The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1944-09-08

Outward appearance, by which
man judges, is almost always de-
ceptive. God knows the heart and is
able to evaluate a man correctly.
In calling David, the ruddy shepherd
boy, to be king, God cut across the
ideas of men, but He was, as al
ways, right.
I. A Man from Gods Storehouse
". D-"I have provided"
Gods great storehouses are full
OF blessings, material and spirit
ual, but He also has a great and
constantly replenished reserve of
men and women from which He
calls and sends them forth. The
thing we must guard against is the
setting of hindrances in His holy
way, either in our own lives or in
the lives of others.
A man power shortage is very
serious, for it simply cuts off the
stream of production without which
action becomes impossible. There
should never be any shortage Of
man power in the Lords work, and
there would never be any if all His
creation were willingly subject to
Him.
God was ready to set aside Saul,
and He had David ready. Samuel
the prophet was still grieving over
Saul's failure. In sense that feel
ing for Saul was most commend
able, but 1t could not 60 on.
When men, even of our own fami-
lies or circle of friends, persist in
rebellion against the Lord, we
must not let our grief hold us back,
but move on with the man Of Gods
choice.
III. A Man Who Had to Be Sought
(vv. 2-5).-"Send and fetch him.
Usually those who are quick to
offer themselves for an important
place are not the ones for the place.
And those who are sitting around
doing nothing but waiting for some
honor to come to them, are not the
ones to choose.
"Let the office seek the man. is
the highst ground, even in politics;
surely it must be the proper proce-
dure in spiritual activity.
David fright well have wanted to
be at the place of sacrifice and the
feast that day, but since all his
family were there, and someone
had to care for the sheep, he did it.
A man like that, hard at his work,
is well worth seeking when some
thing important needs to be done.
The interesting story Of Samueps
effort to find one among Jesse's
seven sons wv. 6-10) is wen worth
/ reading. Samuel still had the idea
that king must be progressing
and able to thrill men by his APP
pearance. He should have learned
better from his experience with
Saul.
God put him right ". y, and we
do well to renew our thinking on
that point. The world Is in a place
where many leaders must be
chosen in the months and years just
ahead. viii we be eager and
willing to have God lead us in our
choice? Or will we be swayed by
personal interests or political expe-
diency?
III. A Man Of Spirituality wv.
11-13)-"The Spirit Of the Lord
came upon David"
The Holy Spirit, ever active in
all periods Of Bible history, became
the abiding presence In the be-
liever'S heart after PentecoSt, but
during the Old Testament period
He came on chosen individuals for
q particular work. As David was
anointed king the Spirit came upon
him for that service. In spite Of his
failings (when he forgot the Lord)
David was throughout his reign a
spiritually-minded man who wanted
Gods win and His glory to be
uppermost.
God never calls a man without
enabling him for his task, and the
chief and indispensable enabling is
that Of the Holy Spirits power. Like
David, we may enter upon a God
appointed responsibility without
fear or question, simply trusting
the Holy Spirit to take, transform,
empower, and use us for Gods
glory.
Nv. A Man willing to Serve wv.
1919.
Upon Saul there came tre-
mendous moods of dependency.
These were ''from the Lord" ". 14)
in the sense that God permitted His
disobedient and rejected servant to
suffer the result Of his self-will and
failure. How awful it Is for anyone
to be out Of the will Of God and
conscious Of His disapproval.
To help Saul In those dark hours
David, the sweet singer Of Israel,
was willing to serve with his voice
and his harp. How many thou
sands of times David has served all
the generations since with his
psalms. He was a man Of gifts,
gladly given for the Lord and for
others.
Bear in mind that while David
was not yet publicly crowned, he
was already anointed to be king.
Yet he was ready to serve the one