1 Samuel 16:12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and with of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said… Samuel was sent to Bethlehem to discover the object of God's election. This would have been a very difficult task if the God who sent him had not accompanied him, and spoken with the sure voice of inspiration within him so soon as the chosen object stood before him. I. THE SURPRISE of all when they found that David, the least in his father's house, was the object of the Lord's choice, a king over Israel. 1. Observe that his brethren had no idea that David would be selected; such a thought had never entered into their heads. 2. It is more painful to notice that David's father should have had no idea of David's excellence. It sometimes happens that one in the family is overlooked, even by his parent, in his hopes and prayers. The father seems to think, "God may be pleased to convert William; he may call Mary; I trust in His Providence we shall see John grown up to be a credit to us; but as for Richard or Sarah, I do not know what will ever become of them." How often will parents have to confess that they have misjudged, and that the one upon whom they have set the black mark has been after all the joy and comfort of their lives, and has given them more satisfaction than all the rest put together. 3. It is clear also that Samuel, God's servant, had at first; no idea of David's election. Sometimes the Christian minister is deceived. He consults with flesh and blood, and selects Eliab, the man with a fine person. Then rank will come before the minister, and if he sees a person of high estate cheerfully listening to the gospel, he is very ready to think, "Surely the Lord hath chosen him." Again, others are so well educated that when the Word is preached they appreciate the style in which it is delivered, and the remarks which they make concerning it are so sensible and so judicious that the preacher is apt to say, "Surely the Lord hath chosen these!" At times, we feel sure that we have now pitched upon the right man, for we are charmed with our bearer's natural amiability of disposition, end are cheered by his tenderness and susceptibility of mind to religious impressions; and yet we are disappointed. Many lovely blossoms never become fruits, and hopeful saplings prove not to be plants of the Lord's right hand planting, and therefore are plucked up. At times, too, we hear such admirable conversation about religion that we conclude, "Now we have found out the chosen of the Lord." Meanwhile, the very one whom we overlooked, the least one in the assembly, has been the David upon whom God's blessing has fallen. How matchless is the sovereignty of God! "His ways are past finding out." The very poorest, the most illiterate, the meanest and most obscure, the things despised, yea, "the things that are not," doth He choose, to bring to naught the things that are. that no flesh should glory in His presence. It strikes me that there was one person more astonished when David was anointed than even his brothers, or his father, or the prophet — and that was himself. He was a wonder unto many, but chiefly to himself. II. THE TOKEN of election, the secret mark which the Lord sets in due time upon the chosen. In due time every chosen person receives the seal of grace. That stamp is a new heart and a right spirit. What kind of heart had David? We may find it out by his Psalms. We cannot tell when some of the Psalms were written, but if any of them were written in his youth, the twenty-third was certainly one. 1. That beautiful pastoral poem opens a window into the heart of David, leg us look through it, and we shall soon perceive that he possessed a believing heart. How sweet is the sentence, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." 2. We note, as we read the psalm, that David's heart was also a meditative heart. Mark the words, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters." He elsewhere writes: "My mediation of Him shall be sweet." 3. Go on with the Psalm, and I think you will be struck with the humble heart which David had, for all the way through he does not praise himself. "He leadeth me beside the still waters, He restoreth my soul." See, he has no crown for his own head; the crown is all for the Mighty One who is His shepherd. 4. We should altogether fail in describing David if we were to omit other qualifications. His was a holy heart. Observe in the same Psalm, "He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." David delighted not in iniquity; the men of Belial he put far from him. "A liar shall not tarry in my sight," said he. He loved the people of God. he styles them, "The excellent of the earth, in whom is all my delight." Holiness which becomes God's house was very delightful to David's soul. He loved the commandments of God because of their holiness. "Thy word is very pure, therefore Thy servant loveth it." (Psalm 119:140.) 5. Note what a brave heart beat in his breast. Where will you find a braver man than David? Let me remind you that he had a very contented and grateful heart. 6. You should further observe the constancy of David's heart. He says, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." He was not one of the Pliables, who set out and turn back again at the first slough into which they tumble. By such marks may we know our election. I would God that those who are so positive of their election would condescend sometimes to try themselves by Scriptural marks and evidences. III. MANIFESTATION, or the way in which the election of God is made apparent to ourselves and others. We cannot see the hearts of our fellow men, and therefore the heart can never be to us the way of distinguishing the elect of God, except so far as it is seen in the acts and words. 1. Now the first sign by which this election was made known to David himself and to a few others, who probably did not know much about it, was by his being anointed. There is a season when God anoints His people. They have believed. but there may elapse a little time between the believing and the conscious anointing; but suddenly, when the Lord has illuminated their hearts to know and understand Divine things clearly, the Spirit of God comes with a sealing power upon them, and from that day forward they rejoice to know that they have the indwelling of the Spirit, and that they are set apart for God. 2. The manifestation, however, went on in another way. After the anointing it appears that David became a man distinguished for the valour of his deeds. 3. It appears, too, that he was very prudent. The same witness bearer said he was "a man prudent in matters." Such will you be, when as the elect of God the Spirit of wisdom rests upon you. 4. Mark well that one of the ways by which your election will become clear and sure to all God's people wilt be this: — If you are anointed king as David was before you, you will come into conflict with Saul. It cannot be possible that the chosen of God shall forever live in peace with the heirs of hell. 5. I think David was never more clearly manifested to be God's elect, except at the last of all, than when he was an outlaw. He never seems such a grand man as When he is among the tracks of the wild goats of Engedi. We do not read of many faults, and slips, and errors then. The outlawed David is most certainly manifested to all Israel to be the chosen of God, because the chosen of man cannot abide him. The brightest days for Christian piety were the days of martyrdom and persecution. Scotland has many saints, but she never has had such rich saints as those who lived in covenanting times; England has had many rich divines who have taught the word, but the Puritanic age was the golden age of England's Christian literature. 6. Remember that after all conflicts were over, David was crowned. ( C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. |
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