1 Samuel 17:12–20

1 Samuel 16 gave us a general description of David's character. It showed him in his position as the Lord's anointed, and in a special way in his relationship with Saul. 1 Samuel 17 takes up the description of his history from another point of view. That is why verses 12 and 13 repeat his family connections, which at first look unnecessary.

Samuel anointed David in the house of Jesse the Bethlehemite, so Bethlehem was apparently the place of David's birth (1 Sam. 16:4; 1 Sam. 17:12, 15). This is why Luke 2:11 calls it the "city of David." It was also the birthplace of Jesus. Though the town was "too little to be among the clans of Judah," that agreed all the better with His humiliation. Bethlehem means "house of bread." It is a very fitting name for the place the Saviour should come from as a man — He who was the living bread that came down from heaven. Apparently it was first called Ephrath, and later Ephratah, and from there the ruler of Israel was to come.

"Then Samuel said to Jesse, 'Are all your sons here?' And he said, 'There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.'" ... God chose none of the previous seven, so the youngest must have been the eighth. Again we read in 1 Samuel 17:12 that Jesse "had eight sons."

If the seven are refused and the eighth chosen in Samuel, why does Chronicles number him the seventh? Some have supposed that one of Jesse's sons died, so that David would be the seventh. ... Seven is connected with rest in creation, and eight with rest in resurrection power and glory. In Samuel, David is the eighth. He points to the true David who will restore all things, and who will reign over Israel Himself as the risen Man. ... Eight means God stepping in with grace when all is lost.

David's family thought so little of him that no one called him to the banquet where such a distinguished guest as Samuel was to preside — a rare chance to hear his wisdom... But "a prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household." It was the same with the One David pictured — "great David's greater Son" — "For not even his brothers believed in him" (John 7:5). So minding the sheep was thought fit service for the youngest of the family, but because he was faithful in the little, God would trust him with greater things.

He was again on the plain path of humble daily duty. No road is so good as this. On no other road will God's honour show more clearly when His time comes. It was there that God anointed him for the throne. It was from there that God called him to the court of Saul. And now, from the same tending of his father's flock, God worked to bring him into the great field of action, where the question between the Philistines and the living God had to be settled.

The testing is complete, and it exposes the weakness and utter helplessness of Israel's armies. They are dismayed and in deep anxiety. No deliverer appears until they have a true and deep sense of their own feebleness. Then is the moment for God to step in. "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly" (Rom. 5:6). Yes, it is just then that the gospel comes out.

David was again in the plain path of humble daily duty. No road is as good as this one, and none where God's honour will show more clearly when His time comes. It was there that God anointed him for the throne. It was from there that God called him to Saul's court. And it was now from that same care of his father's flock that God worked to bring him into the great field of action.

I think they were afraid and dismayed because they felt it was impossible for them to cope with such a foe. At this moment we get David brought on the scene. It is striking that while this man was issuing his challenge, the record turns to Jesse of Bethlehem and his sons. While the giant is shouting for a man, God introduces His man.

David was carried forward by an energy Eliab knew nothing about. Why had Eliab not acted himself for the defence of his brothers? Why had Abinadab or Shammah not acted? Because they were faithless; simply this. Not only did those three men stay powerless; the whole assembly stayed terrified in front of the enemy. And now one appeared among them whom God was about to use in a remarkable way — and not one of them could understand him.

Eliab is the firstborn, and has a beautiful name and an impressive presence. Eliab means "God" — or "my God is Father"... Notice, again, that Eliab is the firstborn and David is at the other end, the eighth. This counts against Eliab, though his fine appearance may appeal even to a prophet. He comes under the law of Genesis, and shows the rule that the natural comes first and the spiritual afterwards (1 Cor. 15:46). But the Christ cannot belong to the natural line, and so cannot belong to the old creation. The eighth speaks of the new, and Eliab must give place to David.

I note this, because it shows the changes that are so useful and necessary for divine discipline. David had lived in the palace as the king's armour-bearer. Saul loved him dearly, and David had done him the most notable services. But he passes from this to the humble place of caring for his father's sheep in the wilderness. Out of sight, he serves with as much zeal and gladness as in the highest position. The ease with which he passes from one to the other proves the true metal of his soul. It proves the single purpose of a faithful servant in whatever he is called to do.

He was again in the plain path of humble daily duty. No road is really so good as this, and none where God's honour will be more found when His time comes. It was there that God anointed him for the throne. It was from there that God called him to the court of Saul. And it was now from the same tending of his father's flock that God worked to bring him into the great field of action, where the question between the Philistines and the living God had to be decided.

The rest of the family thought so little of David that they did not call him to the banquet. Samuel, a distinguished guest, was to preside over it... So minding the sheep counted as fit service for the youngest of the family. The flock was not even large. But he was faithful in what was least, so God would entrust him with greater matters. "He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds; from following the nursing ewes he brought him to shepherd Jacob his people, Israel his inheritance" (Ps. 78:70-71). Watch this tender youth following his father's flock with a careful, gentle eye on them. This marked him out as a man fitted to be the shepherd of Israel, a fitting picture of Him who was to be the Shepherd of the sheep.

And, what is still more remarkable, Jesse did not think of David in all this! The ruddy youth was alone in the wilderness with the sheep, and nobody remembered him while Jesse reviewed his other sons. But the eye of the Lord was resting on this despised youth. He saw in him the one who would stand in the line through which Christ would come as a man, to occupy the throne of David and rule over the house of Israel for ever. Truly "the LORD sees not as man sees," for "God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong... so that no human being might boast in the presence of God" (1 Cor. 1:27-29).

The history returns to David, and reminds us who he is. All this we are to keep in mind and carry with us. The three eldest of his brothers follow Saul, but David returned from Saul to his usual and meaningful occupation as shepherd of the sheep. God's king is in training, and he is not to be pulled away from it too soon.

David had lived in the palace as the king's armour-bearer. Saul loved him dearly, and David had done him the most notable services. Yet he passes from this to the humble place of caring for his father's sheep in the wilderness. Out of sight, he serves with as much eagerness and satisfaction as in the highest position. He moves from the one to the other with ease, and this proves the true metal of his soul, and the singleness of his purpose as a faithful servant in whatever work he is called to do.

When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid (1 Sam. 17:11). I think they were afraid and dismayed because they felt it was impossible for them to cope with such a foe. At this moment, while the giant is clamouring for a man, God introduces His man. And who is he? David, a beautiful picture of the One who is David's Son.

He was again in the plain path of humble daily duty. No road is as good as this. On no other road will God's honour be seen more clearly when His time comes. There God anointed him for the throne. From there God called him to Saul's court. And now, from that same tending of his father's flock, God worked to bring him into the great field of action, where the question between the Philistines and the living God had to be settled.

David's harp playing soothed the king when the spirit that God sent on him in judgement troubled him. He loved him for the good and the relief he received. It seems this did not last long. In the next chapter David has returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. "Out of sight, out of mind" proved as true for David as for many another man who has stood in a king's court.

David had been a resident of the palace, the king's armour-bearer, greatly loved by him, and had rendered him the most notable services; but he passes from this to the humble place of caring for his father's sheep in the wilderness. Unnoticed, he serves with as much zeal and satisfaction as in the highest position. The easy way he passes from one to the other proves the true metal of his soul, and the single purpose of a faithful servant in whatever he is called to do.

He knew his place, and kept it. In that place he learnt about God in a way others had not, and that lesson fitted him for future usefulness... Was time spent this way time thrown away? Who would say that while reading Psalm 8 — a psalm that seems to record lessons learnt in the night hours? Who would say he wasted his energy in the sheepfold, when there, as a shepherd, he experienced God's deliverance?

David had already met difficulties too great for a full-grown man while doing his ordinary duties. Yet, although only a youth, he had overcome them for a very simple reason — "the LORD delivered." He had not boasted about this; it was simply doing his duty. But in it he had learnt the strength and faithfulness of the LORD.

There is no sign of David fretting among the sheepfolds, or resenting being away from the armies of Israel. At his father's bidding he is content to be his messenger. He takes food to his brothers and a present to their captain, and brings back news of how they are. The simplicity of David's obedience is very beautiful: his own will is entirely out of sight, and his father's will is the only reason for his mission.

It was in his own town that David looked after his father's sheep and did his duties faithfully. This remarkable blend of royal dignity and lowly service in David was later seen in divine perfection in the Son of God.

Notice, too, the time that David left the retirement of his father's house. Verse 16 says the Philistine "took his stand" for forty days. In the very next verse, David's father sends him. Now, the number forty in the word of God denotes the time of trial or testing — man's testing. Moses was forty years in the court of Pharaoh, forty years in Midian, and forty years the leader of God's people, Israel. He was forty days and forty nights in the mount of God. The Israelites were tested forty years in the wilderness. And the Lord Jesus, the second Man, was tested and tried for forty days in the wilderness. All the time before Christ came, man was on trial. That lasted forty centuries — four thousand years. The trial of the human race ended when Jesus came into the world. He only came when man had failed and done his worst.

"For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening." What amazing patience on God's part! Every day, of course, increased the self-confidence of the Philistine champion. Every day added to Israel's dismay.

Why all that armour — the helmet, the coat of mail, the bronze guards on his legs, the bronze javelin between his shoulders, and an armour-bearer with a shield walking in front of him? See how carefully Goliath guarded his own safety! He did not challenge Israel to a one-on-one fight to the death until he had taken all those precautions. But those precautions showed that he lacked confidence in himself, and that he feared the men he sneered at as the servants of Saul. How bold the enemy can be in front of people who are afraid of him! When Saul and all Israel heard the Philistine's words, they were dismayed and terrified. And no wonder: if God is left out of a situation like that, what can weak man do?

I can well understand how those men felt, Saul and all of them. The giant came out that first morning and evening, saying, "Give me a man." They look round for the man, but he was not there. Then the second day, "Give me a man," again rings in their ears, and the same thing goes on for forty long days. The testing is complete, and it lays bare the weakness and total helplessness of Israel's armies. They are dismayed and deeply anxious. No deliverer appears until they truly feel how weak they are. Then is the moment for God to interfere. "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6).

Israel discovered in the day of their distress that God's chosen man was the only one who could deliver them. The great Goliath threatened them. Saul and Eliab trembled before him, helpless. They had to look elsewhere for salvation. That was when David appeared. Armed with the strength of the God of Israel, he overthrew the giant and set the people free.

He was a picture of Satan — too strong for anyone to beat except the man who acted in the power of Jehovah. And David is a picture of the Lord Jesus.

David, then, sent by his father on a simple errand of duty, was to be in the grace of God the instrument of His victory... What astonishing patience on God's part! Every day, of course, increased the self-confidence of the uncircumcised champion. Every day added to the dismay of Israel. There was one heart at least that knew no such unworthy fear.

Faith counts on the strength of God and does not count on self. So it simply does the work that comes its way, and thinks nothing of it. Here, in the path of duty, David gathers up the sense that God's strength is with him, ready for the trial to come. The secret of strength, learned like this in private, prepares him for what the Lord has for him to do later.

But David leaves his place. His father sends him to his brothers. And Jesus left His place of bliss on high and came to earth. He was the One sent by the Father... And notice, too, that although David's father sends him to his brothers, he went willingly. "David rose early in the morning" (v. 20). He did not hesitate or drag his feet. He was not driven; he went gladly.

So the relationship of Father and Son was already there before the Son took up His great errand and came as a man. In the same way, as a picture of this, Jesse was father and David was son before David appeared in the camp of Israel with his gift of food (1 Sam. 17). How much more the gift was worth, because the one who brought it from Bethlehem was not the giver's servant but his son!

Next we have therefore the refreshment David brought. His father did not send him empty-handed... Now, the good things David carried to the camp are like the earthly blessings Jesus brought to Israel. He raised the dead; He made the blind see and the deaf hear... He came loaded with grace and blessing, and right and left with a generous hand He freely gave these good things to the poor and needy.

It is the food of the heavenly warriors, of those in the conflict of Ephesians 6. As a picture of this, Israel ate it before their victorious fighting in Canaan (Josh. 5:11). David carried it to the trenches for his warrior brothers, who were facing the Philistines at Elah (1 Sam. 17:17). So this event shows us that Christ gives this food to those He is not ashamed to call His brothers!

In his obedience, David takes care of every interest of his father's. On leaving the sheepfold, "he left the sheep with a keeper," and when he ran to the ranks to greet his brothers, "David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage." He carried out his father's will with diligence and eagerness, and he was faithful with everything put into his hands.

As for David, he presents himself here (v. 17) as the one sent by his father to his brothers; his service begins with them. But God's purpose is a deliverance extending far beyond this limited circle. Joseph had done likewise (Gen. 37:14) and had become not only the savior of his brothers, but also the savior and master of Egypt.

Jesse seems to have had a soldier's outlook. We see it in his present of "ten cheeses" to the colonel his sons served under (1 Sam. 17:18). So minding the sheep counted as fit service for the youngest of the family. Nor was it a large flock, but being "faithful in a very little," God would entrust him with greater matters.

There is no sign of David fretting among the sheepfolds. He does not resent being kept away from the armies of Israel. At his father's word he is content to be his messenger. He takes food to his brothers and a present to their captain, and brings back news of how his brothers are. The simplicity of David's obedience is very beautiful. His own will is nowhere in sight, and his father's will is the only reason for his mission.

So the relationship of Father and Son existed before the Son took up His great errand in incarnation. To illustrate: Jesse was father and David was son before David ever appeared in the camp of Israel with his present of food (1 Sam. 17). How much more valuable the gift became, because the one who carried it from Bethlehem was not the giver's servant but his son!

This father sends his son down to see how his brothers are doing. It reminds us of that lovely verse: "And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world" (1 John 4:14). God has looked down on this scene, where the devil has overcome every man. He has sent into it, as a Savior, His own blessed Son… The father then sends the son. David comes into the camp and greets his brothers, carrying in his hand the pledge of a father's love and care.

As for David, he presents himself here (v. 17) as the one sent by his father to his brothers; his service begins with them. But God's purpose is a deliverance extending far beyond this limited circle. Joseph had done the same (Gen. 37:14) and had become not only the savior of his brothers, but also the savior and master of Egypt.

So David's visit to his brothers here should not be read like Joseph's, as the Lord taking flesh and coming into the world. We should take it instead as what men coldly call a providential visitation… The true David, the son of Jesse (of the living and unchanging God), did then visit His brothers with the bread of Bethlehem, the Father's house of bread.

David's father sent him on a simple errand of duty. In the grace of God he was to be the instrument of His victory… What astonishing patience on God's part! Every day, of course, increased the self-confidence of the uncircumcised champion. Every day added to the dismay of Israel. There was one heart at least that knew no such unworthy fear; but what shame and grief!

Saul and the army of Israel are camped in the valley of Elah, or "the terebinth," named like the oak for its strength — if it is not the oak itself. Spiritually, the "valley" is indeed the place to find the power that shows itself in life. But it is one thing to be in the position, another to have realized the blessing of it, and this, under their failed head, the Israelites have not done. In the presence of the enemy they have no strength.

Saul might set the army in array. The armies might go out to the place of the fight and shout for the battle (1 Sam. 17:19-21). But "the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came out from the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before... All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid" (1 Sam. 17:23-24). This happened just as David reached the camp.

Goliath's challenge to settle the matter by single combat made the struggle in the valley of Elah very unusual. It was the very method by which one man could stand out. It was not army against army, as in ordinary cases. The question was which man in all the host of Israel would dare to stand before the terrible uncircumcised foe. It is plain that the blessed God was about to make clear again to Israel that, as a people, they were utterly powerless. Their only deliverance, as of old, was the arm of Jehovah. He was still ready to act in His wonderful character of "a man of war," whenever faith called on Him as such.

David, then, sent by his father on a simple errand of duty, was to be in the grace of God the instrument of His victory: "For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening." What astonishing patience on God's part! Every day, of course, increased the self-confidence of the uncircumcised champion. Every day added to the dismay of Israel.

There is no sign of David fretting among the sheepfolds. He does not resent being away from the armies of Israel. At his father's bidding he is content to be his messenger, taking food to his brothers and a present to their captain, and bringing back news of how they were. The simplicity of David's obedience is very beautiful. His own will is completely out of sight. His father's will is the only reason for his mission.

This father sends his son down to see how his brothers fared. It reminds one of that lovely verse, "we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world" (1 John 4:14). God has looked down on this scene, where the devil has overcome every man, and has sent into it, as a Saviour, His own blessed Son.

Those forty days perfectly test the armies of Israel and show their weakness and utter incompetence. They are dismayed and deeply anxious. No deliverer appears until they have a true and deep sense of their feebleness. Then is the moment for God to step in. "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly" (Rom. 5:6). Yes, it is just then that the gospel comes out.

There is no sign of David fretting among the sheepfolds, or resenting being away from the armies of Israel. At his father's bidding he is content to be his messenger. He takes food to his brothers and a present to their captain, and brings back news of how they were doing. The simplicity of David's obedience is very beautiful: his own will is entirely lost sight of, and his father's will is the only reason for his mission.

Like Christ, David is here a true servant. He rises up early in the morning (v. 20) and takes his charge, so as to do his father's will. Already anointed, he is the Spirit's man for this service, while at the same time keeping his character of humility in the pastures of the sheep.

In his obedience, David is careful to look after every interest of his father's, for on leaving the sheepfold "he left the sheep with a keeper." And when he ran into the army to greet his brothers, "David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage." Diligence and eagerness marked him in carrying out his father's will. He was also faithful with everything put into his hands, whether the sheep or his father's goods. Does this not remind us of Him who said, "And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that He has given me, but raise it up on the last day" (John 6:39)?

David leaves his place, and Jesus left His place of bliss on high and came to earth. He was the sent One of the Father. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son." … And notice too that though David's father sends him to his brothers, he went willingly. "David rose early in the morning" (v. 20). He did not hesitate or set out with dragging feet. He was not driven; he went gladly. And Jesus, though sent by God, came willingly.

There were great shouts in the camp when the ark arrived. It was the same at a later time. Israel was again in conflict with the Philistines, and when David came in, "they shouted for the battle" (1 Sam. 17:20). But neither shout was "the sound of shouting for victory," nor was "the shout of a king" among them. It was the expression of a vain and fatal confidence. It was much easier to shout than to fight. In the same way, it is easier today to catch fire at big meetings, stirring talks and exciting music than to live in real devotion to God.

Saul might set the army in array, but there came up the champion, Goliath of Gath, out of the armies of the Philistines… This happened just as David reached the camp. Their loud shout for the battle was soon over, and all the people were in complete panic. But David was calm and undismayed through it all.

When his presence was no longer needed at Saul's court, he returned to his original work of keeping his father's sheep in the wilderness (1 Sam. 17:15). He knew his place, and kept it. In that place he learned about God in a way others had not, and that lesson fitted him for future usefulness. … Who would say he had wasted his energies in the sheepfold, when as a shepherd he experienced the deliverance of God? Now the time had come, and the occasion arose, for which God had been training His servant in the wilderness.