By Staff
David, who became the second king of Israel, did not grow up like a prince. He was the youngest of eight brothers and was not included when the prophet Samuel invited Jesse's family to a special sacrifice service (1 Samuel 16:5).
Samuel had been sent to anoint one of Jesse's sons as the next king of Israel. Samuel did not know which son was God's choice, but he was following the leadership of God moment by moment.
When the seven sons present passed before Samuel, God did not indicate that any of them were His choice. Samuel asked Jesse if all the sons were there (1 Samuel 16:11). Jesse's answer was that there was one more son, but he had been left to tend the sheep. A servant could have kept the sheep if David had been considered important enough to be included.
Tending sheep was a lonely job. It was usually delegated to the young people. One would have to conclude that sustaining a few lost sheep was no big deal since the older more experienced and stronger family members seldom tended sheep.
David could do nothing about his position in the family, nor the assignment, but he could make the best of an obscure job.
The nation of Israel was invaded by the Philistines (1 Samuel 17:1). David's three older brothers had joined the army and were with King Saul at the battlefront (1 Samuel 17:13). David was called by his father to leave the sheep with another and take some food to his brothers in the army.
When David arrived, he saw and heard the Philistine champion, Goliath, challenge and insult the army of Israel (1 Samuel 17:8-10). King Saul and the soldiers were dismayed and afraid of Goliath because he was a giant of a man and a great warrior.
David had a different perspective of the situation. Rather than fear and dismay, David was shocked that a pagan nation was bringing the people of the Living God of Heaven to their knees (1 Samuel 17:26). David's attitude of faith and determination brought disdain from his oldest brother (1 Samuel 17:28) and from King Saul (1 Samuel 17:33), who said David was too young and not able to fight with such a formidable foe.
What was different about David? Why did he not join the others in fear and dismay?
David had the mundane and obscure job of tending sheep on remote hillsides.
Even though his father might have expected the normal losses of sheep from predators on the open range, David did not accept that any sheep should be lost. In obscurity, when nobody was watching and nobody seemed to care, David risked his life time after time to protect and rescue little lambs from certain death.
When King Saul questioned David's prowess, David recounted incidents where he literally chased down both a lion and a bear which had one of his lambs in their mouth. David said in 1 Samuel, chapter 17, verses 34-35, "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it."
In obscurity, David developed and proved his qualities for greatness. David had experienced the help and power of God as he stepped up to protect his father's sheep. David was so confident that he declared to King Saul, "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine" (1 Samuel 17:37).
The rest is history. David ran out to meet the giant in battle and, with a stone, a sling, and the mighty power of God, David killed the giant and delivered Israel.
Obscurity did not discourage David. He saw it as an opportunity to develop himself for greater things ahead.