patriarchs and prophets-第133部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


attributed　to　satanic　sorcery。　Saul　had　manifested　great　zeal　in　suppressing
idolatry　and　witchcraft；　yet　in　his　disobedience　to　the　divine　command　he
had　been　actuated　by　the　same　spirit　of　opposition　to　God　and　had　been　as
really　inspired　by　Satan　as　are　those　who　practice　sorcery；　and　when
reproved；　he　had　added　stubbornness　to　rebellion。　He　could　have　offered　no
greater　insult　to　the　Spirit　of　God　had　he　openly　united　with　idolaters。

It　is　a　perilous　step　to　slight　the　reproofs　and　warnings　of　God's　word　or
of　His　Spirit。　Many；　like　Saul；　yield　to　temptation　until　they　become　blind
to　the　true　character　of　sin。　They　flatter　themselves　that　they　have　had
some　good　object　in　view；　and　have　done　no　wrong　in　departing　from　the
Lord's　requirements。　Thus　they　do　despite　to　the　Spirit　of　grace；　until　its
voice　is　no　longer　heard；　and　they　are　left　to　the　delusions　which　they　have
chosen。

636


In　Saul；　God　had　given　to　Israel　a　king　after　their　own　heart；　as　Samuel
said　when　the　kingdom　was　confirmed　to　Saul　at　Gilgal；　〃Behold　the　king　whom
ye　have　chosen；　and　whom　ye　have　desired。〃　1　Samuel　12：13。　Comely　in　person；
of　noble　stature　and　princely　bearing；　his　appearance　accorded　with　their
conceptions　of　royal　dignity；　and　his　personal　valor　and　his　ability　in　the
conduct　of　armies　were　the　qualities　which　they　regarded　as　best　calculated
to　secure　respect　and　honor　from　other　nations。　They　felt　little　solicitude
that　their　king　should　possess　those　higher　qualities　which　alone　could　fit
him　to　rule　which　justice　and　equity。　They　did　not　ask　for　one　who　had　true
nobility　of　character；　who　possessed　the　love　and　fear　of　God。　They　had　not
sought　counsel　from　God　as　to　the　qualities　a　ruler　should　possess；　in　order
to　preserve　their　distinctive；　holy　character　as　His　chosen　people。　They
were　not　seeking　God's　way；　but　their　own　way。　Therefore　God　gave　them　such
a　king　as　they　desiredone　whose　character　was　a　reflection　of　their　own。
Their　hearts　were　not　in　submission　to　God；　and　their　king　also　was
unsubdued　by　divine　grace。　Under　the　rule　of　this　king　they　would　obtain　the
experience　necessary　in　order　that　they　might　see　their　error；　and　return　to
their　allegiance　to　God。

Yet　the　Lord；　having　placed　on　Saul　the　responsibility　of　the　kingdom；　did
not　leave　him　to　himself。　He　caused　the　Holy　Spirit　to　rest　upon　Saul　to
reveal　to　him　his　own　weakness　and　his　need　of　divine　grace；　and　had　Saul
relied　upon　God；　God　would　have　been　with　him。　So　long　as　his　will　was
controlled　by　the　will　of　God；　so　long　as　he　yielded　to　the　discipline　of
His　Spirit；　God　could　crown　his　efforts　with　success。　But　when　Saul　chose　to
act　independently　of　God；　the　Lord　could　no　longer　be　his　guide；　and　was
forced　to　set　him　aside。　Then　He　called　to　the　throne　〃a　man　after　His　own
heart〃　（1　Samuel　13：14）not　one　who　was　faultless　in　character；　but　who；
instead　of　trusting　to　himself；　would　rely　upon　God；　and　be　guided　by　His
Spirit；　who；　when　he　sinned；　would　submit　to　reproof　and　correction。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（637）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　62

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Anointing　of　David


A　few　miles　south　of　Jerusalem；　〃the　city　of　the　great　King；〃　is　Bethlehem；
where　David；　the　son　of　Jesse；　was　born　more　than　a　thousand　years　before
the　infant　Jesus　was　cradled　in　the　manger　and　worshiped　by　the　Wise　Men
from　the　East。　Centuries　before　the　advent　of　the　Saviour；　David；　in　the
freshness　of　boyhood；　kept　watch　of　his　flocks　as　they　grazed　on　the　hills
surrounding　Bethlehem。　The　simple　shepherd　boy　sang　the　songs　of　his　own
composing；　and　the　music　of　his　harp　made　a　sweet　accompaniment　to　the
melody　of　his　fresh　young　voice。　The　Lord　had　chosen　David；　and　was
preparing　him；　in　his　solitary　life　with　his　flocks；　for　the　work　He
designed　to　commit　to　his　trust　in　after　years。

While　David　was　thus　living　in　the　retirement　of　his　humble　shepherd's　life；
the　Lord　God　was　speaking　about　him　to　the　prophet　Samuel。　〃And　the　Lord
said　unto　Samuel；　How　long　wilt　thou　mourn　for　Saul；　seeing　I　have　rejected
him　from　reigning　over　Israel？　fill　thine　horn　with　oil；　and　go；　I　will　send
thee　to　Jesse　the　Bethlehemite：　for　I　have　provided　Me　a　king　among　his
sons。　。　。　。　Take　an　heifer　with　thee；　and　say；　I　am　come　to　sacrifice　to　the
Lord。　And　call　Jesse　to　the　sacrifice；　and　I　will　show　thee　what　thou　shalt
do：　and　thou　shalt　anoint　unto　Me　him　whom　I　name　unto　thee。　And　Samuel　did
that　which　the　Lord　spake；　and　came　to　Bethlehem。　And　the　elders　of　the　town
trembled　at　his　coming；　and　said；　Comest　thou　peaceably？　And　he　said；
Peaceably。〃　The　elders　accepted　an　invitation　to　the　sacrifice；　and　Samuel
called　also　Jesse　and　his　sons。　The　altar　was　built　and　the　sacrifice　was
ready。　All　the　household　of　Jesse　were　present；　with　the　exception　of　David；
the　youngest　son；　who　had　been　left　to　guard　the　sheep；　for　it　was　not　safe
to　leave　the　flocks　unprotected。

638


When　the　sacrifice　was　ended；　and　before　partaking　of　the　offering　feast；
Samuel　began　his　prophetic　inspection　of　the　noble…appearing　sons　of　Jesse。
Eliab　was　the　eldest；　and　more　nearly　resembled　Saul　for　stature　and　beauty
than　the　others。　His　comely　features　and　finely　developed　form　attracted　the
attention　of　the　prophet。　As　Samuel　looked　upon　his　princely　bearing；　he
thought；　〃This　is　indeed　the　man　whom　God　has　chosen　as　successor　to　Saul；〃
and　he　waited　for　the　divine　sanction　that　he　might　anoint　him。　But　Jehovah
did　not　look　upon　the　outward　appearance。　Eliab　did　not　fear　the　Lord。　Had
he　been　called　to　the　throne；　he　would　have　been　a　proud；　exacting　ruler。
The　Lord's　word　to　Samuel　was；　〃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　on　the　outward　appearance；　but　the　Lord　looketh
on　the　heart。〃　No　outward　beauty　can　recommend　the　soul　to　God。　The　wisdom
and　excellence　revealed　in　the　character　and　deportment；　express　the　true
beauty　of　the　man；　and　it　is　the　inner　worth；　the　excellency　of　the　heart；
that　determines　our　acceptance　with　the　Lord　of　hosts。　How　deeply　should　we
feel　this　truth　in　the　judgment　of　ourselves　and　others。　We　may　learn　from
the　mistake　of　Samuel　how　vain　is　the　estimation　that　rests　on　beauty　of
face　or　nobility　of　stature。　We　may　see　how　incapable　is　man's　wisdom　of
understanding　the　secrets　of　the　heart　or　of　comprehending　the　counsels　of
God　without　special　enlightenment　from　heaven。　The　thoughts　and　ways　of　God
in　relation　to　His　creatures　are　above　our　finite　minds；　but　we　may　be
assured　that　His　children　will　be　brought　to　fill　the　very　place　for　which
they　are　qualified；　and　will　be　enabled　to　accomplish　the　very　work
committed　to　their　hands；　if　they　will　but　submit　their　will　to　God；　that
His　beneficent　plans　may　not　be　frustrated　by　the　perversity　of　man。

Eliab　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　the　Lord　did　not　signify　His　choice　of　any　one　of　them。　With
painful　suspense　Samuel　had　looked　upon　the　last　of　the　young　men；　the
prophet　was　perplexed　and　bewildered。　He　inquired　of　Jesse；　〃Are　here　all
thy　children？〃　The　father　answered；　〃There　remaineth　yet　the　youngest；　and
behold；　he　keepeth　the　sheep。〃　Samuel　directed　that　he　should　be　summoned；
saying；　〃We　will　not　sit　down　till　he　come　hither。〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　641


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　him。
With　surprise　he　questioned　why　the　prophet　and　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

642

Author　of　every　good　and　perfect　gift。　Daily　revelations　of　the　character
and　majesty　of　his　Creator　filled　the　young