LIneage

As soon as David returned from killing Goliath, Abner brought him to Saul with the Philistine’s head still in his hand. “Tell me about your father, young man,” Saul said. And David replied, “His name is Jesse, and we live in Bethlehem.” [1 Samuel 17.57-58]

David had just accomplished an incredible victory over Goliath and Saul asked him who his father is... Why?

As the age of Israel's kings was just getting started, Saul's question here is noteworthy. Saul inquired of David's lineage. The one thing that stands out in the history of monarchies is lineage. Kings come from kings - that's the way it was done and Saul obviously understood that fact early on. Never mind that Saul's lineage was of no significance, but as soon as the monarchy became his, then it mattered.

What David did to Goliath should have been accomplished by Saul. It is no wonder then that Saul would inquire first thing about David's lineage because what he did was "king stuff." David had done what Saul was afraid to do - and what David did was magnificently brave and courageous. That should have been Saul. Saul knew this in his mind, and, realized therefore that David's kingly actions were those of a king.

At this point is where jealousy was established. Only a few verses later, in the celebrations following the great victory by David that day, we see Saul's jealousy noted.

When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals. This was their song: “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!” This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?” he said. “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!” So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. [1 Samuel 18.6-9] 

And so, Saul's torment began.

Believe it or not, this story points us to Jesus. Why? Because lineage was a specific identifier of the coming Messiah. 

How cool is that?

Father, help us to see all that is going on with Saul and David in this part of Israel's history. Help us to see Jesus.