We Need Family

It was madness.

Within hours, his lonely little camp of one had exploded into a bustling camp of two hundred and growing. Not that he minded. David was grateful that he wasn’t alone to wallow. This rag-tag only group confirmed what God had spoken over him through the prophet Samuel.

“David!” He turned towards the voice shouting his name.

And froze.

His father stood about thirty feet away. He had tears in his eyes, and a sword strapped to his side. David could see all of his brothers – even Eliab was there! The normally hard set lines of his face were turned up in a smile, and he had a gleam of remorse in his eyes.

His family was here.

David realized he hadn’t moved. Without thinking about what he was doing, he ran towards them. He looped his arms around as many of them as he could. Emotion closed up his throated and choked him. After all this time, after all the ways they had ignored and belittled him, he had to say exactly how he was feeling, seeing them here for him.

“I’m glad you’re here.”

Based on 1 Samuel 22:1-2

You guys may remember that last week I did a blog set in these two verses with a bunch of my favorite Psalms. While I was writing that blog, these verses popped out to me. I never found it weird that David’s family came and found him. I mean, if I was in David’s situation, I know my family would be standing there behind me like a poster of unlikely heroes in an action movie.

That’s not how it was with David’s family.

In 1 Samuel 16, David’s father, Jesse, didn’t give David the time of day. He didn’t tell him that Samuel was there to anoint one of them as future king.  None of them even considered that that David could be the one God had picked to be king.

In 1 Samuel 17, Jesse sent David to see how his other sons were faring in the war. When David got there and defended God, his brother Eliab was angry at him, an accused him of just sneaking down to see the battle.

In 1 Samuel 18-22, he marries Saul’s daughter, Michal, moves into/near the palace, and starts a life serving the king with his new family away from his old family. That is, until he has to run for his life without his new family.

We have no reason to believe that David’s family would support him during this time where Saul was bad-mouthing him and plotting to destroy him. But they overcame their differences. They stuck together. They supported him and God’s call on his life.

“But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8

David’s family eventually came to this conclusion. They realized that God had ordained and picked David, and that they needed to support him. Can you imagine how happy he was when they showed up to support him? I tried, but I doubt I gave it justice.

Point is, if you’ve got family who is really, truly following God, then support them. Love them. Provide for them and help them. It’s important. We all need our family to be there for us in the hard times.

I love this song about family by Sanctus Real. God bless you guys!

 

V. Joy Palmer