Like many other youths in Canaan, he acted as a shepherd to his father’s flocks.  He was a fair, open-faced boy; “ruddy, and of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look at,” so the Scriptures say.  He was a good musician, knew how to sling stones at a mark, and was so brave that when a lion and a bear came to attack the lambs of his flock he went after them and killed them both.  One day a strange and most important event happened.  Samuel, the prophet, came from Ramah, and pouring some very precious oil upon the head of David, anointed him to be the future King of Israel.  Saul was then King, but on account of his wickedness God had rejected him, saying that another should reign in his stead.

Soon after this event Saul became very wretched.  An evil spirit troubled him, we are told.  His servants advised him to get a man that could play skilfully upon the harp, so that music might drive away his misery.  Some one suggested David; and David was sent for.  He brought sweet strains from his harp, and Saul was soothed.  Saul was pleased with David.  We are told that “he loved him greatly,” and that David became his armour-bearer.  But he soon grew jealous, and twice threw a javelin at David, seeking to smite him to the wall and kill him.  This, however, he was not able to do.

[Illustration:  David playing on the harp before Saul.]

DAVID AND GOLIATH.

How attentively David looks at the stones in his hand.  His sling is on his arm, and his bag by his side.  What is he about to do with those stones?  And who is that tall man in armour, strutting about with such a long spear in his hand?

Two armies were drawn up in battle array.  They were the armies of the Israelites and Philistines.  The camp of the Israelites was on one hill, and that of the Philistines was upon another; a valley lying between.  For forty days these armies had been facing each other, but yet the battle had been delayed.  The Philistines had on their side a giant of great height and strength, encased in armour, who daily came out, challenging the Israelites to send a man from their camp to fight with him.  But no man among them dared to go against Goliath, the Philistines’ champion.

Meanwhile Jesse had sent David to the Israelites’ camp to see after his brethren.  He heard what the giant said, and offered to go out against him.  Saul was informed of David’s offer, and sent for him.  Saul told David he was not able to fight the giant, but he boldly replied, “The Lord which delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.”  David trusted not in his own power, but in God!  Then Saul said, “Go, and the Lord be with thee.”

He went, slung one of the smooth stones he had chosen out of the brook, smote the Philistine in the forehead so that he fell to the earth, and then ran and cut off his head.  Thus God enabled this ruddy youth to overcome the giant Philistine, and to slay him with a sling and a stone.