1 Samuel 17:12

1 Samuel 17:12 says, Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.  While the armies of the Philistines and Israel were facing off against each other, and Goliath was taunting the army of Israel,  David was tending his father's sheep.  Jesse was old at this time and was somewhat reliant on his eight sons, of whom David, the anointed king, was the youngest.  Jesse's three oldest sons had gone to join Saul, so there was likely  even more responsibility falling on David, but he didn't use his appointed position to shirk his responsibility, just as we as Christians should not use our called position of authority, if we have one, to lord it over other Christians.   Verse thirteen adds, And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.  The three eldest sons of Jesse who followed Saul to the battle are named here.  They had followed Saul to the battle, but so far there was no battle.  They were there while Goliath was issuing his challenge, but they had not accepted it.  We may be ready to join the battle against evil today until we see what seems to be a giant standing before us.  Verse fourteen continues, And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.  We are told again that David was the youngest of the brothers.  We may be younger spiritually than those around us, and they may already be technically foighting the war against evil today, but that doesn't make us less qualified as long as we are obedient to God.  Verse fifteen continues, But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.  David had evidently had gone home at some point from serving Saul, because he was needed to feed his father's sheep.  We need to remember our everyday responsibilities in the church as Christians, and not just get caught up in waiting for the coming big battles.  Verse sixteen states, And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.  Goliath had been issuing his challenge for forty days, and no one answered it, including Saul and David's three brothers.  We need to do more than be looking at the challenges confronting us as fo)lowers of Christ today.  We need to engage in the battle.  Verse seventeen adds, And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren.   Jesse became concerned about his three sons, and called, on David to carry them some parched corn and bread, and also to check on their welfare.  We should always be concerned about the welfare of our fellow Christians and may need to help them materially at times.  Verse eighteen continues, And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.  Jesse also sent some cheese to those over his sons.  He did not just limit his providing provisions to his family, and neither should we limit our providing help to those in need to our immediate family.  

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