Etzer Vilaire
My friend jokingly asked me if I was going to take up the family profession (meaning poetry). Umm...no. However, I did have to write an epic poem for literature class about King David from the Old Testament, and this is what I came up with.
The Journey of King David
An epic poem by Tera Leigh Vilaire
To the city of Bethlehem, Samuel the prophet went in search of a king,
In the house of Jesse he was to find one.
“Is this the one?” Samuel asked the Lord.
“No” was the answer.
“This one?” Samuel asked.
“No.” came the reply.
“Man, looks at the outward appearance,
But the Lord looks at the heart.”
A Shepherd boy was chosen.
Small in stature and shabby in dress
But with handsome features and bright eyes.
David was his name and Samuel anointed him to be Israel’s future king.
And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon him.
Years later, the Israelites were at war with the Philistines;
One giant of a man, named Goliath, in particular.
With God-given strength, David slew the giant and led the Israelites to victory. For this the nation was keen.
This made him popular as well as it made King Saul unpopular.
Saul seethed as he heard the women sing:
“Saul has slain his thousands
And David his ten thousands!”
David was betrothed to Saul’s daughter Michel as he was unaware of this animosity.
One day David played his harp for Saul.
Rage engulfed the King and he hurled a javelin at him swiftly..
Terrified, David fled to the wilderness with the help of his best friend, Prince Jonathon and Michal.
Saul stewed in anger as he remembered.
As he remembered his past.
The people of Israel pleaded with Samuel “Give us a king!”
The Lord instructed Samuel to go to Kish.
There he met a man named Saul.
He was a Benjaminite. Tall and handsome.
Saul asked for help to find his father’s donkeys.
What he received was a kingship!
The Spirit of the Lord fell upon Saul and he was a mighty king.
But he did not obey. Saul presented an un-lawful sacrifice to the Lord.
Because of this, the Spirit of the Lord left Saul
The Lord was sorry that He had made Saul king.
Saul was bitter towards the Lord
And he was determined to keep his crown from David.
David had fled and gathered many men along the way.
Together with his small army, David helped keep peace in the land.
Saul pursued David night and day.
Slaying a convent of priests with his bloody hand.
David continued to flee like a rabbit that is hunted.
Knowing in his heart that he could never raise his hand against God’s anointed.
As he continued pursuing David,
Saul entered the cave, where David and his men where hiding, to rest.
Despite all urgings, David only took a corner of Saul’s robe.
He brought the cloth to Saul saying
“My Lord the king!
See the corner of your robe in my hand
For in that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you.”
Both men wept and Saul said
“You are more righteous that I;
For you have rewarded me with good
Where as I rewarded you with evil.”
The men then parted.
Saul returned to his throne and David to his men.
The Philistines attacked and the sons of Israel retaliated led by Saul and Jonathon. A grueling war began.
One battle at Mount Gilboa proved to be a devastating one.
The three sons of King Saul were slain along with many other sons of Israel.
Saul pleaded with his armor bearer to slay him.
He dreaded being captured by the Philistines.
The boy refused.
Saul then slew himself.
This is the sad end of the line of King Saul.
When the news was brought to David
He wept and lamented for the king and his best friend were slain.
David was coronated king over Israel and he was Israel’s greatest ruler.
He wasn’t perfect.
He would sin and fall away.
But David would forever be known as the man after God’s own heart.
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