1 Samuel 17:55-58
Verse 56 The king said, “Find out whose son this young man is.”
Today’s passage is why some scholars believe chapter 17 proceeds the later part of chapter 16 chronologically. Had David been Saul’s armor bearer and been one to soothe the king with his music to the point that Saul loved him as it says in chapter 16, Saul wouldn’t have had to ask who the boy was. That is why we listened to those scholars and studied chapter 17 before finishing 16.
Our reading today starts with the king and his army commander, Abner, watching the boy go out to meet the giant. If our story had started out with this image we may have questioned the fitness of this king and his commander for their positions. What kind of men of battle would sit back afraid of the enemy and allow a boy go to battle for them? If this was all we knew of the story it would be easy to think that these men were worthless, scum even, for letting a boy do the job of a seasoned warrior. Especially after seeing that David couldn’t wear the proper gear.
There were likely many thoughts running through the king’s mind that day. Everything from, “what is wrong with this kid?” to “What is wrong with my warriors that they are willing to let a kid show them up?” But the question he should have been asking himself was more along the lines of, “Does this kid really believe that God will deliver the enemy into his young hands?” or maybe a statement like, “This kid sure seems to have a lot of faith in God.”
The army commander, Abner, wasn’t much better. Here was a commander allowing a child to go into a battle that he wouldn’t enter into himself or convince his trained warriors to attempt. He probably thought the kid was out of his mind for being willing to do this. If a trained soldier didn’t think they had what it would take to take down this enemy there was no way this hotshot kid would be able to do it.
Then like one of those disasters that is so bad you can’t bring yourself to look away, they watched the boy continue on towards the oncoming mammoth of a man. They had to be waiting for David’s demise but David knew something that they still didn’t understand, Jesse may have been David’s dad, but David knew that God was his father!
Making It Personal
What does it mean to you that God is your Father? Do your actions and words reflect that you are His child? Who may be watching your life that needs to see God’s power through you?
Making It Personal Kids
What do you think it means that God is your Father? What are some actions and words in your life that prove you are His child? Who do you think is watching you to see if you act like Him?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for calling us Your children. Please give us the wisdom and courage to act as Your faithful children. We want to be Your billboards. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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