Story 80: A Shepherd Boy Chosen King ll

   Jes'se then caused the other six sons who were present to pass before the prophet, and each time the LORD said to Sam'u-el, "He is not the man." Turning to Jes'se, the prophet asked, "Are these all the children you have?"-"There remaineth yet the youngest," said Jes'se, "and he is in the field watching over the sheep." Sam'u-el asked that he be brought before him at once, and the moment he saw him the LORD said, "Arise and anoint him, for he is My choice for the throne of Is'ra-el." He was a boy of about fifteen years old, with a fine, rosy complexion, sparkling eyes, and an appearance that was good to behold.
   Thus Da'vid, the youngest son of Jes'se was solemnly anointed by the aging prophet of GOD while his father and brothers looked on in wonder. The boy was too young and inexperienced to assume the heavy burdens of ruling Is'ra-el, so perhaps he was not told at this time of the full meaning of the ceremony performed by the man of GOD. He did, however, enter a new stage in the development of his inner life, which was fully consecrated to GOD. The gifts with which he was richly endowed by nature began to unfold. As he continued tending his father's flocks the Goodness and Glory of GOD was made known to him in every hand. In the mild, starry nights he learnt how "The Heavens declare the glory of GOD; and the firmament showeth His handiwork." The holy teachings of the books of Mo'ses, in which he had been instructed from his earliest years, became more clear to him as he read them over and over again.
   It was during these formative years that he received the inspiration for many of the beautiful psalms which were afterwards put into permanent form for use in the worship of Is'ra-el. His poetic and musical gifts were cultivated as the days and weeks went by, and his kingly qualities were rapidly developing. Whether he knew that he was destined to become ruler of his nation or not, he lived in constant remembrance that the anointing by Sam'u-el had consecrated him to a life of service to GOD.  The faithful discharge of his duties as a shepherd of sheep prepared him to become the righteous and successful shepherd of Is'ra-el. The sense of duty and responsibility daily displayed in protecting his flock from bears and lions strengthened him for the eminent ruler he afterwards became. The LORD was making him ready for a great career.
   Neither Saul nor the people of Is'ra-el were informed of the selection of young Da'vid to succeed to the throne of Is'ra-el, nor did his father and brothers seem to have known the secret of the prophet. Apparently several years passed before Saul suspected GOD'S plan for the noble young man, and through these years Divine Providence brought Da'vid the training and discipline for a great career on the throne of Is'ra-el.
   While the Spirit of GOD was guiding Da'vid, an entirely different thing was taking place with Saul. The Holy Spirit having left him because of his sins, he was tormented by an evil spirit which led him into fits of melancholy and extreme irritation. Unrestrained by the Good Spirit, he was goaded by sa'tan into ungovernable madness and rage. His servants were so distressed by the change that they sought some way of quieting his temper. Even in those early days music was looked upon as a means of soothing a troubled spirit and subduing anger, so the servants suggested that a musician of great skill be engaged to play the harp for Saul. The unhappy king consented, and a search was made at once for a gifted harpist.

Story 80: A Shepherd Boy Chosen King l

   Although the LORD had twice announced to Sam'u-el that Saul was rejected as king and that another should be chosen to occupy the throne of Is'ra-el, He had not told him how soon this was to take place, or whether Saul should be permitted to remain as head of the government until removed by death. Thus we find that Saul continued in office for a number of years, although the LORD had withdrawn His blessings from him after His rejection at Mich'mash.
   In the meantime the LORD directed Sam'u-el in the private selection and anointing of the young man who was to take the place of Saul. He was a mere boy at the time, and years of preparation and training were needed before he would be capable of ruling over Is'ra-el. But the LORD wished Sam'u-el to know His choice for two reasons. First, that he might act as a prophet of GOD in preparing the Divinely chosen king for his work; secondly, that he might act as the religious leader of Is'ra-el in making the nation ready for the enthronement when the time had come.
   One day when Sam'u-el was still discouraged because of GOD'S judgments against Saul, and much worried over the future welfare of Is'ra-el, the LORD came to him with a rebuke for his persistent mourning over Saul. He directed the prophet to prepare a horn of holy oil and to go at once to the house of Jes'se in Beth'le-hem to anoint one of his sons, saying, "For I have provided Me a king among his sons."
   Sam'u-el, who seldom showed any reluctance or fear in doing the bidding of the LORD, was now in grave fear for his personal safety in performing such a duty. Saul was often subject to moody spells and fits of sudden anger, so the worst might be dreaded when he discovered that Sam'u-el had appointed another king. The LORD then told Sam'u-el to provide a calf for an offering in Beth'le-hem, and to tell anyone who might be interested that he was going to this town to make a sacrifice. Such concealment was necessary for the protection of both Sam'u-el and the young king.
   You will remember that since Sam'u-el's retirement as the civil ruler of Is'ra-el he had continued his service as a spiritual adviser, and that he made frequent trips through the land to reprove and punish wrong doing, to offer sacrifices, and to stimulate the people in their religious life. A visit to Beth'le-hem, therefore, would not be regarded with suspicion by anyone. He, therefore proceeded at once on his journey, walking over the mountain roads from Ra'mah to Beth'le-hem, a distance of about ten miles.
   When the officers of the little hill town saw the prophet coming, they anxiously inquired why he had come. He told them that his purpose was to sacrifice unto the LORD, and issued a call for all the people to make the preparations required by law for such services, making sure that Jes'se and his sons were properly set apart to the LORD.
   There were eight sons in the family of Jes'se, and seven of them were present at the gathering. After the sacrifice had been offered, Sam'u-el inspected these seven young men, one after another. As he stood before the eldest, whose name was E'li'ab, and who was tall and handsome, he felt sure that this was the man whom the LORD would choose to be a king. But then the LORD spoke these words to the heart of the prophet:
               "Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: For   the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh at the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh in the heart."
   The LORD wished Sam'u-el to understand that outward beauty is not a guarantee of inward worth; that a pleasing appearance and imposing height do not make a man a good king. Saul had all these advantages, but had failed miserably because his heart was not right. The new king must be chosen for his purity of spirit and righteousness of heart.
   

Story 79: Saul's Downfall And Rejection By The LORD ll

   Sam'u-el was therefore obliged to forego his earnest pleadings for Saul, and become the messenger of Divine Judgment. The earnest intercessor must now be changed into the stern accuser. And so on the next morning he went to Saul with the decree of GOD.
   When the king saw him drawing near, he said to him, "Blessed be thou of the LORD, I have performed the Commandment of the LORD."
   To this greeting the faithful prophet replied, "What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?"
   Saul then tried to take refuge in evasions and falsehoods; he sought to blame the people for his own sin, and said that the best of the sheep and oxen had been taken for sacrifices unto the LORD. By every word that fell from his lips he revealed the complete breakdown of his moral character, forfeited his own self-respect, and foretold his own ruin. He had spared the life of A'gag merely for the glory of displaying a distinguished captive, and he even boasted of the capture when faced by Sam'u-el's charge of unfaithfulness to the Command of GOD. Step by step he added a worse lie to the previous one until he wove about himself a web of self-condemnation from which it was impossible to escape.
   Sam'u-el cut short the excuses of the king by reminding him of the humble station in life from which he had been raised to the highest place in the nation, and of the marked difference between the modesty and humility which he possessed at the time of his call and the proud, conceited spirit which he now displayed. In his final words of condemnation the prophet uttered this sublime, eternal truth:
               "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."
   Then he announced the Solemn Judgment of GOD in these words:
               "Because thou hast rejected the Word of the LORD, He hath also rejected thee from being king."
   Saul then confessed his sin, admitting that he had disobeyed the Command of GOD. He used the words of true repentance, but lacked the spirit of it. He spoke as if in sorrow, but there was no genuine sorrow in his heart. He pleaded with Sam'u-el for forgiveness, but there could be no forgiveness for him.
   When Sam'u-el turnt to leave him, he became desperate at the thought of being disgraced before the people. He seized the prophet's robe in such frenzy that it was torn, pleading with him to remain for worship, lest he be put to shame at once. Sam'e-el agreed to stand beside him while he worshiped, thus retaining honor before the elders of Is'ra-el for the time being.
   Sam'u-el then asked that A'gag, the captive king of the Am'a-lek-ites, be brought to him. With his own hand he executed the Judgment of GOD against the wicked heathen king, stabbing him with a mortal blow. The story then concludes with these tragic words: " Sam'u-el came no more to see Saul."

Story 79: Saul's Downfall And Rejection By The LORD l

   As a result of their victory over the Phi-lis'tines the children of Is'ra-el were freed from the invasions of these enemies for a number of years, and Saul seems to have taken a renewed interest in the affairs of the nation. He enjoyed once again the confidence of Is'ra-el, and the people rallied to his leadership in wars against various nations on every side of the land.
   Saul drove back the Mo'ab-ites who were threatening the security of Is'ra-el from their lands southeast of the Dead Sea. The Am'mon-ites, who were a constant menace to the tribes east of Jor'dan, were routed again, and threats from the E'dom-ites south of Ju'dah and Sim'e-on were also suppressed. To the north, between Da-mas'cas and the Eu-phra'tes River, Saul was successful in a war with the strong, wealthy kingdom known as Zo'bah. Several years were probably spent in intermittent wars against these various heathen nations.
   The prophet Sam'u-el, who seems to have avoided Saul after rebuking him for his unworthy conduct in the battle with the Phi-lis'tines, now appeared with a special message from GOD which called for an attack upon the Am'a-lek-ites. They were a fierce, roving people who lived south and southwest of Ca'naan in the A-ra'bi-an Peninsula, and were descendants of Am'a-lek, a grandson of E'sau. The LORD'S command that they be destroyed goes back to their hostility toward Mo'ses in the wilderness. They had allied with the Ca'naan-ites at Ka'desh, with the Mo'ab-ites in the capture of Jer'i-cho in the early days of the Judges, and with the Mid'i-an-ites in the oppression of Is'ra-el prior to the days of Gid'e-on, and were now bent upon robbery and murder once again.
   GOD'S command to Saul at this time was that he "utterly destroy" this nation and all their live-stock. Nothing was to be spared or offered for redemption. Such a course, cruel and barbarous as it may seem to us, was justified because of long years of persistent evil doing had removed all possibility of salvation for the Am'a-lek-ites.
   Saul organized an army of two hundred and ten thousand men, and proceeded at once into the land of the Am'a-lek-ites. Living among these wild people of A-ra'bi-a was a small tribe of the Mid'i-an nation known as Ken'ites. They had shown special kindness to the people of Is'ra-el on more than one occasion, and a covenant of friendship had been made with them. Saul ordered them to leave, so that they would not be included in the destruction of the Am'a-lek-ites.
   Saul then attacked the Am'a-lek-ites and won an overwhelming victory. Their entire land was smitten from the southeast to the west and northwest. The people were slain, and the king, whose name was A'gag, was taken prisoner. But in the destruction of the live-stock the command of GOD was only partially obeyed. The best of the sheep and oxen and fatlings and lambs were spared, and were carried back to Ca'naan as spoils of war. Saul again showed a spirit of self-will and rashness. He placed his own wishes above the direct command of GOD, feeling, no doubt, that his way was better than that of GOD.
   The LORD was greatly displeased with the conduct of Saul. He appeared again to Sam'u-el, telling him that He regretted the appointment of such a self-willed, disobedient man to the throne of Is'ra-el. Sam'u-el's anger was kindled against Saul, and he was greatly disturbed by the LORD'S threat to remove him from the throne. He spent the whole night in prayer, asking mercy for the wilful and disobedient king.
   Next to Mo'ses, Sam'u-el was the greatest pleader for mercy in Is'ra-el, but his prayers on behalf of Saul could not offset the king's persistent disobedience to GOD'S known commands. The Divine arm was not shortened, nor the Divine ear deaf, but even GOD could do no further mighty works for the unbelieving Saul. No prayer from the greatest saint could now remove the just punishment upon an unrepentant sinner.

Story 78: A Prince More Noble Than His Father lll

   Even Jon'a-than, who was responsible for the defeat of the Phi-lis'tines, did not know that Saul had ordered his men to eat nothing during the day. In the woods where they pursued the Phi-lis'tines there was an abundance of wild honey, so Jon'a-than had relieved his hunger by eating of it. When told of his father's strict order, Jon'a-than said, "My father hath troubled the land, see how I am refreshed by the honey; and if the people had been permitted to eat freely of the spoils of the enemy, our victory would have been far greater."
   In the meantime Saul had sought counsel of the LORD, but the ear of GOD was deaf to his prayers. Instead of looking into his own heart for the cause of the LORD'S refusal to hear him, he sought to lay the blame upon someone else.
   When he was told of the act of Jon'a-than, Saul declared that the failure of the Is'ra-el-ites to wipe out the Phi-lis'tines was the result of a violation of his solemn oath. He also declared his intention to have Jon'a-than slain.
   The people rose up in violent rebellion against this blindness to the heroism of his son and deafness to the voice of reason. Saul's unjust sentence upon Jon'a-than: "Thou shalt surely die" was met by the united voice of the people, "There shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground." Up to this moment they had been faithful to the command of the king, but when he acted unwisely they felt justified in rescuing Jon'a-than from his unholy decree, the noble young man who had led them to victory.
   The LORD permitted Saul to remain in office for a number of years, sparing him until GOD could find a successor worthy to occupy the throne of Is'ra-el.

Story 78: A Prince More Noble Than His Father ll

   Finding that hundreds of his men had deserted him, and that he had only six hundred warriors left, Saul joint Jon'a-than in the fortress which he had captured from the Phi-lis'tines. In the meantime the Phi-lis'tine army at Mich'mash had been divided into three bands which raided the valleys to the north, west, and east.
   While Saul and his six hundred men were encamped on a high rock near Gib'e-ah, from which place the Phi-lis'tine garrison at Mich-mash might easily be observed, Jon'a-than suggested a daring exploit to his armor-bearer. The two of them went down into the valley between the outposts of the opposing armies, and approached the camps of the Phi-lis'tines at a point where there was a great cliff. Thinking that they were deserters from the army of Is'ra-el, the Phi-lis'tine sentries scornfully invited them to climb the rocks to their camp.
   With daring faith in GOD, Jon'a-than said to his armor-bearer, "This is a sign that the LORD hath delivered them into our hand." Then they scaled the rocks, slew twenty of the sentries, and spread confusion through the entire camp of the enemy. Simultaneous with this bold adventure of Jon'a-than, the LORD sent a terrific earthquake into that vicinity, and all the Phi-lis'tine bands were dispersed in terror.
   When the sentries of Saul observed the tumult among the armies of the Phi-lis'tines, they tried to discover who had left their camp. When it was found that Jon'a-than and his armor-bearer were absent, Saul ordered the priest in the camp to bring out the ephod and pray for victory. His army of six hundred men, strengthened by thousands who left their places of hiding and alliances with the Phi-lis'tines, pursued the scattered forces of the enemy. It was a great victory, and the Phi-lis'tines who escapt the slaughter were glad to return to their own land. Thus the power of the Phi-lis'tines over Is'ra-el was temporarily broken.
   The two unhappy incidents which accompanied this great victory are to the discredit of Saul. Although he did not enter the field of battle until the enemy had already been routed by Jon'a-than, he assumed full credit for the triumph. There was no word of recognition for the bravery of his son, nor acknowledgment of the Divine power which had given the victory to Is'ra-el. Saul pretended to be very religious, but inwardly his heart was wrong with GOD. He took advantage of a natural mistake of his soldiers to excuse his own sin.
   So eager was Saul to "avenge himself of his enemies" that he ordered his men to pursue the Phi-lis'tines when they were already in a weakened state, at the same time forbidding his soldiers under oath to take any food. When the day had passed, his soldiers were so hungry that they slew the animals taken from their enemies and ate them without properly draining the blood according to the law of Mo'ses. For this act Saul charged them with sin, and they were punished by being forced to bring offerings to the LORD from their own sheep and oxen.

Story 78: A Prince More Noble Than His Father l

   When Sam'u-el first informed Saul that he was to become king of Is'ra-el, he stressed the fact that his first duty would be to rid the nation of the Phi-lis'tines. But instead of following up his brilliant victory over the Am'mon-ites with an immediate war against the ancient foes of Is'ra-el, he settled down quietly in his home at Gib'e-ah and began to surround himself with the royal courts and splendors enjoyed by heathen kings. In his public acceptance of the throne he had pledged his loyalty to the laws announced by Sam'u-el. These promises were soon forgotten, and he became a king in name only.
   The Phi-lis'tines were much more advanced in the arts and crafts than the Is'ra-el-ites, and were well supplied with such implements of war as swords, spears, and iron chariots. They fordade the Is'ra-el-ites to have iron workers, so their only weapons of war were axes and mattocks and similar farming tools. The Is'ra-el-ites were obliged to go to the iron workers of the Phi-lis'tines to have their tools repaired and sharpened.
   The condition of the nation seemed to be hopeless, and Saul was making no effort to break off the yoke of the Phi-lis'tines. The spirit of the Is'ra-el-ites became so broken that many of them entered into friendly relations with their oppressors.
   It was in the midst of this sad state in Is'ra-el that the LORD moved the heart of one of Saul's sons to take the lead in war against the Phi-lis'tines. Jon'a-than, a young man of great courage and piety, was placed at the head of an army of one thousand men stationed at Gib'e-ah. His father Saul headed another army of two thousand men which occupied the town of Mich'mash, about seven miles north of Je-ru'sa-lem. A strong Phi-lis'tine garrison occupied an elevated position between Gib'e-ah and Mich'mash.
   While Saul and his two thousand men remained inactive and afraid to move against the Phi-lis'tines, Jon'a-than and his army made a sudden attack upon the garrison, overwhelmingly defeating the heavily armed enemy. This victory aroused the spirit of Saul, and he ordered all Is'ra-el to gather with him at Gil'gal in the Jor'dan valley. The confidence of the nation in Saul's ability as a leader had been so shaken by his years of idleness that only six hundred men responded.
   Realizing that the LORD had deserted him because of his shameful inactivity over a number of years, and because of his religious backslidings, Saul asked Sam'u-el to come to Gil'gal that he might sacrifice unto the LORD on his behalf. Growing impatient and worried by the delay in Sam'u-el's arrival, Saul presumptuously made the burnt offering himself, thus incurring greater disfavor from GOD. When Sam'u-el  finally came to Gil'gal he denounced Saul for his irreverent act, declared that because of such unworthiness the LORD would choose another to take his kingdom, and then left the king in a state of confusion.