1 Samuel 16:1
The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons."
This verse is the turning point in the book of Samuel, in the fortunes of Israel, and in the history of the world. Saul was the king everybody wanted. As with so many mistaken notions that vox populi means vox Dei, Saul turned out to be a tragically human failure who eventually had his kingdom taken away by God and given, not to the guy "everybody" wanted but to the guy God wanted: the runt of Jesse's litter–a kid named David. David did not thereby breeze into the purple. In fact, life got much harder. But all the hardships served, not to kill David, but to make him stronger and more devoted to God. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship and it ended… well, it never did really end. For David's house was made sure by God and the Son of David was made King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
By Mark Shea
Mark P. Shea is a Catholic author, blogger, and speaker.
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