XVIII.
FROM THE BOOK OF KINGS.
SAUL was the name of the first king who reigned over God's people.
He was raised to be king rather by the people's choice
than by God's counsel. Many other kings
had reigned before throughout the whole world over heathen nations;
but over the people of Israel, who believed in God,
there was no earthly king before that Saul
(as they had themselves chosen) assumed the dominion over them.
He turned quickly aside from the will of Almighty God,
and would not walk by His instruction and by the teaching of His prophets,
and the evil Spirit troubled him with diabolic instigations,
and turned his reason into madness.
Then at last Almighty God rejected this Saul,
and cast him out of his kingdom according to his own deserts,
and chose for Himself as king the brave David,
who without weapons had conquered the lion,
and had rent the bear's jaws with his hands,
and had delivered the captured sheep from his sharp teeth.
He likewise overthrew afterward the mighty giant,
Goliath the cruel, who blasphemed God's name,
and with threats cried shame upon God's people,
armed for single combat with exceeding great weapons.
Lo then! David went against the giant,
and with his sling struck the unbelieving giant
above the eyes, so that he bowed to the earth.
Then he took from the giant his own sword,
and struck off his huge head therewith,
and so won the victory for his people.
Concerning this David spake the Almighty Ruler
