A King and His Son

By Danny Saavedra

“For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.”—John 7:42 (NLT)

Have you ever just had a moment that changed your life forever? The kind of thing where one minute you’re just minding your own business and the next your world has been turned upside down? That’s exactly what happened to David.

It’s a very interesting story. The Israelites were no longer happy being different from the other nations, so they asked Samuel for a king like all the other nations had. This upset Samuel. He took it as a rejection. But God said, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being King over them” (1 Samuel 8:7 NASB).

So, God appointed Saul, who the Bible calls the most handsome man in Israel—a tall, strong figure, a man’s man, a pillar of physical perfection. But soon, Saul showed that his heart didn’t match his appearance. He needed to be replaced. So, God sent Samuel out again, saying, “Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king” (1 Samuel 16:1 NIV).

We’ll learn a little more about Bethlehem in a few days, but keep in mind, it’s not exactly a place you’d expect to go to find a king. While there, Jesse, who was of the tribe of Judah, presented his sons to Samuel starting with the eldest, but God didn’t choose him. This caught Samuel off guard, as he believed the eldest was a perfect choice. But God said to him, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV). He then proceeded to reject the next six sons. But it just so happened that Jesse had one more son—David, his youngest—who was out tending to the sheep in the field.

And the minute David arrived, the Lord said to Samuel, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one” (1 Samuel 16:12 NIV). Now, you may be asking, “Why him? What made David so special out of all the men in Israel, or even out of Jesse’s other sons?” Well, God looks at the heart. And what did God tell us about David’s heart? “I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart,’” (Acts 13:22 NIV).

David wasn’t God’s anointed because he did all the right things, but because he sought after God with his whole heart, even when he fell short. Before the end of his life, God made David a promise that reaffirmed Abraham’s promise in 2 Samuel 7:16 (ESV): "And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever." This was the next phase of God’s plan! It was the foreshadowing of the Good Shepherd who would open the gate of heaven to all those who would believe in Him.

Studying God’s Word is another way to go deeper in your faith. You can do this by making observations, asking questions, and sharing real-life applications. Studying God’s Word is an adventure you embark on both individually and in community! Read these passages today on your own or with someone: 1 Samuel 16:1–13 and John 10:11–16. How does David’s life point to Jesus? How is Jesus greater?