The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you go on grieving over Saul? I have rejected him as king of Israel. But now get some olive oil and go to Bethlehem, to a man named Jesse, because I have chosen one of his sons to be king."

Samuel took the olive oil and anointed David in front of his brothers. Immediately the spirit of the LORD took control of David and was with him from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.

saying to him, "Don't be afraid. My father Saul won't be able to harm you. He knows very well that you are the one who will be the king of Israel and that I will be next in rank to you."

And when the LORD has done all the good things he has promised you and has made you king of Israel,

even when I was afraid and said, "No one can be trusted."

When hope is crushed, the heart is crushed, but a wish come true fills you with joy.

Israel, why then do you complain that the LORD doesn't know your troubles or care if you suffer injustice?

He strengthens those who are weak and tired.

But those who trust in the LORD for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak.

The LORD says, "I am the one who strengthens you. Why should you fear mortals, who are no more enduring than grass?

At once Jesus reached out and grabbed hold of him and said, "What little faith you have! Why did you doubt?"

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Why are you frightened? Do you still have no faith?"

Even after we arrived in Macedonia, we did not have any rest. There were troubles everywhere, quarrels with others, fears in our hearts.

Then the prophet Gad came to David and said, "Don't stay here; go at once to the land of Judah." So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

Didn't we tell you before we left that this would happen? We told you to leave us alone and let us go on being slaves of the Egyptians. It would be better to be slaves there than to die here in the desert."

Why is the LORD taking us into that land? We will be killed in battle, and our wives and children will be captured. Wouldn't it be better to go back to Egypt?"

Trust in the LORD with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know.

Remember the LORD in everything you do, and he will show you the right way.

The Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says to the people, "Come back and quietly trust in me. Then you will be strong and secure." But you refuse to do it.

Instead, you plan to escape from your enemies by riding fast horses. And you are right---escape is what you will have to do! You think your horses are fast enough, but those who pursue you will be faster!

So it is best for us to wait in patience---to wait for him to save us---

And it is best to learn this patience in our youth.

who would ask him, "Where did you go on a raid this time?" and David would tell him that he had gone to the southern part of Judah or to the territory of the clan of Jerahmeel or to the territory where the Kenites lived.

David would kill everyone, men and women, so that no one could go back to Gath and report what he and his men had really done. This is what David did the whole time he lived in Philistia.

So David left, fleeing from Saul, and went to King Achish of Gath.

Their words made a deep impression on David, and he became very much afraid of King Achish.

So Achish said to his officials, "Look! The man is crazy! Why did you bring him to me?

Some time later the Philistines gathered their troops to fight Israel, and Achish said to David, "Of course you understand that you and your men are to fight on my side."

"Of course," David answered. "I am your servant, and you will see for yourself what I can do." Achish said, "Good! I will make you my permanent bodyguard."

The five Philistine kings marched out with their units of a hundred and of a thousand men; David and his men marched in the rear with King Achish.

But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said to him, "Send that fellow back to the town you gave him. Don't let him go into battle with us; he might turn against us during the fighting. What better way is there for him to win back his master's favor than by the death of our men?

Achish called David and said to him, "I swear by the living God of Israel that you have been loyal to me; and I would be pleased to have you go with me and fight in this battle. I have not found any fault in you from the day you came over to me. But the other kings don't approve of you.

David answered, "What have I done wrong, sir? If, as you say, you haven't found any fault in me since the day I started serving you, why shouldn't I go with you, my master and king, and fight your enemies?"

So then, David, tomorrow morning all of you who left Saul and came over to me will have to get up early and leave as soon as it's light."

Two days later David and his men arrived back at Ziklag. The Amalekites had raided southern Judah and attacked Ziklag. They had burned down the town

When David and his men arrived, they found that the town had been burned down and that their wives, sons, and daughters had been carried away.