Let me continue telling you about the background and about my anointing as king of Israel. At times when I look back at my history and my mistakes, I experience nostalgic, a longing to these innocent days as a youth when I played the harp and composed those beautiful songs.
Are you too perhaps looking back on your innocent youth and longing for those days before you too messed up things?
Let’s see what happened when Samuel was mesmerised but the statue of my eldest brother who matched the sizes of king Saul.
Eliab my well-built brother passed from the inspection of Samuel, and the six brothers who were in attendance at the service followed in succession to be observed by the prophet. But for some reason the Lord did not signify His choice of any one of them.
Poor Samuel. With painful suspense he had looked upon the last of the young men. They told me afterwards that he was very perplexed and traumatized. The Lord told him to come our home and anoint the new king for Israel and he was baffled. Did the divine voice speak to him of was this his own desire for a king?
Let me quote again:
1Sa 16:11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.”
1Sa 16:12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!”
1Sa 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
Let me repeat this amazing experience. I still remember it as if it happened yesterday.
Have people, my be your own relatives, degraded you to a nobody. Someone doing the menial task of looking after a few sheep, not calling you to home during important people visiting your home.
I am quoting again from the previous thoughts of the author of the book of 1 Kings:
Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
1Sa 16:12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
1Sa 16:13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
I, David, the lonely shepherd was startled by the unexpected call of the messenger, who announced that the prophet had come to Bethlehem and had sent for me. I was unaware of this celebrity. They did not bother about me.
With surprise I questioned why the prophet and judge of Israel should desire to see me. But without delay I responded.
I am not going to describe myself, but this is how some else depicted me: “Now he was ruddy, healthy looking and in addition to beautiful facial features.”
When he looked at me the voice of the Lord spoke to the prophet, saying,
“Arise, anoint him: for this is he.”
I want to say this cautiously, not boastfully but humble because this is what God did in my life.
I had proved myself brave and faithful in the humble job of a shepherd, and now God had chosen me to be captain of His people.
Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed me and the Spirit of the Lord came upon me . have you ever had a similar experience? I was astonished. I still see Samuel greeting all of us and walking back to his home in Ramah.
Samuel had not made known his errand, even to the family of Jesse, and the ceremony of anointing me, little David. It was an intimation to me of the high destiny awaiting me, that amid all the varied experiences and perils of my coming years, this knowledge inspired me to be true to the purpose of God to be accomplished by his life.
Shepherd Boy Words and Music by Ray Boltz and Steve Millikan
One by one Jesse’s sons Stood before the prophet Their father knew a king would soon be found
And each one passed except the last .No one thought to call him.Surely he would never wear a crown
CHORUS: But when others see a shepherd boy God may see a king
Even though your life seems filled with ordinary things, in just a moment He can touch you and everything will change
When others see a shepherd boy God may see a king
One by one problems come, and dreams get shattered and sometimes it’s hard to understand
But things like chance and circumstance they don’t really matter. Our Father holds tomorrow in His hands
CHORUS
Well it wasn’t the oldest It wasn’t the strongest chosen on that day
And yet the giants fell and nations trembled when they stood in his way.
How do you think I reacted to this anointing? How would you have reacted? I love humble people. And if you are humble, I can be your friend.
Can you imagine how great this honour was? By God’s grace I did not allow this honour to elate me, but to keep me a humble servant in God’s service.
Notwithstanding the high position which I was to occupy, I quietly continued my employment, content to await the development of the Lord’s plans in His own time and way. As humble and modest as before my anointing, I, the shepherd boy returned to the hills and watched and guarded my flocks as tenderly as ever.
But with new inspiration I composed melodies and played upon my harp. Before me 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.
I 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. I could not see Him, but His works were full of His praise. The light of day, gilding forest and mountain, meadow and stream, carried my mind up to behold the Farther of lights, the Author of every good and perfect gift.
Daily revelations of the character and majesty of my Creator filled my heart with poetry, adoration and rejoicing. In contemplation of God and His works the faculties of my mind and heart were developing and strengthening for the work of my afterlife.
I was daily coming into a more intimate communion with God. My mind was constantly penetrating new depths for fresh themes to inspire my song and to wake the music of my harp. The rich melody of the voice God gave me, poured out upon the air, echoed from the hills as if responsive to the rejoicing of the angels’ songs in heaven.
Who can measure the results of those years of toil and wandering among the lonely hills?
The communion with nature and with God, the care of flocks, the perils and deliverances, the griefs and joys, of my lowly lot, were not only to mould my character and to influence my future life, but through the psalms of me, Israel’s sweet singer they were in all coming ages to kindle love and faith in the hearts of God’s people, bringing them nearer to the ever-loving heart of Him in whom all His creatures live.
In the beauty and vigour of my young manhood, I was preparing to take a high position with the noblest of the earth. My talents, as precious gifts from God, were employed to extol the glory of the divine Giver.
My opportunities of contemplation and meditation served to enrich me with that wisdom and piety that made me beloved of God and angels. As I contemplated the perfections of my Creator, clearer conceptions of God opened before me.
Obscure themes were illuminated, difficulties were made plain, perplexities were harmonized, and each ray of new light called forth fresh bursts of rapture, and sweeter anthems of devotion, to the glory of God and the Redeemer.
The love that moved me, the sorrows that beset me, the triumphs that attended me, were all themes for my active thoughts. As I he beheld the love of God in all the providences of my life, my heart throbbed with more fervent adoration and gratitude.
My voice rang out in a richer melody, my harp was swept with more exultant joy; and I the shepherd boy proceeded from strength to strength, from knowledge to knowledge; for the Spirit of the Lord was upon me.
Take a minute to read one of my Psalms where I glorify God.
THE LAW OF THE LORD IS PERFECT
Psa 19:1 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.
Psa 19:2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge.
Psa 19:3 There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard.
Psa 19:4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,
Psa 19:5 Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.
Psa 19:6 Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
In these six verses I marvel at God’s creative power and His astonishing power.
And then I wrote about God who is revealed in His holy law.
Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
Psa 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
Psa 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
Psa 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Psa 19:11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.
Psa 19:12 Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults.
Psa 19:13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
Psa 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
The last word in this Psalm is the climax, the word Redeemer. What a perfect revelation of His marvellous love for sinners. Every time I brought an innocent lamb with a defect to die in my stead, I thanked God who would one day as the Antitypical Lamb to pay the price for the sins I have committed.
My death is very imminent. But the love and care of my Redeemer is beyond my reasoning that He should come and die for me, forgive me, and allow me to one day live in the House of the Lord for ever.
I have more to tell you. Please don’t mis the next episode of my live.