but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's sheep in Bethlehem. but David went back and forthThis phrase highlights David's dual responsibilities during this period of his life. The Hebrew root for "went back and forth" is "halak," which means to walk or go. This indicates David's active role and commitment to both his duties at the royal court and his responsibilities at home. Historically, this movement between the battlefield and his pastoral duties underscores David's humility and obedience. Despite being anointed as the future king, David remains faithful in small tasks, reflecting a heart of servitude and preparation for greater responsibilities. from Saul Saul, the first king of Israel, represents the established authority and the current leadership of Israel. David's service to Saul is significant as it places him in the royal court, providing him with firsthand experience of leadership and governance. This relationship is complex, as Saul later becomes envious of David. However, at this point, David's service to Saul is marked by loyalty and respect, demonstrating his integrity and submission to God's timing. to tend his father’s sheep The act of tending sheep is deeply symbolic in the biblical narrative. The Hebrew word for "tend" is "ra'ah," which means to shepherd or care for. This role as a shepherd is foundational for David, as it prepares him for his future role as the shepherd of Israel. Shepherding requires vigilance, courage, and a nurturing spirit, qualities that David would later exhibit as king. The imagery of a shepherd is also a foreshadowing of Christ, the Good Shepherd, highlighting the pastoral care and leadership that God values. in Bethlehem Bethlehem, meaning "house of bread" in Hebrew, is a town with significant biblical history. It is the birthplace of David and later, Jesus Christ. This location is not only David's home but also a prophetic link to the lineage of Christ. Bethlehem's mention here roots David's account in a place of divine promise and fulfillment. It serves as a reminder of God's providential plan, weaving together the lives of His chosen servants across generations. Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe youngest son of Jesse, anointed by Samuel to be the future king of Israel. At this point, he is serving both as a shepherd and as a musician in King Saul's court. 2. SaulThe first king of Israel, who is troubled by an evil spirit and finds relief in David's music. He is unaware of David's future role as king. 3. JesseDavid's father, who lives in Bethlehem. He is a significant figure in David's life, providing him with responsibilities and guidance. 4. BethlehemA small town in Judah, known as the birthplace of David and later, Jesus Christ. It holds significant prophetic importance in the Bible. 5. SheepRepresenting David's humble beginnings and his faithfulness in small tasks, which prepares him for greater responsibilities. Teaching Points Faithfulness in Small ThingsDavid's commitment to tending his father's sheep, despite his role in Saul's court, teaches us the importance of being faithful in small responsibilities. God often uses these experiences to prepare us for greater tasks. Balancing Multiple RolesDavid's ability to serve both Saul and his family demonstrates the importance of balancing different roles and responsibilities in our lives. We should seek God's wisdom in managing our time and duties effectively. God's Preparation and TimingDavid's journey from shepherd to king illustrates how God prepares us for His purposes in His perfect timing. We must trust in His plan and be patient as He works in our lives. Humility and ServiceDespite his anointing, David humbly returns to his duties as a shepherd. This teaches us the value of humility and serving others, regardless of our status or future potential. Bible Study Questions 1. How does David's role as a shepherd prepare him for his future responsibilities as king? Reflect on how your current roles might be preparing you for future opportunities. 2. In what ways can we demonstrate faithfulness in the "small things" in our lives, as David did with his father's sheep? 3. How can we balance multiple responsibilities in our lives, as David did between serving Saul and his family? What practical steps can we take to manage our time effectively? 4. Reflect on a time when you had to wait for God's timing in your life. How did that experience shape your faith and trust in Him? 5. How can we cultivate humility and a servant's heart in our daily lives, following David's example of returning to his duties as a shepherd? Consider connections to Jesus' teachings on servanthood. Connections to Other Scriptures Psalm 78:70-72Highlights David's journey from shepherd to king, emphasizing his integrity and skillful leadership. Luke 2:4Connects Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus, linking David's lineage to the Messiah. John 10:11Jesus refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd, drawing a parallel to David's role as a shepherd and leader. People Abinadab, Abner, David, Elah, Eliab, Ephah, Goliath, Israelites, Jesse, Saul, ShammahPlaces Azekah, Bethlehem, Ekron, Ephes-dammim, Gath, Jerusalem, Shaaraim, Socoh, Valley of ElahTopics Bethlehem, Beth-lehem, David, Father's, Feed, Flock, Forth, Fro, Returned, Returning, Saul, Sheep, TendDictionary of Bible Themes 1 Samuel 17:15 5876 helpfulness Library The victory of Unarmed Faith 'And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. 33. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. 34. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock; 35. And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureApril the Thirtieth the Test of victory "David behaveth himself wisely." --1 SAMUEL xvii. 55--xviii. 5. The hour of victory is a more severe moral test than the hour of defeat. Many a man can brave the perils of adversity who succumbs to the seductions of prosperity. He can stand the cold better than the heat! He is enriched by failure, but "spoilt by success." To test the real quality of a man, let us regard him just when he has slain Goliath! "David behaved himself wisely"! He was not "eaten up with pride." He developed no "side." … John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year April the Twenty-Ninth the Mood of Triumph "I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts." --1 SAMUEL xvii. 38-54. The man who comes up to his foes with this assurance will fight and win. Reasonable confidence is one of the most important weapons in the warrior's armoury. Fear is always wasteful. The man who calmly expects to win has already begun to conquer. Our mood has so much to do with our might. And therefore does the Word of God counsel us to attend to our dispositions, lest, having carefully collected our material implements, … John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year The Call of David. "So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone."--1 Samuel xvii. 50. These words, which are taken from the chapter which you heard read just now in the course of the Service[1], declare the victory which David, the man after God's own heart, gained over Goliath, who came out of the army of the Philistines to defy the Living God; and they declare the manner of his gaining it. He gained it with a sling and with a stone; that is, by means, which to man might seem weak and … John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII How David Prevailed. "So David prevailed over the Philistine!"--1 SAMUEL xvii. 50. Yes, he did, but he would not have done so if he had remained as quiet as the other Israelites. David was one of those who could not be easy so long as the enemies of his country were in the ascendant. To see a Philistine strutting about, defying the armies of the living God, was more than he could bear. Is not this the spirit which should animate Christians to-day? It is not one GOLIATH merely, there are many. DRUNKENNESS, PROFANITY, … Thomas Champness—Broken Bread Knox -- the First Temptation of Christ John Knox, the great Scottish reformer, was born at Giffordgate, four miles from Haddington, Scotland, in 1505. He first made his appearance as a preacher in Edinburgh, where he thundered against popery, but was imprisoned and sent to the galleys in 1546. In 1547 Edward VI secured his release and made him a royal chaplain, when he acquired the friendship of Cranmer and other reformers. On the accession of Mary (1553) he took refuge on the Continent. In 1556 he accepted the charge of a church in Geneva, … Various—The World's Great Sermons, Volume I Hwochow Women's Bible Training School COURSE OF STUDY FIRST TERM Book of Genesis. Gospel according to St. Luke or St. Mark. Acts of the Apostles, chapters i. to ix. "A Synopsis of the Central Themes of the Holy Bible." Reading Lessons, with necessary Explanation and Writing of Chinese Character. Arithmetic. Singing and Memorisation of Hymns. SECOND TERM Book of Exodus, Numbers, and 1 Samuel i. to xvi. The Gospel according to St. John. The Epistle of St James. "A Synopsis of the Central Themes of the Holy Bible"--(continued). Reading … A. Mildred Cable—The Fulfilment of a Dream of Pastor Hsi's He Does Battle for the Faith; He Restores Peace among those who were at Variance; He Takes in Hand to Build a Stone Church. 57. (32). There was a certain clerk in Lismore whose life, as it is said, was good, but his faith not so. He was a man of some knowledge in his own eyes, and dared to say that in the Eucharist there is only a sacrament and not the fact[718] of the sacrament, that is, mere sanctification and not the truth of the Body. On this subject he was often addressed by Malachy in secret, but in vain; and finally he was called before a public assembly, the laity however being excluded, in order that if it were … H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh The Shepherd-King 'And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt them mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel! fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided Me a king among his sons. 2. And Samuel said, How can I go? If Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the Lord. 3. And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Temporal Advantages. "We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content."--1 Tim. vi. 7, 8. Every age has its own special sins and temptations. Impatience with their lot, murmuring, grudging, unthankfulness, discontent, are sins common to men at all times, but I suppose one of those sins which belongs to our age more than to another, is desire of a greater portion of worldly goods than God has given us,--ambition and covetousness … John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII The Quotation in Matt. Ii. 6. Several interpreters, Paulus especially, have asserted that the interpretation of Micah which is here given, was that of the Sanhedrim only, and not of the Evangelist, who merely recorded what happened and was said. But this assertion is at once refuted when we consider the object which Matthew has in view in his entire representation of the early life of Jesus. His object in recording the early life of Jesus is not like that of Luke, viz., to communicate historical information to his readers. … Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. ) Ver. 8. "Judah, thou, thy brethren shall praise thee; thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies; before thee shall bow down the sons of thy father. Ver. 9. A lion's whelp is Judah; from the prey, my son, thou goest up; he stoopeth down, he coucheth as a lion, and as a full-grown lion, who shall rouse him up? Ver. 10. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and unto Him the people shall adhere." Thus does dying Jacob, in announcing … Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners: A BRIEF AND FAITHFUL RELATION OF THE EXCEEDING MERCY OF GOD IN CHRIST TO HIS POOR SERVANT, JOHN BUNYAN; WHEREIN IS PARTICULARLY SHOWED THE MANNER OF HIS CONVERSION, HIS SIGHT AND TROUBLE FOR SIN, HIS DREADFUL TEMPTATIONS, ALSO HOW HE DESPAIRED OF GOD'S MERCY, AND HOW THE LORD AT LENGTH THROUGH CHRIST DID DELIVER HIM FROM ALL THE GUILT AND TERROR THAT LAY UPON HIM. Whereunto is added a brief relation of his call to the work of the ministry, of his temptations therein, as also what he hath met with … John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Man's Chief End Q-I: WHAT IS THE CHIEF END OF MAN? A: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever. Here are two ends of life specified. 1: The glorifying of God. 2: The enjoying of God. I. The glorifying of God, I Pet 4:4: That God in all things may be glorified.' The glory of God is a silver thread which must run through all our actions. I Cor 10:01. Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.' Everything works to some end in things natural and artificial; … Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity Samuel Alike from the literary and the historical point of view, the book[1] of Samuel stands midway between the book of Judges and the book of Kings. As we have already seen, the Deuteronomic book of Judges in all probability ran into Samuel and ended in ch. xii.; while the story of David, begun in Samuel, embraces the first two chapters of the first book of Kings. The book of Samuel is not very happily named, as much of it is devoted to Saul and the greater part to David; yet it is not altogether inappropriate, … John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 1 Samuel 17:15 NIV1 Samuel 17:15 NLT1 Samuel 17:15 ESV1 Samuel 17:15 NASB1 Samuel 17:15 KJV
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