Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-12
4 SHEPHERD BOT CHOSEN
KING:
I Samuel fs.1-18.
Golden text. The spirit of Je-
hovah came nightly upon Da-
vid from that day fervara."-
I Samuel, 1918:
BY REV. HUGH II. STEVENSON.

Children's day services In some Of
the churches may crowd out the con-
sideration of this appropriate study
for the day. which emphasizes the
place that the child holds in the pro-
gram of God TO save the world Saul's
the decree of Jehovah to give his
kingdom to another. If Saul had
grieFed because of his sin, and not
over his disgrace. he might have
secured a restoration for himself.
His sorrow proved that he was more
eyes of the people than of his stand
Ing with Jehovah. so he was rejected
Samuel left the king and retired
to Ramah. where he conducted a
the service of the Lord. During the
period that elapsed between last Sun
days lesson and this the great
prophet was filled with sorrow over
the rejection of Saul. His grief was
personal. for the king had many at
to Saul. but 1t was the patriot whose
faith had been blinded by the out
look for Israel, by his sorrow rather
than the friend of Saul. that is criti-
cised In the opening Of the lesson
for his continued sorrow He saw
~ attended change of a dynasty,
as In Mexico and Russia. destroying
the peaoe and prosperity Of Israel
ana exposing the nation to her enc
mics for plumber and destruction
In the darkness of the hour the
prophet was called to quit his worry
over q man losing his Job ana go
forth to secure a man for the DO
sltion that was open to the man
who could take the leadership in the
work OF reconstruction. The Lords
command turned samuels sorrow
a w NJ
ne complied the selection Of man
to succeed Saul would mark the
commencement of civil war, and
that Saul would wreck vengeance
upon Samuel. Obedient to the divine
command, Samuel secured the sacred
oil from the sanctuary and started
Tor Bethlehem. the village whose his
tory Is remarkable for it's moral and
religious associations. Samuers ar
rival filled the citizens with conster-
nation. for they feared that he was a
messenger sent to condemn them for
some sin that they had committed.
When assured that he came upon a
peaceful mission they rejoiced and
request
Samuel concealed the real purpose
OF his visit. BY so doing he made
certain that the community. citizens.
as well as the chosen ruler, should be
protected from the danger that the
publication Of his mission would GER
tainly bring upon them. as well as
himself. from Saul. In the interval
between the sacrifice and the feast
the people sanctified themselves
They desired to be ceremonally clean,
for without holiness no one shall see
the Lord. This gave Samuel oppor-
tunity to visit the home Of Jesse. who
was the grandson of Ruth. and ar
range that the family should all be
thoroughly prepared for the feast and
also select the king in accordance
with his commission.
When he saw the first son Of Jesse
the prophet was about to accept him,
and would have anointed him be-
cause he appeared to Samuel every
inch king. In rejecting Eliab God
gave to the prophet the truth. that is
dramatically presented in this lesson.
that Jehovah seeth not as man
seeth: for man looketh on the out
ward appearance. for Jehovah looketh
upon the heart" Abinadab. Shammah
and four others passed before Samuel,
making seven in all, the perfect num-
Der, but all were rejected of the Lord.
The prophets faith had returned. as
he obeyed the Lord, So that although
he was moved to anoint Eliab. the
first born son of Jesse, because he
supposed SauTs successor must be in
his outward appearance, at least,
equal to that Of the rejected king.
In making His selection Jehovah did
not consider what the people wished.
as He did when Saul was chosen,
whose choice rested upon the first
kings physical stature. Mans plans
had failed. God was seeking leader
who would guide the nation In estab-
fishing a kingdom in accordance with
His high Messianic standard Of
moral and religious character. Gods
choice was a success because he Sc
lected the young shepherd boy, who
had been overlooked by his father
and the other members of the family.
because of the character OF David. In
selecting the eighth son from the
fields. Jehovah followed the path that
history has proven has been the
worlds source Of its great men. They
have come, as a rule, from the farm
and field rather than from the city
and streets. The cottage has fur
nished more great men than the pal
ace. In selecting the shepherd LAD
history has proved that Gods choice
was correct, for David established the
kingdom on a Messianic foundation
that has made Israel one OF the great
est forces in the worlds history:
The story OF the selection OF the
shepherd boy has been told with sucn
ereat dramatic skill that the lesson
Virtually teaches itself. 1t remains
for us to consider the reasons for the
selection Of the lad, who was en-
gagged in caring for the sheep TO pc
anointed by Samuel. A. Saufs sue.
cessor. The physical appearance OF
David. with his golden auburn hair
and blue eyes, indicated magnetism
and virile power, but he was chosen
not for his appearance, but his char
acter. God looked into the heart OF
the boy who moiestly kept on caring
for the flock, when the prophet mad
honored his home with his presence.
He applied himself industriously to
the task of the hour, which called for
the caring of the sheep.
In watching the flock David devel-
oped certain powers that were des-
tined to help make his administration
a success as king. In the hours OF
from the wild beasts. he developed
courage, that enabled him to face
dangers. and skill in the use of the
sword and sling, that helped him to
win many battle. He became
through trials sympathetic with the
powers of observation. as well as mu-
steal talents, while. alone at his task.
David was chosen because of his
spirituality. He was not perfect. He
had in his spiritual. or heart power.
the foundation that was needed to
make him man after Gods own
heart He possessed what one has
termed the Inner eye" that clearly
noted the reality of the spiritual and
the relation Of the spiritual to the af
fairs of life. 1t was this element of
his character that caused God to or
der Samuel to anoint the young man
as Sauls successor. When the prophet
anointed him with the sacred oil then
God anointed the shepherd boy with
His spirit so that the Spirit of Je-
hovah came nightly upon David
from that day forward" controlling