The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-11-28
Here was the light flashed in an

sons" bere was the hght nasneu In an
unexpected direction.
Now we begin to see the unfoldings OF
Gods providences. Jesse was the son OF
Obed, who was the son Of Boaz; the
husband OF Ruth, the daughter-in-law OF
Naomi. Through this Jew-Gentile line
had the Lord been providing and train
ing IA man after his own heart" to be
king over his peculiar people, and to be
the progenitor Of the Man Of Galilee
We know not what communications
Samuel may have had from Saul since his
final sentence of rejection, but We may
well suppose hat he knew enough OF the
character OF the man to know that he
would not peaceably submit to displace-
ment from the Kingdom. Notwithstand-
ing we are somewhat surprised to hear
such a mar as Samuel say: "How can l
gol II Saul hear II he will kill me-" So
after all this man, who had never before
trembled in any presence, was flesh and
blood as we ourselves are. How honest
is the Bible in thus bringing its greatest
heroes down to the common level OF poor
humanity In his reply to Samuel, did
the Lord encourage duplicity on the part
OF the prophet, when he told him to take
n heiier and say he had come to Sacrifices
to the Lord? By no means. "Secrecy
and concealment are not the same as
duplicity and falsehood. Concealment Of
a good purpose for n good purpose 10
clearly justiiable."
Thus answered and being further told
to call Jesse TO the sacrifice and to anoint
the one that should be pointed out to
him, Samuel went promptly to Bethle-
hem. just why the elders should nave
"trembied at his coming" we may not
fully know. ! conjecture they knew OF
the serious breach between Saul and
samuel, and TO side with either meant
trouble to them. Possibly they may nave
been guilty Of some great sin, and were
such towards as conscience makes OF us
ALL" They were easily quieted by his
assurance of peaceable intentions, and
being told to s%anctify themselves and
come to the sacrifice. 1t was doubtless at
the sacrificial feast following the public
sacrifice, which was held by families,
that occurred the incidents recorded in
the remaining verses OF the lesson.
DAVID CHOSEN.
Having done all that the Lord had told
him, ending with sanctifying and calling
| Jesse and ms sons to the sacrifice, Sam
ucl now stood in expectancy TO be shown
what further he should do, as the Lord
has promis d. Doubtless Jesse had in
some way been informed that one OF his
sons was to be selected for some purpose,
for we find him passing them before the
prophet in order OF age, for his inspec-
ton.
When the eldest, Eliab, tall and hand
some passed before Samuel, he looked on
him and said, ~''surely the LORDS anoint-
ed ia Ieiore him." "But the Lord said
unto Samuel, Look not on his counte-
nance, or on the height OF his stature; be-
cause | have refused him; for the Lord
seeth not as man seeth Tor man looketh
on the outward appearance, but the Lord
looketh on the heart" Let US pause an /
mediate upon Gods measure of the man.
The "heart' here means the inner,
the real man, including will, understand
ing and character. 1t would seem that
Sanuel would have learned from the sad
history OF saul, how decsiving were out
ward appearances; but it was hard for
him to diypSt himself OF the worlds ideal
OF the kingly appearance. Jesse, having
made Abinadab and Shammeh and all OF
his seven sons, to pass in order before
Samuel, was tod that none OF hose were
chosen.
Samuel then asked Jesse If these were
all OF his children.
Jesse seems Their to rave been reminded
that his youngest son., David, was absen'
Keeping the sheep, and was told to sent
for him. When he arrived and was brough
before Samuel, "ruddy, OF a beautiful
countenance, and eoodly to look TO-" thu
Lord said: "Arise, anoint him, for this IL
he" ''Thon Samuel took the horn of OF
and anuinted him in the midst OF hi
brethren, and the Spirit OF the Lord can't
upon DAVID from hat day forward"
This plain SHE, herd boy seems, from {
human standpoint, TO be strange materia
for q king. The work for which he wal
chosen was stupendous; no less than tc
organize, out OF the chaos then existing
a kingdom to b. at the same time a typ,
and 4 preparation for Gods kingdom il
all the ages. Here was a work that would
require the highest gifts possible to man
Generalshir, Craftsmanship, prophetic in,
SEPARATION, and the deepest piety. Wha'
preparation had this lad for such a work
With a good Inheritance, as the descend.
ant OF Boa and Ruth, the shepherd Life
was perhaps more favorable than an,
other in his day, for the development o
the qualities OF The great man n kins
which he became. A child of nature, en-,
dowed with Il strong and beautiful phys,
ical frame, educated in the pious family
Of Jesse, and growing up amid the dutiel
and scenes OF the pastoral life so well cal
culated to develop good habits and all tn,
manly virtues, we are not surprised t.
find, coming out OF such environments
the "man after Gods own heartp-David
the psalmist and king of Israel.
PRACTICAL LESSONS.
1. Excessive grief was gently reprove,
in Samuel as indicating dissatisfaction il
Gods providence.
- rOi Nhe hlst Ilihe Saiuuel seefns l
falter when told to go to Bethlehem an,
anoint David. This was human; but h
was readily treasured Of the Lord, an
"did that which the Lord spake."
3. OF all the sons OF Jesse, from
human standpoint, David was least likel
TO be chosen King. But the Lord wa
making choice for Himself now, and nc
Tor the people. He was looking at tn
real character, and not outward appear
ances.
a. This lad had all the elements this
gave promise OF a great man: Physics