sweaty, stinky kid

I'm continuing on with the last blog entry...

1 Samuel 16:
The priest asked the father, Jesse, to send for the last (8th) son.  He came running in and was described as being, "ruddy, had beautiful eyes and was handsome."  ruddy: red complexion...of course, duh!  He worked out in the sun every day tending Dad's sheep.  And, I bet he was dirty, sweaty, hot, stinky, hungry, etc.  Not 'kingly' material.
And the LORD said, "Get up, stand at attention...your king is present!"
(have you noticed I changed the words a bit?)
God instructed Samuel to do what he was sent here for...anoint the boy.  There's no timeline here;  did they let David wash up and get a drink?  did he have to go right back out to the sheep?  were his many brothers jealous?  did the family have to serve him now?  I mean, he's the new king after all.
My son had 4 elder sisters; I'm pictured with him at the right.  How would they have felt living with a king?  would they honor him?  Nah!
Down a few verses in chapter 16, it says after this event at home, David went right back to the sheep.  (see what a responsible kid he is?  his folks did a good job.) 

Saul, the present king, said to his servants, "Find a good musician and bring him here.” vs.18  One of the young men answered, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him.” 19 Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.” 20 And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul. 21 And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer.

Before long the reigning king sent the 'kid' to the front of the battle.  That's in the next chapter, 1 Sam. 17.  That's where it really gets exciting.  Even if you don't like war stories, you'll love this!  I'd like to blog about that next time.

Our God is so good.  He wrote a book of thrilling bedtime stories for us, but they're all true.  I love sharing about it with you.