e another side of his many-sided character while we
listen to the melodies he so dearly loved to play on his harp as he
wandered over the hills and plains with his flock. David had in him the
making of a mighty warrior, a great king, but he had too, a dreamy,
sensitive, poetic side to his nature, which made him deeply appreciate
and enjoy all the beauty of nature which he tried to express in his
music, and which long years later, came out more clearly in those
wonderful psalms which he wrote, and which have comforted and helped so
many generations of Christian people.

In those days Saul was becoming less and less of a dignified,
self-controlled leader, as he began to realise that he was not powerful
enough to hold his people, and he frequently gave way to fits of
terrible anger or prolonged melancholy, from which no one could rouse
him. At that time when the Philistines were gaining so many victories
over the Israelites, it was most important that Saul should not give
way to such attacks, as they unfitted him to perform his public or
private duties, and every means of quieting him was tried, but in vain.
Finally, it was suggested that music has a soothing effect on troubled
spirits, and when the idea was mentioned to Saul it pleased him, and he
at once commanded that a musician be found and brought to him. Then
came the question of who that musician should be, and one of Saul's
counsellors said:

"Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse, the Bethlehemite, that is cunning
in playing and a comely person, and the Lord is with him."

The description pleased Saul and he at once sent a messenger to Jesse,
saying:

"Send me David, thy son, which is with the sheep."

And so once again, there came to David a new experience for which he
had had no preparation, and again, as before, he neither refused nor
questioned the call to a different life, but while Jesse, his father,
was preparing a present to send to Saul by David, according to the
custom of the times, David was making hasty preparations to leave home.
Soon he was ready to set off, and taking with him an ass laden with
bread, a bottle of wine and a young kid, which were Jesse's present to
Saul, on he journeyed over the hills and through the valleys until he
reached the court of the King, and presently stood in the presence of
Saul, who almost as soon as he had looked at the lad with his fair,
bright face and sturdy figure, took a great fancy to him, and commanded
him to