Anointing of David
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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 Author of every good and perfect
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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