patriarchs and prophets-第148节

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（637）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　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　the　young　poet's　heart　with　adoration　and
rejoicing。　In　contemplation　of　God　and　His　works　the　faculties　of　David's
mind　and　heart　were　developing　and　strengthening　for　the　work　of　his
afterlife。　He　was　daily　coming　into　a　more　intimate　communion　with　God。　His
mind　was　constantly　penetrating　into　new　depths　for　fresh　themes　to　inspire
his　song　and　to　wake　the　music　of　his　harp。　The　rich　melody　of　his　voice
poured　out　upon　the　air；　echoed　from　the　hills　as　if　responsive　to　the
rejoicing　of　the　angels'　songs　in　heaven。

Who　can　measure　the　results　of　those　years　of　toil　and　wandering　among　the
lonely　hills？　The　communion　with　nature　and　with　God；　the　care　of　his
flocks；　the　perils　and　deliverances；　the　griefs　and　joys；　of　his　lowly　lot；
were　not　only　to　mold　the　character　of　David　and　to　influence　his　future
life；　but　through　the　psalms　of　Israel's　sweet　singer　they　were　in　all
coming　ages　to　kindle　love　and　faith　in　the　hearts　of　God's　people；　bringing
them　nearer　to　the　ever…loving　heart　of　Him　in　whom　all　His　creatures　live。

David；　in　the　beauty　and　vigor　of　his　young　manhood；　was　preparing　to　take　a
high　position　with　the　noblest　of　the　earth。　His　talents；　as　precious　gifts
from　God；　were　employed　to　extol　the　glory　of　the　divine　Giver。　His
opportunities　of　contemplation　and　meditation　served　to　enrich　him　with　that
wisdom　and　piety　that　made　him　beloved　of　God　and　angels。　As　he　contemplated
the　perfections　of　his　Creator；　clearer　conceptions　of　God；　opened　before
his　soul。　Obscure　themes　were　illuminated；　difficulties　were　made　plain；
perplexities　were　harmonized；　and　each　ray　of　new　light　called　forth　fresh
bursts　of　rapture；　and　sweeter　anthems　of　devotion；　to　the　glory　of　God　and
the　Redeemer。　The　love　that　moved　him；　the　sorrows　that　beset　him；　the
triumphs　that　attended　him；　were　all　themes　for　his　active　thought；　and　as
he　beheld　the　love　of　God　in　all　the　providences　of　his　life；　his　heart
throbbed　with　more　fervent　adoration　and　gratitude；　his　voice　rang　out　in　a
richer　mel