Saturday 20 December 2014

Psalm: Psalm 24

Background

Anyone who has ever had to stand in line and wait to be pickedfor a team knows what a horrible experience it is, but in thisstory there's no indication that Jesse's sons even had any ideawhat their identity parade was for.

Samuel the prophet just told them all to stand there, sanctifiedthem, eventually chose the kid brother who wasn't even in theline-up … and anointed him for kingship! They must have beenshocked by the whole thing, but especially by the runt of thelitter being elevated to such a position.

It's not at all uncommon in the Old Testament, of course. On oneother occasion Joseph with his coat of many colours is chosen forhigh office above his brothers (Genesis 37).

But the choosing of David is more than just the story of thisone family from Bethlehem. It's the moment the blessing of God andthe support of Samuel shift from Saul, who is still king, to theshepherd boy and the beginning of a family line that reaches downto the king of kings, Jesus, who will be acclaimed as the Son ofDavid.

Much later, in our reading of the New Testament we find Paulsumming up the whole story in a synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia:"Then they asked for a king; and God gave them Saul son of Kish, aman of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years. When hehad removed him, he made David their king. In his testimony abouthim he said, 'I have found David, son of Jesse, to be a man aftermy heart, who will carry out all my wishes.' Of this man'sposterity God has brought to Israel a Saviour, Jesus, as hepromised." (Acts 13:21-23)

To Ponder

• Would you want to be selected like David, or would you ratherstay among the crowd? Why?

• Being anointed was a mark of God's favour. How do you recogniseGod's call on people today? And on yourself?