Synopsis

He chose David his servant, and took him away from the sheep-folds. As he was following the ewes great with young ones, he took him; that he might feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. So he fed them with a faithful and true heart, and ruled them prudently with all his power. I am about to preach to you four sermons on the character of David. His history, I take for granted, you all know. I look on David as an all but ideal king, educated for his office by an all but ideal training. A shepherd first; a life—be it ed—full of danger in those times and lands; then captain of a band of outlaws; and lastly a king, gradually and with difficulty fighting his way to a secure throne. This was his course. But the most important stage of it was probably the first. Among