Chapter 17

Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. (1 Samuel 17:12)

The Bible records the names of several people who were either from Bethlehem or who lived there. Eight of them are of particular significance:

1). Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their sons Mahlon and Chilion
This family, originally from Bethlehem, went to live in Moab when there was a famine in their homeland. While in Moab, Elimelech died, and after marrying Moabite women, his sons Mahlon and Chilion also died. (That is not to imply that their choice of wives caused their deaths!) (See Ruth 1:1-5.)

2). Ruth the Moabitess
Ruth was the wife of one of Elimelech and Naomi’s sons. After the deaths of the men, Naomi decided to return to her home in Bethlehem. Ruth returned with her mother-in-law and made Bethlehem her home as well. As widows having no sons in a patriarchal society, both Noami and Ruth were without means of support. (See Ruth 1:6-22.)

3).Boaz, a kinsman of Naomi from Elimelech’s family
Boaz was a rich and honourable man. It was in his fields that Ruth gleaned in order to provide for herself and her mother-in-law. (For more information about gleaning, see Deuteronomy 24:14-24.) Following the risqué threshing floor scene in which Ruth goes to the threshing floor, uncovers Boaz’s feet and lies down, Boaz assures Ruth that he will act as her kinsman redeemer. Being a man of his word, Boaz does as he says, and Ruth becomes his wife. (See Ruth 2:1-4:12. For more on the kinsman redeemer and the removing of the sandal, see Deuteronomy 25:5-9.)

4). Obed, the son of Boaz and Ruth
Obed, was the son of Ruth and Boaz and the father of Jesse. (See Ruth 4:13-17.)

5). Jesse, the son of Obed, the father of David
After the Lord had rejected Saul from being king over Israel, he sent his prophet Samuel to Jesse the Bethlehemite because the Lord had chosen one of Jesse’s sons as king. Jesse’s seven oldest sons passed before Samuel, but there was one more, the youngest who was keeping the sheep, the one whom the Lord had chosen. (See 1 Samuel 16:1-13.)

6).David, son of Jesse, king of Israel
The story of David is told in 1 Samuel chapter 16 through the book of 2 Samuel. So much could be said about David—his occupation as a shepherd in Bethlehem, his defeat of Goliath, his service to and his later flight from Saul, his military conquests, his adultery with Bathsheba, his repentance over that sin, his heart of worship evidenced in the Psalms—but perhaps the most important thing was that David was the one to whom the Lord promised “your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16 NRSV).

7).Joseph, a descendent of “the house and family of David”
As a descendent of David, Joseph was required to return to his own town of “the city of David called Bethlehem” to be counted in the registration during the days of Caesar Augustus. He and his expectant wife-to-be Mary travelled to Bethlehem, and while they were there, she gave birth to a son. (See Luke 2:1-7.)

8).Jesus, “the Messiah, the Son of David, the son of Abraham”
Jesus, the firstborn son of Joseph and Mary,(Matt. 1:1 NRSV), born in Bethlehem, as the prophet Micah announced “But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah…from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from old, from ancient days” (Micah 5:2 NRSV). Jesus, the Messiah, the son of David, born in Bethlehem, laid in a manger, “because there was no place for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7 NRSV).

Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26)

While other soldiers were preoccupied with the danger of the battle or the material rewards to be won, it seems that David alone focused on the reputation of Israel and the honour of the living God.

⁴⁵ Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶ This day, the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day, I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. ⁴⁷ Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”

David did not only allow Goliath to speak to him; he spoke back to him. Speak to your mountains. Confessing what God says and how God sees the situation is important in spiritual warfare. 

When Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?” (1 Samuel 17:55)

Or, it may be that Saul indeed did not recognize David. Some think that David played behind a screen or a curtain for Saul, so Saul never saw his face. Others think that because of the distressing spirit, Saul was not entirely in his right mind. We also know that David did not spend all his time at the palace but went home to tend sheep (1 Samuel 17:15). It’s possible that David’s appearance changed during a time when he was away from Saul, so Saul didn’t immediately recognize him. When Saul called David a “young man” the word means someone who is full-grown, mature, and ready to marry.

Moreover, David said, “The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:37)

There is something called ‘having a history with God’ It simply means that God has shown up in your life in some way earlier. This will give you the necessary faith to attempt greater things for God. David had earlier killed a bear and lion, and that is why he could give a shot at the giant Goliath.