sentence of rejection, pronounced against him, might be executed, and that "better" one appear to whom his

kingdom was to be given. And now an angel of evil from the Lord affrighted him with thoughts and visions

of what would come to pass. For man can never withdraw himself from higher influences. As one of the

fathers has it, "When the Spirit of the Lord departs, an evil spirit takes His place. And this should teach us

to pray with David: 'Take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.'"

Yet, in the wonder-working providence of God, this very circumstance led David onwards towards his

destination. The quiet retirement of the shepherd's life was evidently of deepest importance to him

immediately after his anointing. We can understand what dangers - inward and outward - would have beset

a sudden introduction to publicity or rush into fame. On the other hand, humble avocations, retirement,

thought, and lonely fellowship with God would best develop his inner life in constant dependence upon

God, and even call out those energies and that self-reliance which, in conjunction with the higher spiritual

qualifications, were so necessary in his after-calling. Nor was it time lost even so far as his outward

influence was concerned. It was then that the Spirit -helped youth acquired in the neighboring country, and

far as Eastern story would carry it, the reputation of "a mighty, valiant man, and a man of war," when, all

unaided and unarmed, he would slay "both the lion and the bear" that had attacked the flock which he

tended. But, above all, it is to this period of inward and spiritual preparation in solitary communion with God

that we trace the first of those Psalms which have for ever made "the sweet singer," in a sense, the

"shepherd" of all spiritual Israel. And here also we love to connect the plains and the shepherds of

Bethlehem, who heard angels hymning the birth of our dear Lord, with His great ancestor and type, and to

thin k how in those very plains the shepherd -king may have watched his flock in the quiet of the starlit night,

and poured forth in accents of praise what is the faith and hope of the Church in all times. No doubt this

talent of David also, though probably only viewed as a worldly gift, became known in the neighborhood.

And so, when the courtiers  163 of Saul suggested music as the well-known remedy in antiquity for mental

disturbances, such as those from which the king suffered through the "evil spirit," one of the servant-men in

attendance, probably a native of the district around Bethlehem, could from personal knowledge recommend

David as "cunning in playing,... knowing of speech,164... and Jehovah is with him."

The words, seemingly casually spoken, were acted upon, and David was sent for to court. He came, bringing

such gifts as the primitive habits of those times suggested to Jesse as fitting for a loyal subject to offer to

his monarch. And as he stood before Saul in all the freshness of youth, with conscience clear, and in the

Spirit-holpen vigor of a new life - so like the ideal of what Saul might have become, like him even in stature -

the king's past and better self seems to have come back to him, "the king loved David greatly," and took him

into his service.165 And God's blessing rested on it: for, when the king heard, as it were, the sound of the

rushing wings of the spirit of evil, and almost felt the darkness as he spread them over him, then, as David's

hands swept the harp of praise, and it poured forth its melody of faith and hope, it seemed as if heaven's

light fell on those wings, and the evil spirit departed from Saul. And thus we learn once more the precious

lesson, how "God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform."

What, if the result alone had been announced, would have seemed impossible, and hence miraculous in its

accomplishment, was brought about by a chain of events, each linked to the other by natural causation. It is

this naturalness, in many cases, of the supernatural which most shows that "Jehovah reigneth." What He

has promised in His grace that He bringeth about in His providence. Next to inward humility and strength in

dependence on the Lord, perhaps the most important lessons which David could learn for his future

guidance would be those which at the court of Saul, and yet not of the court, he would derive from daily

observation of all that passed in the government, standing in so near and confidential relationship to the

king as to know all - the good and the evil, the danger and the difficulty - and yet being so wholly

independent as to remain unbiased in his estimate of persons and judgment of things.

So time passed. But in the intervals of calmness, when Saul needed not the ministry of David, the young

Bethlehemite was wont to return to his father's home and to his humble avocations, - to find in quiet

retirement that rest and strength which he needed (1 Samuel 17:15). And now once more had the dark cloud

of war gathered over the land. It was again Israel's hereditary enemy the Philistines, who, probably