WHY WAS DAVID SUCCESSFUL?—part 2

WHY WAS DAVID SUCCESSFUL?—part 2

            A look at the early life of the man who accomplished all these things reveals that he had a very humble beginning.  He was the youngest of the eight sons of Jesse the Bethlehemite.  In I Samuel chapter sixteen, Jesse had seven of his sons to pass before Samuel for blessing to become King, but Samuel the prophet knew immediately that God had refused them all.  Verse eleven of that chapter says, "And Samuel said unto Jesse, are here all thy children?  And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold he keepeth the sheep."  So, Jesse sent for his youngest red-haired son.  Verse twelve states, "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."

            Although David had a beautiful outward appearance and was a pleasant person, he was probably not nearly as tall as Saul (I Sam. 10:23) who was ". . .higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward."  As a matter of fact (I Sam. 16:7), Eliab was probably more like Saul in stature than David and had a good countenance like David.  However, God chose David the musician because of his heart (vs. 7).  Samuel, speaking of David, told King Saul (I Sam. 13:14) "But now thy kingdom shall not continue:  the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart. . ."