"I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed
him."--_Psalm 89:20._
THE hills that lie above Bethlehem have green slopes where the sheep
feed. There, one day, a flock was feeding, and a boy with blue eyes and
shining hair watched them, and perhaps sung as he watched. He was the
youngest of eight brothers, and all the rest had gone down to a great
feast; for Samuel, the great Prophet, was come to visit their father.
[Illustration: Samuel goeth to BETHLEHEM]
[Illustration: The Elders Alarmed]
[Illustration: Are here all thy children?]
[Illustration: HE KEEPETH THE SHEEP]
But the youngest must stay out with the sheep. No one would want him.
But see a messenger is coming up the hill. He calls--David is wanted.
The Prophet has called for him. So the boy is obedient, and rises up,
to run down the hill at his father's call. Perhaps he stopped to wash
his face in the clear well of Bethlehem before he went up to the place
of the feast, the same place where Boaz had brought his bride Ruth, for
Jesse, David's father was Ruth's grandson.
There stood the Prophet, with his long white hair flowing down; and
as soon as young David came in, he stepped forward with a horn in his
hand, and sweet-smelling oil of olives mixed with incense was flowing
upon David's golden hair. He was the Anointed of the Lord. In time to
come he would be king, but he must wait long and patiently first.
Yes. Each of his seven brothers had passed before Samuel--tall goodly
men--but God had spoken to Samuel, and forbidden him to choose them;
for Samuel could only see their fine handsome faces and figures, but
God looked at their hearts, and knew they were proud men, who would
soon have been as fierce and headstrong as Saul himself. So he had sent
Samuel to choose the youngest and least thought-of of all Jesse's sons,
and anoint him to be king of Israel. Yes; and above all, to be the
forefather of our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ.