IMITATE THEIR FAITH/DAVID

 "ANOINT HIM, FOR THIS IS THE ONE!"

Let us go back to a time many months earlier. Evening was falling as David tended his father's sheep somewhere on the hillsides of Bethlehem.  He was a well-formed young man, likely still in his teens, with a ruddy look about him and appealing, intelligent eyes.  In quiet moments, he passed the time playing the harp. The beauty of God's creation moved him, and his musical skills had grown steadily through many happy hours of practice. But on the evening in question, David was summoned. His father wanted to see him right away. - 1 Samuel 16:12. 

He found his father, Jesse, talking with a very old man. It was the faithful prophet Samuel.  Jehovah had sent him to anoint one of the sons of Jesse as Israel's next king! Samuel had already seen David's seven older brothers, but Jehovah made it clear to Samuel that He had chosen none of them. When David arrived, though, Jehovah told Samuel:  "Anoint him, for this is the one!"  In front of all of David's older brothers, Samuel opened a hollowed-out horn filled with special oil and poured some of it on David's head. David's life was never the same after that anointing.  The Bible says:  "The spirit of Jehovah began to empower David from that day forward." -1 Samuel 16:1, 5-11, 13. 

Did David begin to cultivate ambitions about the kingship? No, he was content to wait on the leading of Jehovah's spirit to let him know when it was time to assume greater responsibilities. In the meantime, he continued his humble work of shepherding. It was a work that he carried out with great dedication and courage.   His father's flocks were threatened on two occasions, once by a lion and once by a bear.  David did not simply try to drive off those predators from a safe distance.  Rather, he leaped right into the fray to defend his father's helpless sheep. Both times, he single-handedly killed the ferocious wild beast! -1 Samuel 17:34-36; Isaiah 31:4. 

In time, David was summoned again. His reputation had reached the ears of King Saul. Though still a powerful warrior, Saul had lost Jehovah's favor by rebelling against God's instructions. Jehovah had withdrawn his spirit from , and thus the king was often subject to a bad spirit-fits of anger, suspicion, and violence.  When this bad spirit was upon Saul, one thing that could sooth him was music. Some of Saul's men had learned of David's reputation as a musician and as a fighter. So David was summoned, and he soon became one of Saul's court musicians and armor-bearers.  -1 Samuel 15:26-29; 16:14-23. 

Young people in particular can learn much from David's faith in these matters. Notice that he spent his spare time in pursuits that drew closer to Jehovah. Additionally, he patiently developed skills that were practical and that made him readily employable.  Above all, though, he responded tot he leading of Jehovah's spirit. What outstanding lessons for all of us to learn! - Ecclesiastes 12:1. 

Next time: IMITATE THEIR FAITH/DAVID - "LET NO ONE LOSE HEART BECAUSE OF HIM"

From the Watchtower magazine