautiful countenance； and goodly to look to。〃 As Samuel
beheld with pleasure the handsome； manly； modest shepherd boy； the voice of
the Lord spoke to the prophet； saying； 〃Arise； anoint him： for this is he。〃
David had proved himself brave and faithful in the humble office of a
shepherd； and now God had chosen him to be captain of His people。 〃Then
Samuel took the horn of oil； and anointed him in the midst of ＇from among＇
his brethren： and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day
forward。〃 The prophet had accomplished his appointed work； and with a
relieved heart he returned to Ramah。
Samuel had not made known his errand； even to the family of Jesse； and the
ceremony of anointing David had been performed in secret。 It was an
intimation to the youth of the high destiny awaiting him； that amid all the
varied experiences and perils of his coming years； this knowledge might
inspire him to be true to the purpose of God to be accomplished by his life。
The great honor conferred upon David did not serve to elate him。
Notwithstanding the high position which he was to occupy； he quietly
continued his employment； content to await the development of the Lord's
plans in His own time and way。 As humble and modest as before his anointing；
the shepherd boy returned to the hills and watched and guarded his flocks as
tenderly as ever。 But with new inspiration he composed his melodies and
played upon his harp。 Before him spread a landscape of rich and varied
beauty。 The vines； with their clustering fruit； brightened in the sunshine。
The forest trees； with their green foliage； swayed in the breeze。 He beheld
the sun flooding the heavens with light； coming forth as a bridegroom out of
his chamber and rejoicing as a strong man to run a race。 There were the bold
summits of the hills reaching toward the sky； in the faraway distance rose
the barren cliffs of the mountain wall of Moab； above all spread the tender
blue of the overarching heavens。 And beyond was God。 He could not see Him；
but His works were full of His praise。 The light of day； gilding forest and
mountain； meadow and stream； carried the mind up to behold the Father of
lights； the
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Author of every good and perfect gift。 Daily revelations of the character
and majesty of his Creator filled th