But the Lord said to Samuel: 

“Do not look on his face, nor on the height of his body, for I have not chosen him.  Man judges by the outward looks, but God looks at the heart.”

Then Jesse’s second son, named Abinadab, passed by.  And the Lord said:  “I have not chosen this one.”  Seven young men came and Samuel said: 

“None of these is the man whom God has chosen.  Are these all your children?”

“There is one more,” said Jesse.  “The youngest of all.  He is a boy, in the field caring for the sheep.”

And Samuel said: 

“Send for him; for we will not sit down until he comes.”  So after a time the youngest son was brought in.  His name was David, a word that means “darling,” and he was a beautiful boy, perhaps fifteen years old, with fresh cheeks and bright eyes.

As soon as the young David came, the Lord said to Samuel: 

“Arise, anoint him, for this is the one whom I have chosen.”

Then Samuel poured oil on David’s head, in the presence of all his brothers.  But no one knew at that time the anointing to mean that David was to be the king.  Perhaps they thought that David was chosen to be a prophet like Samuel.

From that time the Spirit of God came upon David, and he began to show signs of coming greatness.  He went back to his sheep on the hillsides around Bethlehem, but God was with him.

David grew up strong and brave, not afraid of the wild beasts which prowled around and tried to carry away his sheep.  More than once he fought with lions, and bears, and killed them, when they seized the lambs of his flock.  And David, alone all day, practiced throwing stones in a sling, until he could strike exactly the place for which he aimed.  When he swung his sling, he knew that the stone would go to the very spot at which he was throwing it.

[Illustration:  Then Samuel poured oil on David’s head]

And young as he was, David thought of God, and talked with God, and God talked with David, and showed to David His will.

After Saul had disobeyed the voice of the Lord, the Spirit of the Lord left Saul, and no longer spoke to him.  And Saul became very sad of heart.  At times a madness would come upon him, and at all times he was very unhappy.  The servants of Saul noticed that when some one played on the harp and sang, Saul’s spirit was made more cheerful; and the sadness of soul left him.  At one time Saul said:  “Find some one who can play well, and bring him to me.  Let me listen to music; for it drives away my sadness.”

One of the young men said:  “I have seen a young man, a son of Jesse in Bethlehem, who can play well.  He is handsome in his looks, and agreeable in talking.  I have also heard that he is a brave young man, who can fight as well as he can play, and the Lord is with him.”

Then Saul sent a message to Jesse, David’s father.  He said:  “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.  Let him come and play before me.”