1 Samuel 17:12-19
12 Now David was the son of the Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, the man whose name was Jesse, and he had eight sons. And Jesse was old in the days of Saul, advanced in years among men.
13 The three older sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who had gone into the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and second to him, Abinadab, and the third, Shammah.
14 So David was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed Saul,
15 but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s flock at Bethlehem.
16 And the Philistine came forward morning and evening, and took his stand for forty days.
17 Then Jesse said to his son David, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to your brothers.
18 Bring also these ten slices of cheese to the commander of their thousand, and look into the well-being of your brothers and bring back confirmation from them.
19 For Saul and they and all the men of Israel are in the Valley of Elah, fighting the Philistines.”
To the Battlefield as the Father’s Messenger
The youngest son, David
At that time, David was traveling between Saul’s palace and his father Jesse’s house in Bethlehem. When the war started and Saul went out to battle, he returned to his father’s house to tend the sheep. (1) Jesse had become an old man. (2) He had eight sons, but the three older sons had followed Saul to battle. These were Eliab the firstborn, Abinadab the second, and Shammah the third. (3) While David was at his father’s house, the giant Goliath appeared morning and evening for 40 days, mocking and cursing the Israelite army. Jesse’s three sons heard his taunts every day and trembled. However, David was still unaware of the extreme crisis Israel was facing.
God’s providence
A significant turning point was about to occur. Jesse decided to send David to the battlefield. (1) Jesse, being an old man, couldn’t go himself, so he chose to send David. (2) The purpose was less about making observation of the battle situation and more about checking on the wellbeing of his three sons. Jesse entrusted David with gifts (roasted grain, bread, cheese, etc.) to deliver to the commander of a thousand soldiers. With these gifts, he may have hoped that his sons were placed in a safe place. David was also instructed to bring back proof of his brothers’ well-being. In today’s passage also, the hand of God’s providence is at work behind the scenes. David hearing Goliath’s taunts becomes the turning point of the situation, but this was not a result of human planning. This was of God’s plan. Jesse sent David to the battlefield out of concern for his sons’ safety. However, it was God who guided David to the battlefield and led him to fight as the champion warrior. Similar things can happen even in our lives too. God uses human plans to accomplish even greater things. Let’s wholeheartedly praise the Almighty God.
Today's prayer
Almighty God, You are the one who make everything beautiful in its time. I entrust my life into Your hands. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.