He swung his head sharply to the left. His army commander, Abner, stood beside him. He couldn't believe he hadn't asked this earlier. "Abner, whose son is this youth?"
Abner's brow furrowed in thought. Saul could see that he had come to the same conclusion. "As your soul lives, O king, I do not know."
Saul turned back to the battle field, and watched in a concoction of horror and awe as the boy and Goliath raced towards each other. The boy...
"Find out, Abner."
David raised both fist in the air. "The Lord, Yahweh, has prevailed!" Men all around him screamed their agreements, their shouts rising up and catching a ride with the wind, sharing their victory all over the world.
David dragged a couple pieces of Goliath's armor, as well as Goliath's head back into the camp as he walked. The army of Israel had finished chasing down the Philistines, and had returned to pillage the camp. However, he only wanted the armor of Goliath. A few men who stuck by him the entire chase, helped drag the armor back into the camp.
As they crested the hill into camp, a line of soldiers stood waiting. The commander from King Saul's tent stepped forward, Abner, as he recalled.
Now what had he done?
"We need you to come with us. The King wishes an audience with you." The commander's unwavering stare told him there was no negotiating. It had to be right now.
One of his new friends clapped his shoulder. "We will take care of the armor for you. You can trust us."
David smiled his thanks, and dropped the armor to follow the commander. However, he didn't drop Goliath's head.
They navigated the maze of tents, and soon came to King Saul's tent. A couple soldiers stood outside, and Abner ducked into the tent first, David directly on his heels.
This time, King Saul was pacing back and forth in the tent, clearly impatient with his wait for David.
"My King," Abner started, but Saul held up his hand, his eyes focused on one thing.
What David held in his hand.
He held it out as an offering to King Saul, waiting.
King Saul shook his head, breaking the trance, and looked at David in amazement, and yes, a little bit of envy. "Congratulations. The Lord has indeed brought forth the victory. However, there is something I need to know. Whose son are you, young man?"
David's eyebrows raised. It was such a simple question, yet.... Nevertheless, he answered loud and clear. Confident. Just like he should.
"I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite."
Based on 1 Samuel 17:55-58
Today, we are ending our David and Goliath series. We are ending it with a look inwards at us, and who we are.
When David went out to the battle field against Goliath, Saul was consumed because he didn't know who he had just sent out there. Who was his father? Who was this guy?
It is incredible, the people who watch us, and try to figure out who we are based on what we do. This topic never seems to leave my heart because I've had David moments, and I've had times of pure and utter failure in this area. And after these times I always wonder, "Who was watching that I didn't know was watching? Who did I influence? And was it good? Did I promote Jesus, or did I do a big belly flop back into old sin?"
"But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men." Colossians 3:23
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31
When Saul had David brought to him afterwards, the Bible only has one recorded question, "Whose son are you?"
Who is your Father? Whose child are you?
The fatherhood was such a major part of their culture. The credit for raising such a strong, brave man would go to Jesse, David's father.
When people watch us, our failures and triumphs are also credited to Someone. Our Father.
When they watch us, judge us, determine whether they can trust all this, everything we do is turned back to God, the Father we claim to follow.
Phew! No pressure, right?
It's a lot. We are going to fail. We are going to screw up and blow up. We will make stupid mistakes, probably multiple times. But if we stop, and think about how we are reflecting God, and if we are following Jesus, then maybe we will make fewer mistakes and messes.
"I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
That requires a look inside our hearts, and the helping strength of the Almighty God.
May we all live our lives a little closer to Jesus then the day before. Amen
V. Joy Palmer
Check out http://snackpackdevotionsforkidz.blogspot.com
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